Correspondence on Teaching Towards an Improved Understanding of Structural Behaviour: Discussion by

The President: Do you discern any trends for the future, in either basic designs or detailing, owing to new methods of fabrication? At the same time, bearing in mind the multiplicity of factors involved, what uses do you see for computer programming of optimisation of design, which is currently exercising the minds of the academic world?

We have mentioned in earlier issues the lapse of time there is between the copy for this column leaving our desk and its appearance in the Journal. It has been 3 months in the past, with the result that, from the time a correspondent writes his letter until the time he sees a reply to it from another reader, at least 6 months have gone by. Thanks to the cooperative attitude of our printers it is hoped that these intervals can be reduced to 2 and 4 months respectively; not quite up to Wimbledon standards of stroke and counter, but a great improvement which it is hoped you will find agreeable. Verulam

The GLADYS computer system was developed in the London office of Ove Arup and Partners. The various programs and their method of operation are described, with particular emphasis on user language aspects and data checking. The use of the system over a period of 2 years is also described and analysed. D.D. Croft