James Dredge of Bath challenged conventional suspension bridge theory when, in the 1830s, he patented his concept of chains of reducing thickness and inclined hangers. Few examples of his work remain but, until recently, Northern Ireland had four bridges left out of an original batch of five. D. McQuillan
The Part 3 examination held in July 1972 was the last opportunity for a candidate with a HNC (Higher National Certificate equivalent to the current BTEC) background to aspire to chartered status using the normal route: from 1973 onwards a university degree became the essential academic qualification to gain exemption from the Institution’s Part 1 and 2 examinations. J.V. Bull
An automatic, remotely controlled system for monitoring the inservice behaviour of the Foyle Bridge has been developed. Results of both static and dynamic test loadings of the structure are described. Preliminary results of the behaviour of the bridge under a variety of wind-load conditions are reported. T.D. Sloan, J.W. Boyd and A. Thompson
The barrel roof supported on Belfast trusses was widely used for industrial buildings in the late 19th and early 20th centuries because of its efficiency and economy for covering large clear-spans. The different forms of timber trusses used in the so-called ‘Belfast’ roofs are described and their historical origins discussed. M.H. Gould, Professor A. Jennings and R. Montgomery
What follows is an abbreviation or distillation of my Chairman’s Address delivered to the Northern Ireland Branch on 30 November 1990 in the presence of the then President, David Lazenby. Its purpose was to share a concern (and perhaps an oversimplistic solution) in an attempt to stimulate or provoke some thoughts for the future. It is with some apprehension, and after not a little procrastination, that I eventually agreed to my address being published as a viewpoint. W.H. Walker
It was a great surprise when, in December 1988, I was invited by Dr John Dougill, Director of Engineering, to join the Joint Board of Moderators (JBM) as one of the five representatives of the Institution of Structural Engineers. M.L. Manson
The paper describes the subsoils of Northern Ireland, the majority of which are of glacial origin. The formation of these glacial materials is outlined and geotechnical properties of typical subsoils are given. The significance of a knowledge of glacial geology to the practice of foundation engineering in Northern Ireland is stressed. Professor I.G. Doran