A Strategy for the Use of Computers in Structural Engineering

Are small - and by small I mean 1-25 person-consulting practices making better use of the advantages offered by today’s computer technology and software than their big brothers? In this feature, significant recent and future developments in PC software will be explored and linked to the requirements of the structural engineer. R. Dobson

It has been apparent from the earliest days of its development that the computer would have a dramatic impact on the work of engineers. The development of the digital computer offered the potential for the manipulation of vast amounts of data and the rapid solution of mathematical equations. As early as the 1960s, commentators were suggesting that the computer would have a great technical and economic impact. Originally, the technology tended to be reserved for sophisticated analyses. Large, expensive machines needing professional support and operating in batch mode ran programs which were used only when the complexity of the job justified the trouble and expense. P.J. Gardner

This paper examines the direct and indirect means by which standards of structural safety are maintained. It discusses the hazards and risks to structural safety in the context of the continuing changes in the technology and management of construction and use of structures: financial risks are not addressed. J.B. Menzies