Design Charts for Corbels

The Institution has received a copy of the Department of the Environment’s industry research and innovation strategy report, Timber 2005. The report will be filed in the Library, and the purpose of this note is to make members aware of both the document and its contents, as well as the scope that it offers to members contributing to, and benefitting from, the research content. The strategy will be used to guide research and to focus Government financial support. H.P.J. Taylor

A parametric study of hotspot stresses in multiplanar tubular XT-joints has been conducted in which 180 finite element analyses were performed. The study covers a wide range of joint geometries under various combinations of axial forces. The results of the analyses are presented as a set of equations expressing the stress concentration factor as a function of the relevant geometric parameters for various combinations of axial forces. A typical full-size steel multiplanar XT-joint was selected for experimental testing to verify the numerical analyses. A comparison is also made between the results obtained for multiplanar tubular XT-joints and those of the corresponding uniplanar T- and X-joints. It is found that, when all the braces of the multiplanar XT-joints are loaded simultaneously, the multiplanar effect is significant. When the out-of-plane braces are not loaded, the multiplanar effect is insignifcant for small a value when the comparison is made between the multiplanar XT-joints with uniplanar T-joints. S.P. Chiew, Professor C.K. Soh, A.K. Soh, T.C. Fung and W.M. Lee

At their meeting on 23 May 1996 the Council of the Institution approved the introduction of an additional Rule of Conduct to make clear members’ obligations to the profession in respect of continuing professional development, as follows: ‘Members of the Institution shall have a duty to update and broaden their professional knowledge and skills on a continuing basis’.