All articles published in the February 2014 issue.
Publish Date – 3 February 2014
Recounting his perhaps unusual route into structural engineering, 2014 Institution President, Nick Russell, outlines initiatives that will help to ensure the Institution remains relevant in today’s society and in particular, how it can help members that work in small practices.
Based on an article originally published in The New Yorker, Sean Brady reflects on the Citicorp tower crisis.
A cross party parliamentary report published last year concluded that “the problem of late payments is getting worse” and that, for the construction industry, the situation was particularly bad. Browne Jacobson’s Peter Westlake provides more details.
Between 55,000 and 70,000 construction workers are believed to incur musculoskeletal injuries each year in the UK. These cover back and upper/lower limb disorders. This short article provides some basic advice for safer manual handling.
This note explains the basic principles of below ground drainage for both surface and foul water. It describes the different types of drainage pipe available, their installation and interface with structure, and their testing and maintenance.
Shear connection in steel-concrete composite beams has been the subject of some interest over recent years, with several international research groups reconsidering both the resistance and ductility of shear studs.
This second article from the Concrete Bridge Development Group’s technical committee, examines the initial parameters that might determine the best layout for a new bridge.
Basalt reinforcement is a relatively new type of reinforcement, used as an alternative to steel. Here, it is critically evaluated and possible applications suggested.
Expedition Engineering director Julia Ratcliffe has travelled the globe creating elegant and practical structures in places and situations as diverse as New York and post tsunami Thailand. Her latest challenge is leading the team designing the Institution’s new headquarters building. Jackie Whitelaw went to meet her in the first of a new series of profiles.
A reflection from Flint & Neill’s Chief Operating Officer, Ian Firth, on the perception of quality in structural engineering design and construction.
The publication of Grenville Phillips’ article ‘Why change Haiti’s cultural building aspirations?’ in March 2013 attracted a number of responses. Having progressed the issue with the respondents (and other parties) in the interim, Grenville restates his concern over the Haitian government’s decision to allow confined masonry to be the only masonry method approved for use in Haiti.
Original respondents to Grenville Phillips’ March 2013 article ‘Why change Haiti’s cultural building aspirations?’, Tom McGregor and Michael Summers, summarise the subsequent discussions that took place and put forward their own views on the reinforced/confined masonry debate.
A short review of the official Autodesk user guide to the operation and uses of AutoCAD 2014 and AutoCAD LT 2014, written by experienced Autodesk technical author, Scott Onstott.