All articles published in the August 2015 issue.
Publish Date – 31 July 2015
Institution Past President, Michael Dixon, looks back at the inspirational career of the late Frei Otto; the celebrated German architect who died earlier this year. In the first part of a two-part article, Dixon examines Otto's philosophy and early work with lightweight structures.
While we may think of blind faith in technology as a modern affliction, Sean Brady’s account of the Hartford Civic Center Stadium collapse shows that overreliance on structural analysis software is not a new problem.
The risks posed by indemnity clauses are the subject of our latest article from insurance broker Griffiths & Armour.
Traditionally, masonry was associated with stone and brick wall construction, but usage has widened to include blockwork, brick pavers, plus cladding and paving of various kinds. The standard hazards to consider are linked to manual handling and cutting. However, a particular safety issue is that of wall stability during construction.
The concluding article in this series discusses the span-to-effective-depth method for verifying deflection limits of slabs and beams. (This article was corrected on 1 October 2015. For details, see the corrigendum published on page 37 of the October 2015 issue.)
This article is the first of two which will discuss the problem of corrosion of steel frames behind masonry elevations. It aims to provide an introduction to this form of construction and to consider the ways in which lack of maintenance can lead to corrosion of the steel frame, before setting out how remedial work should be approached.
This article introduces structural insulated panels (SIPs), their usage and benefits in construction of residential and light commercial buildings.
Synopses of the latest papers accepted for publication in the Institution's new research journal, Structures. Access to Structures is free to all during 2015. From 2016, Institution members will continue to receive free access as one of their membership benefits. The journal is available online at: www.elsevier.com/locate/structures
Craig Beresford has had a very successful career in the high-pressure world of property and he’s done it by recognising the value of getting on with people and enjoying their company. Jackie Whitelaw went to meet the friendly man who is managing director of structures for Waterman and chief operating officer of its property business.
The confluence of multiple technology-related trends will drive new demands for construction collaboration, argues Michael Gustafson of Autodesk.
Martin Williams enjoys this unusual introduction to vibration analysis and structural dynamics, but is left uncertain of its intended readership...
Letters this month include discussion on the overuse of windposts, the CDM Regulations, and the first truly hybrid structure...