Issue 3

All the articles from the March 2016 issue of The Structural Engineer.

Guest editor, Peter Ayres, introduces the March 2016 issue of The Structural Engineer on digital design and technology.

Allan Mann provides an introduction to the special issue with a brief history of computing in structural engineering. 

Iain MacLeod discusses the use of computers in structural engineering and what more can be done to reduce risk in structural design. 

This article considers some of the factors affecting choice of structural engineering software.

This article explores how AECOM is currently using technology to improve the efficiency of the design process, while at the same time empowering the structural engineer to be more creative, and take a more central role on multidisciplinary projects.

This article will discuss the principal concepts of design optimisation, then look at the various suitable techniques and make suggestions as to where they might be used by structural engineers. These methods include quasi-Newton, gradient, simulated annealing, Monte Carlo, genetic algorithms, particle swarms, neural networks, form-finding, and evolutionary topology optimisation.

This article by Ramaseshan Kannan, Stephen Hendry and Chris Kaethner of Arup discusses how to find hidden modelling errors in structural design software.

This article discusses computer-aided calculations in structural engineering and the importance of verifying and validating the results.

This article aims to provide a 'good practice' summary of hand calculations for engineers in the early stages of their career, while also serving as a reminder for those with more experience.

This article describes how cutting edge parametric-based engineering techniques have been used for the City of Dreams hotel in Macau, China.

This paper describes the digital parametric design and fabrication optimisation used on the Qatar Faculty of Islamic Studies building in Doha, Qatar.

Some expertise in the use of technical software, often developed in a final-year project, is a necessary skill for graduates in civil or structural engineering, argues Professor Roger Johnson, although this poses several questions.

There is a strong case for exposing undergraduate students to structural analysis software, argues Jon Carr of The University of Sheffield. While the case for structural design software is less compelling, this also offers potential learning benefits.

Institution Past President, Tim Ibell, welcomes the creative possibilities of the digital revolution in structural engineering and urges universities to widen the appeal of the profession to school-leavers with interests other than maths and physics.

Structural engineers should embrace the creative possibilities offered by a virtual, digital world, believes Tristram Carfrae, if they are to transcend the limitations of their own experience.

Tim Lucas of Price & Myers envisages a not-too-distant future in which automation is extended to assembly on site, giving engineers full control of the building process and licence to explore their wildest design dreams.

David Sanderson, Product Development Manager, Engineering Structures Division, Trimble, gives his perspective on developments in structural engineering software and asks whether it is time to starting thinking in terms of “design and analysis”, if not just “design”.

This introduction to advanced modelling techniques will likely be of interest to senior engineers seeking background knowledge on the use of analysis software for specialised structural design.

This month's letters include further discussion on the concept of "reasonably practicable" and on web buckling of steel beams.

Upcoming events at Institution HQ and around the regional groups.

In this section we shine a spotlight on papers recently published in Structures – the Research Journal of The Institution of Structural Engineers. Structures is a collaboration between the Institution and Elsevier, publishing internationally-leading research across the full breadth of structural engineering which will benefit from wide readership by academics and practitioners. Access to Structures is free to Institution members (excluding Student members) as one of their membership benefits, with access provided via the “My account” section of the Institution website. The journal is available online at: www.structuresjournal.org

We continue this section with another steel quiz brought to you by the SCI. This month’s topic is bolts. Answers will be published in the April issue.