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Guidance for structural engineers on the use of structural and semi-structural adhesives (with a polymetric matrix) and the behaviour of adhesive joints used in structural applications.

Best practice guidance for bridge owners/operators, contractors, utility companies and structural designers considering the performance, function, serviceability and maintenance of new or replacement bridge access gantries.

Essential information for Event Organisers, Venue Owners, Local Authorities, Contractors, Suppliers and 'Competent persons', on the procurement, design and use of temporary demountable structures, including: grandstands; stages; fabric structures, hospitality units and fencing/barriers.

All Level 1 Technical Guidance Notes (originally published in The Structural Engineer magazine).

A seven-volume package comprising:

• Manual for the design of building structures to Eurocode 1 and Basis of Structural Design

• Manual for the design of concrete building structures to Eurocode 2

• Manual for the design of steelwork building structures to Eurocode 3

• Manual for the design of timber building structures to Eurocode 5 

• Manual for the design of plain masonry in building structures to Eurocode 6 (Second edition)

• Manual for the geotechnical design of structures to Eurocode 7

• Manual for the seismic design of steel and concrete buildings to Eurocode 8

Primarily for structural engineers and property owners (but also for mortgage lenders, property valuers, insurers, builders, surveyors, and local authorities) this guidance focuses on the causes of subsidence damage, appraising a property with subsidence, carrying out remedial works, and insurance matters.

Guidance for structural engineers and construction industry professionals experienced in more traditional materials - providing an insight into design methodology, specification, materials and techniques in the design and construction of glass structures.

Information on the development of alkali-silica reaction (ASR) damage in the UK, the chemical process of ASR, and the diagnosis and assessment of expansion and cracking on concrete.  

A two-volume package comprising: 

Structural design – the engineer’s role

Structural design – achieving excellence

An overview of the tasks undertaken by structural engineers during design and construction.

It can also be purchased as part of a two-volume package.

An overview of the structural engineering profession and what structural engineers do.

An established reference source for any structural design office, this guidance is a working document on structural concrete - used to interpret designers' instructions in the form of drawings and schedules for communication to site.

Part of a four-part series providing guidance on the 'stability system' of a building. The series focuses specifically on lateral load resisting systems, triangulated (framed) vertical bracing, shear walls and moment frames. 

Forming part of a four-volume series providing guidance on the 'stability system' of a building, the series focuses specifically on lateral load resisting systems, triangulated (framed) vertical bracing, shear walls and moment frames. 

It can also be purchased as part of a four-part package.

Forming part of a four-volume series providing guidance on the 'stability system' of a building, the series focuses specifically on lateral load resisting systems, triangulated (framed) vertical bracing, shear walls and moment frames. 

It can also be purchased as part of a four-part package.

Published in response to the events of September 11, 2001 at the World Trade Center in New York, this guidance examines key safety issues for tall buildings and other structures of large occupancy.

This guidance provides a decision-making framework to assist structural engineers in the production of risk management assessments.

Guidance for structural engineers and those working in a Building Control capacity, on how to prepare a systematic risk assessment for high-risk structures.

This manual supports the seismic design of buildings to BS EN 1998 Parts 1 and 5:2004 (Eurocode 8) for construction in the UK and France.

It can be purchased as an individual title, or as part of a suite of Eurocode manuals.

This manual supports the design of timber building structures to BS EN 1995-1-1 (Eurocode 5) for UK construction.

It can be purchased as an individual title, or as part of a suite of Eurocode manuals.

This manual supports the design of steelwork building structures to BS EN 1993-1-1:2005, BS EN 1993-1-8:2005, BS EN 1993-1-10:2005, and the design of composite floors to BS EN 1994-1-1:2004 for UK construction.

It can be purchased as an individual title, or as part of a suite of Eurocode manuals.

This manual supported the design of steelwork building structures to BS 5950-1 for UK construction.

This manual supported the design of reinforced concrete building structures to BS 8110, BS 8002 and BS 8666 for UK construction.

This manual supports the design of plain masonry in building structures to BS EN 1996 Parts 1 and 2:2005/6 (Eurocode 6) for UK construction.

It can also be purchased as part of a suite of Eurocode manuals.

This manual supports the design of non-sway, reinforced and prestressed concrete building structures to BS EN 1992 Part 1:2004 (Eurocode 2) for UK construction.

It can also be purchased as part of a suite of Eurocode manuals.

A working version of BS EN 1990:2002 (Eurocode 0) and BS EN 1991:2002 (Eurocode 1) for use by structural engineers designing non-specialist building structures in Consequence Classes CC1, CC2a and CC2b.

A comprehensive introduction to the design of primary building structures during fire, for all principal structural materials.

Guidance for undertaking inspections of underwater, inland and coastal structures in water depths to 30m - including inspection techniques, equipment and safety.

An overview of the advanced methods available for designing structures for fire resistance.

Guidance for structural engineers and surveyors on the methods and approaches taken to inspect, appraise and report on buildings and associated structures. 

Structural dynamics is the study of how structures respond to loads that vary rapidly with time. This introduction to the subject, focusing on linear elastic structures, explains how to calculate or estimate the key dynamic properties of simple structures, and outlines the principles used by finite element programs in analysing the dynamics of more complex structures.

Stability is one of two fundamental requirements of a structure, the other being equilibrium. Lack of stability during construction or service life can cause catastrophic structural failure. Stability is necessary against horizontal loads, asymmetric loading, out-of-plane loading and the effects of geometric imperfections, loading eccentricities and tolerances. 

Some form of approximate analysis remains essential for both the conceptual design of structures and verification of final (computer) analysis. This text presents simple approaches to the approximate analysis of two-dimensional skeletal structures. 

This text presents the 'reflective approach' to the computer analysis of structures, to ensure that the analysis model is a valid representation of the real structure and that the structural analysis has been carried out correctly. 

This is an introduction to the understanding of structural behaviour - applied to two-dimensional, mainly redundant frames. It demonstrates a qualitative approach, with an emphasis on a diagrammatic solution consisting of the detected shape, reactions and bending moment diagrams. A clear convention is established for the axes and diagrams, which is key to understanding structural behaviour.

This text is an introduction to the most important aspects of flexure in structures. A description of the widespread use of flexural elements and structures is followed by an introduction to the modelling and analysis of beams, slabs and frames. The text then discusses the use of four common structural materials in flexural elements and structures. 

This is an introduction to the most important aspects of triangulated structures. Triangulated structures are widely used and can provide stiffness with very little structural material. Being formed from many interconnecting parts, a knowledge of several aspects of modelling, analysis and design is needed to be able to understand their structural behaviour.

This Text introduces the universal role of structures in our world. It explains the complex thought processes that are at play in the act of ‘structural design’ and highlights the challenges and rewards of design synthesis.

This text provides a summary of the essential knowledge of mechanics of materials for structural engineers, including elastic direct and shear stresses and strains in 2D and 3D, Mohr's circle, real and engineering stresses, geometric properties for doubly and singly symmetric sections, axial, bending, shear and torsional stresses (of open and closed sections), and effects of plasticity.

This text presents a range of emerging materials, both natural and man-made which, in the right circumstances, can offer significant advantages over traditional materials.

This text presents the most traditional and familiar structural materials: steel, concrete, masonry, timber and glass. Material data are presented followed by a summary of specific manufacturing techniques and key material characteristics.

The Essential Knowledge Series is a core resource (primarily for structural engineering students but a useful refresher for more senior engineers) covering fundamental topics from structural materials to computer analysis. Student Members and members of the Institution's Academic Community can download the series for free at: www.istructe.org/essential-knowledge

Failures happen and their causes are many. However, as a group, failures are not just ‘accidents’. There are common themes and, by studying them, we can learn to minimise the risk of repeats.

Despite the many advantages of computer-aided analysis methods, structural engineers need to understand basic structural theory and its development. This understanding both ensures that we realise the limitations in our analytical abilities and enables us to validate computer output effectively.

Structures, buildings and infrastructure enable cities to function and offer delight. Today, architects and engineers have a vast portfolio to draw inspiration from. This text describes how these forms have evolved from earliest times.

This text presents the fundamental thought processes of conceptual design and the basic principles that underpin all structural systems. These processes and principles are applied to bridges, towers and low-rise long-span structures.

This text introduces basic structural behaviours; load paths; equilibrium; stability and robustness; choosing structural form and layout; and decomposition of real structures into members and joints for analysis.

Recommendations on crowd loading for those with responsibility for permanent grandstands, including: owners, operators, architects, insurers and design engineers.

Design guidance for structural engineers, other construction professionals and car park owners/operators.

Pragmatic assistance for structural engineers in the delivery of sustainable projects for the building sector.

Comprehensive, step-by-step guidance for structural engineers needing to check and report on the adequacy of an existing structure.

Essential guidance for structural engineers, on the reduction of a structure's carbon footprint; focusing on embodied energy and carbon associated directly with the structure. 

Since the invention of medium-storey framed structures in the late 1800s, there has been a need to clad them with a reasonably robust material that acts as an efficient barrier to the external environment. Masonry delivers the performance required of a cladding system on multiple fronts. It has therefore developed from a load-bearing element within structures to become a component of an envelope to larger framed buildings.

This Technical Guidance Note introduces structural engineers to the interfaces between a primary structure that is principally formed from steelwork and a masonry cladding system.

This Technical Guidance Note addresses the design of timber elements that are unrestrained against lateral torsional buckling. It explains how such beams are analysed and designed. The impact of notching the supports of beams is also considered with respect to the shear capacity of the beam.

For clarity and brevity, this note only covers solid and glued laminated (glulam) timber elements; compound and composite beams, such as flitch beams, are not considered. The connections within timber frame assemblies will be addressed in a future note.

Readers should also be aware that this note forms part of a trio of Technical Guidance Notes leading to the design of bespoke timber trusses – assemblies made from unrestrained timber beams and posts. Notes on the design of timber posts and bespoke timber trusses will follow later in the series.

Although retaining walls have been the subject of two earlier Technical Guidance Notes; No. 8 (Level 1): Derivation of loading to retaining structures and No. 33 (Level 1): Retaining wall construction, their design has not been covered. This guidance note focuses specifically on the design of reinforced concrete gravity retaining walls.

There are three different forms of this type of wall, all of which are designed to resist overturning and sliding failure. The primary difference between them is their height. The taller the retaining wall, the more likely that counterforts and beams spanning between them will be necessary. This note describes how all of these forms of retaining wall can be designed.

(This article was updated in October 2016 to reflect errata issued since its original publication.)

This Technical Guidance Note is intended to act as an aide to those seeking to design an unreinforced masonry retaining wall. Following this guidance will prevent cracking and ensure that the wall performs as originally intended.

The note will not cover the design of reinforced masonry retaining walls and variants of that form. Such reinforcement typically strengthens the wall itself against induced bending stresses and the wall’s geometry will therefore be somewhat different to that of an unreinforced retaining wall.

The note will also not discuss the applied actions that a retaining wall will be subjected to, nor the construction of retaining walls. These subjects have previously been covered in the following Technical Guidance Notes: Level 1, No. 8: Derivation of loading to retaining structures and Level 1, No. 33: Retaining wall construction. It is assumed that the reader is familiar with the content of both these notes.

Piled foundations are one of the first aspects of scheme design a structural engineer needs to consider during a project's development. It is at this crucial stage that, without any specialist input, the structural engineer must make recommendations based on the typically limited knowledge they have on the subject.

This Technical Guidance Note describes the method by which bored piles are designed using the current UK codes of practice, i.e. BS EN 1997 (Eurocode 7). It explains how to interpret soil conditions and design piles to match what has been discovered following a site investigation.

The note does not address the types of piling systems that are available, nor the technical issues concerning their installation; these questions are covered in Technical Guidance Note Level 1, No. 23 Introduction to piling.

The note explains how to design what is essentially a buried column of concrete to resist forces from the superstructure that are applied to it. It concerns the design of a single pile and not one that is part of a group. For information on how grouped piles differ in their design approach, the reader is directed to Cl. 6.3.3 of BS 8004:2015.

(This article was update on 9 March 2018 to correct an error in Table 6.)

A significant-sized opening in a masonry wall will always require a lintel to bridge over it. This note offers advice on the different types of lintel that are available, their detailing requirements and their design.

This Technical Guidance Note explains the basic principles of below ground drainage for both surface and foul water. Acting as an introduction, it describes the different types of drainage pipes that are available, how they are installed, how they interface with structure, their testing and maintenance.

This Technical Guidance Note describes the basic knowledge required to read drawings produced by structural engineers.

While the advancement of computer based analysis continues to grow exponentially within the field of structural engineering, the tools that are used to analyse structures by hand are no less relevant. Many would argue that such tools are even more vital today than they have ever been if we are to fully understand the output of analysis applications. With this in mind, this Technical Guidance Note describes one of the most powerful analysis tools available: moment distribution.

Moment distribution is a method by which statically indeterminate structures are analysed elastically. It’s based on the relative stiffness of elements that make up a structure and shifts bending moments from one section of the structure to another until they become balanced. Once this balance has been achieved, the forces and bending moments within the structure are modelled.

(This article was updated in October 2016 to reflect errata issued since its original publication.)

This Technical Guidance Note describes how drawings for structural steelwork are developed and read. They have their own unique set of rules and nomenclature and it is important for engineers to understand all of these rules in order to communicate and interpret the design of steelwork structures.

This guide is split into two sections; the first contains the information a designer of the steel elements provides, whilst the second contains the information a fabricator creates in order to manufacture and construct the steel structure. While one feeds into the other, the level of detail each set of information provides is very different, due primarily to the end result. One is informing the manufacture of the steelwork, while the other focuses on its installation.

Portal frames are a simple and very common type of framed (or skeleton) structure. Steel portal frames, in particular, are a cost-effective structural system to support building envelopes (such as warehouses and shopping complexes) requiring large column-free spaces. In general, the loads and consequent deformations for these frames are in the plane of the structure, and hence these are a 2D (or plane) frame structure. Due to the practical requirement of having a clear space between the supports of a portal frame, providing in-plane bracing is generally not feasible. Consequently, these frames undergo larger deflections and are prone to sway laterally, even under the vertical loads. The concept of sway frames is addressed in more detail in Technical Guidance Note No. 10 (Level 1) Principles of lateral stability. Thus, in spite of the inherent simplicity of portal frames, many aspects of their analysis, design and detailing require careful consideration.

Portal frames can be made from concrete, timber and even glass but the vast majority, in the UK certainly, are constructed from steel. This Technical Guidance Note gives an introduction to steel portal frames and their preliminary analysis. Steel portal frames usually have pinned bases and moment connections at the column/rafter interface and mid-span apex splice in the rafter. Although there are other forms of portal frame (described in Elastic Design of Single- Span Steel Portal Frame Buildings to Eurocode 3), for the sake of brevity and clarity this note will be dedicated to this particular form.

(This article was updated in October 2016 to reflect errata issued since its original publication.)

This Technical Guidance Note describes how steel fibre reinforced concrete ground bearing slabs are designed. This is a relatively recent innovation that continues to evolve. As such, this note aims to motivate the design and development of steel fibre reinforced ground bearing slabs, based on the most up-to-date information available at the time of writing.

Once the concept and scheme for a structure has been settled upon, the initial sizing of the elements that it is made up of commences. This Technical Guidance Note provides a set of hints as to how to initially size elements, prior to carrying out the detailed design. This process allows the engineer to gain an appreciation of the form of the structure and the changes that may be required if element sizes prove to be too onerous following this size estimation process.

Access more Technical Guidance Notes through our series homepage .

This Technical Guidance Note explains how reinforced concrete walls are designed to withstand high in-plane bending forces, in accordance with Eurocode 2.

This guide explains the various methods that can be adopted to ensure that lateral stability to structures is achieved. This note also highlights the need for robustness in structures as it is regarded as an aspect of structural design that can have an impact on strategies adopted for lateral stability. All of the guides in this series have an icon based navigation system, designed to aid the reader.

Access more Technical Guidance Notes through our series homepage .

The subject of this guide is the design of non-composite steel beams to BS EN 1993-1-1 – Eurocode 3: Design of Steel Structures – Part 1-1: General Rules for Buildings. It covers both restrained and unrestrained rolled steel ‘I’ and ‘H’ beam sections.

This is the first in the series of Level 2 guides and as such,the reader is assumed to be familiar with the concepts explained in relevant Level 1 Technical Guidance Notes.

(This article was updated in October 2016 to reflect errata issued since its original publication.)

In his editorial of 18th October 2011, Managing Editor Lee Baldwin heralded the introduction of a series of 'Technical Guidance Notes'. Sarah Fray - Director: Engineering and Technical Services provides an introduction to the series.

This Technical Guidance Note concerns the derivation of dead loads. This is a core guidance note and as such, subsequent notes will make reference to this one. It is therefore important to understand the contents of this note before attempting to digest any of the others.

Dead load is defined as the weight of static materials contained with a structure. This includes the self weight of the structure as well as the materials it is supporting that are fixed to it. Within Eurocode 1 it is defined as a 'Permanent Action'.

This Technical Guidance Note describes the design and detailing of base plates – the primary means by which steel-framed structures transmit vertical loads into their foundations. 

This Technical Guidance Note concerns the design of pile-caps for small groups of piles e.g. 2-4 piles. It relies on the strut and tie method to determine the amount of reinforcement required in the pile-cap; which is dependent upon the depth of the cap, the magnitude of the axial load being placed upon it, the cap’s concrete strength and the pile size and spacing.

The purpose of a pad foundation is to spread a concentrated force into soil. They are one of the most simple and cost effective types of footings for structures. Provided the founding soil is of sufficient strength and is not too deep to reach, pad foundations are the preferred solution for foundations due to the straight forward nature of their design and construction.

This Technical Guidance Note covers the design of concrete pad foundations, both mass and reinforced concrete forms. It will not, however, discuss how the bearing capacity of the soil is determined, as that is explained in Technical Guidance Note 19 (Level 1) Soil bearing capacity. It is suggested that you read that text in conjunction with this, in order to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the topic.

(This article was updated in October 2016 to reflect errata issued since its original publication.)

This Technical Guidance Note concerns lateral loads that are applied to barriers and wheel axle loads from vehicles. Barrier loading is dealt with slightly differently to other forms of imposed loading. The nature of the loading can vary from people leaning against barriers to vehicles colliding with them at speed. Axle loading from vehicles has to be treated somewhat differently to other forms of imposed loading. While it is possible to assume a blanket area load to represent them, it is the point load from each wheel that needs closer attention.

This Technical Guidance Note concerns the concept of notional loading, which the Eurocodes classifies as Equivalent Horizontal Forces. These are loads that exist due to inaccuracies and imperfections introduced into the structure during its construction. The following text explains how notional lateral loads are incorporated into the design process.

(This article was updated in October 2016 to reflect errata issued since its original publication.)

This technical guidance note is an introduction to glass as a structural material. It aims to describe glass in terms of its properties, how it reacts when subjected to various forces and the methods currently being explored and adopted by structural engineers when designing structural glass elements.

A description of the various forms of retaining walls currently in use. This note is primarily concerned with structures that retain soil.

This guidance note pays particular attention to partial factors with reference to BS EN 1990: Eurocode – Basis of structural design, to illustrate how extreme events are approached within a code of practice, and explains how the code interprets the application of loads/actions for the design of structures for such events.

The use of masonry dates back to antiquity with evidence of the use of some form of stone masonry originating over 10,000 years ago. This guide introduces the material, focusing on the two most common forms; brick and concrete block.

This Technical Guidance Note describes how prestressed precast concrete planks are constructed, specified and installed.

This guidance note describes the different types of pile presently in use, the design concepts that are employed when determining their size and depth, how they are constructed and the various tests that can be carried out to assess a pile's integrity.

This Technical Guidance Note focuses on the visualisation of structures. It is essential for structural engineers to be able to express their ideas clearly through their designs. Visualising structures in the appropriate way enhances the design process - not least because drawing the complex elements of a structure while carrying out calculations, can help to identify possible construction issues/problems at an earlier stage than may otherwise be possible. This guide explains two techniques that are commonly used to draw in three dimensions and thus aid the structural engineer in visualising the structures they design.All of the guides in this series have an icon based navigation system, designed to aid the reader.

When developing a scheme for a structure, the choice of floor slab construction is critical to the columns, foundations, walls and overall stability. As such, the floor slab’s form should be selected with care and consideration.

This Technical Guidance Note provides information about a number of common floor construction forms that are currently available. It focuses on concrete based solutions: some acting compositely with steel elements, such as reinforcement and/or steel members. Descriptions of each flooring system together with their key features (which cover topics such as buildability, aesthetics and compatibility of other elements e.g. building services) are included. Please be aware that floor slab technology is continually evolving and that new floor slab solutions continue to become available as a result.

(This article was updated in October 2016 to reflect errata issued since its original publication.)

This Technical Guidance Note is an introduction to the assessment of floor vibrations. Since the adventof lighter structures that have longer spanning elements within them, the built in dampening effectbuildings have had historically has become less pronounced. Despite this, floor vibration canbe an overlooked criterion during the design process. This can lead to expensive remedial works being carried out on structures after they have been built, as occupants complain of discomfort due to excessive movements and vibrations.

(This article was updated in October 2016 to reflect errata issued since its original publication.)

This Technical Guidance Note concerns the derivation of snow load onto structures. It is based on Eurocode 1: Actions on Structures Part 1-3; General Actions – Snow Loads. With this Eurocode being focused on an action that is sensitive to environmental effects, the UK annex to it plays a significant role, as it makes reference to projected snow falls that are unique to the British Isles. There are a large number of variations and conditions the designer must be aware of when determining snow loads onto structures. As such, the reader is referred to the code text more frequently than in other Technical Guidance Notes.

(This article was updated in October 2016 to reflect errata issued since its original publication.)

The series covers the core principles of structural design, analysis and mechanics.

A two-volume package comprising:

Practical guide to structural robustness and disproportionate collapse in buildings

Manual for the systematic risk assessment of high-risk structures against disproportionate collapse

A three-volume package comprising:

Stability of buildings Parts 1 and 2: General philosophy and framed bracing

Stability of buildings Parts 3: Shear walls

Stability of buildings Parts 4: Moment frames

A two-volume package comprising:

Introduction to the fire safety engineering of structures

Guide to the advanced fire safety engineering of structures

This text details the subject knowledge required of all structural engineers to enable them to carry out the design of simple foundations, slopes and ground improvement that do not require specialist advice.

This text provides a summary of the ground engineering knowledge required of all structural engineers. Owing to the wide-ranging nature of the subject, only core concepts are introduced, supported by the most important theoretical background.

When designing foundations for a structure there is a need to determine the bearing capacity of the soil. This applies to all forms of foundation, from a simple pad footing to a pile cap. The bearing stress capacity of the soil is the key variable that has a direct impact on the form and size of foundations. This Technical Guidance Note explains the principles of how bearing capacity of soils are determined and how it impacts on the design of foundations.

This Technical Guidance Note concentrates on the design of reinforced concrete columns to BS EN 1992-1-1 – Eurocode 2: Design of Concrete Structures – Part 1-1: General Rules for Buildings. It covers the design of columns of all cross section profiles, which are typically square, rectangular and circular.

This Technical Guidance Note defines the concept of fatigue and how its effects can be countered.

This Technical Guidance Note describes the concept of biaxial bending of columns, as well as the effect direct bending has on column design. The guidance given here can be applied to columns made from any material, be it steel, concrete, timber or even glass.

Elements within a steel frame structure are at risk of buckling under load. If measures are not taken when designing steel elements that recognise this risk, then the likelihood of its failure is significantly increased. This Technical Guidance Note explains how steel elements are restrained against buckling and what the structural engineer should consider when analysing steel structures with respect to buckling resistance.

When analysing structures it is important to adopt a methodical approach wherever possible. By breaking down the structure into manageable portions, the complexity of the analysis is reduced and thus becomes easier to control and review. By adopting such an approach, a seemingly insurmountable task becomes a much more approachable one. This Technical Guidance Note is a good practice guide for analysing and designing structures. It explains how structures are given form, modelled, analysed and designed. Mention is made of the need to rationalise the analysis process, but not at the expense of an economic design.