August 2022

Volume 100 | Issue 8

Rise of the
machines
John Orr talks to Helena Russell
about a career focussing on material
efficiency through automation

Engineering climate
justice

Boosting construction
productivity

From the archive:

Strength is easy!
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 Upfront
5 Editorial
6 News
8 President’s mid-term update: knowledge sharing
is the key to progress

Climate emergency
10 Engineering climate justice: how can we
contribute to equitable global decarbonisation?

Professional guidance
14 Construction productivity: improving the way we
build today and tomorrow
18
16 CROSS Safety Report: Tower crane base designs

Opinion
18 Profile: John Orr
21 Book review: Natural building techniques: A guide
10
to ecological methods and materials
22 From the archive: Strength is easy! Or the
development of plastic design
24 Viewpoint: Regional Group lecture prizes: are your
speakers getting the recognition they deserve?
26 Verulam

At the back
29 Diary dates
31 Spotlight on Structures
32 Services Directory
Volume 100 │ Issue 8 │August 2022

34 TheStructuralEngineer Jobs
FRONT COVER IMAGE © JOHN ORR

21 8
3
thestructuralengineer.org | August 2022
 Structural
rehabilitation
conference
6 October 2022

Through case studies, technical presentations Topics will include

and discussion this conference will bring together • Assessment and diagnostics
structural engineers to share best practice and
• Inspection and monitoring
advances in technology and techniques. Sessions will
focus on assessment and diagnostics, monitoring and • Strengthening
strengthening for the rehabilitation and life extension
of bridges and aging infrastructure. Who should attend?
• Practicing structural engineers
The conference will take place as a hybrid event. Delegates primarily working on bridges
and infrastructure projects
can register to attend in-person at the Institution’s London
headquarters or online and enjoy the same opportunities for • Asset managers
networking and interaction. • Contractors

Registration now open:

istructe.org/events/hq/2022/structural-rehabilitation-conference

21226_struct_rehab_conference_FP.indd
TSE.Aug22_004.indd 4 1 21/06/2022 12:59
20/07/2022 pm
10:58
 Editorial Upfront

PRESIDENT
Jane Entwistle
BSc(Hons), CEng, FIStructE, MICE

CHIEF EXECUTIVE
Martin Powell

EDITORIAL
HEAD OF PUBLISHING
Lee Baldwin

MANAGING EDITOR
Robin Jones
t: +44 (0) 20 7201 9822
e: [email protected]

EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES
Will Brown
t: +44 (0) 20 7201 9121
e: [email protected]

ADVERTISING
DISPLAY SALES
t: +44 (0) 1223 378051
e: [email protected] Robin Jones Managing Editor
RECRUITMENT SALES
t: +44 (0) 1223 378051
e: [email protected]

Could you make a

DESIGN
SENIOR DESIGNER
Nicholas Daley

PRODUCTION

contribution?
PRODUCTION DIRECTOR
Jane Easterman

EDITORIAL ADVISORY GROUP

Will Arnold FIStructE
Premma Makanji MIStructE
Allan Mann FIStructE
Chris O’Regan FIStructE
Angus Palmer MIStructE
Simon Pitchers FIStructE
Eleana Savvidi MIStructE IN 2023, we’re planning a new content strategy for and encourages engineers to do what they can
Subscription prices The Structural Engineer which will see each issue to influence their project briefs in a way that will
Institutional: £479
Personal (print only): £110
turning the spotlight on a particular theme – some lead to equitable global decarbonisation. We also
Personal (online only): £110 dovetailing with IStructE conferences, and others review a new book on natural building materials and
Personal (Student Member): £45
exploring additional topics that we hope will be of techniques (page 21).
Single copies: £25 (incl. p&p) interest to you. The first three
Printed by issues of the year will cover: Other content includes an
Warners Midlands plc
The Maltings, Manor Lane Bourne,
• January: Resilient and update from President Jane
Lincolnshire PE10 9PH
United Kingdom
adaptable design for the future
• February: Low-carbon
IF YOU HAVE Entwistle at the mid-point of
her term in office (page 8), a
© The Institution of Structural Engineers.
The Structural Engineer (ISSN 1466-5123) is solutions for domestic/small SOMETHING TO look at two initiatives aiming
published by IStructE Ltd, a wholly owned
subsidiary of The Institution of Structural
projects OFFER, PLEASE to improve construction
Engineers. It is available both in print and online.

Contributions published in The Structural

• March: Reuse of structural
steel
GET IN TOUCH productivity (page 14) and a
CROSS report on tower crane
Engineer are published on the understanding
that the author/s is/are solely responsible for the
base designs (page 16). In the
statements made, for the opinions expressed If you have something to offer on any of these Opinion section, Alan Rathbone also looks back at
and/or for the accuracy of the contents.
Publication does not imply that any statement or topics – whether a thought piece exploring future how papers in The Structural Engineer influenced
opinion expressed by the author/s reflects the
views of the Institution of Structural Engineers’
developments, practical guidance on design or the development of plastic design of steel portal
Board; Council; committees; members commercial considerations, or a case study that frames (page 22), and Martin Ashmead offers his
or employees. No liability is accepted by such
persons or by the Institution for any loss or other readers could learn from – please get in touch views on the judging of Regional Group prizes
damage, whether caused through reliance on
any statement, opinion or omission (textual
at [email protected]. Send us a short outline (around (page 24).
or otherwise) in The Structural Engineer, or 200 words) of the article you’re offering or of a case I hope you enjoy the issue.
otherwise.
study that we could feature.
The Institution of Structural Engineers
International HQ
Turning to this issue, our latest Profile is of John
47–58 Bastwick Street Orr (page 18), a Cambridge academic who has
London EC1V 3PS
United Kingdom been heavily involved in the Institution’s climate-
t: +44 (0)20 7235 4535
e: [email protected]
related guidance over the past couple of years.
John discusses his work to develop new tools that
The Institution of Structural Engineers
Incorporated by Royal Charter will help structural engineers make more efficient
Charity Registered in England and Wales number
233392 and in Scotland number SC038263
use of materials, as well as the importance of
changing mindsets and persuading individuals to
adopt a more efficient, lower-carbon approach.
Our focus on climate action also continues in
a viewpoint from Tom Newby (page 10) in which
he introduces the concept of ‘climate justice’

5
thestructuralengineer.org | August 2022
 Upfront News

Industry news
Industry news EMR receives EPD for reusable
Clarification: Modular steel
construction and carbon European Metal Recycling Ltd (EMR) has been
emissions granted an Environmental Product Declaration
An ‘Industry news’ item in the July issue of (EPD) for its reusable steel products. The EPD REUSABLE STEEL
The Structural Engineer described a carbon confirms that the reusable sections have a ENVIRONMENTAL
assessment study of two modular housing global warming potential of 47kgCO2e/t for PRODUCT
towers and reported a misinterpretation A1–A3 emissions. This represents less than DECLARATION
of the study findings. The news report 10% of the typical emissions from an electric IN ACCORDANCE WITH ISO 14025 AND EN 15804:2012+A2:2019

suggested that ‘modular construction can cut arc furnace, and less than 2% of the typical Programme
The International EPD® System
Programme Operator
EPD International AB

carbon emission by up to 45%’. emissions from a blast oxygen furnace. www.environdec.com

S-P Code Publication Date Validity Date

The study this reported was a streamlined Reusable steel sections are defined
S-P-06356 2022.06.27 2027.06.26

An EPD should provide current information and may be updated if conditions change.

lifecycle assessment (LCA) that assessed the as individual elements recovered from an
The stated validity is therefore subject to the continued registration and publication at www.environdec.com

carbon intensity of two buildings based on existing steel structure during its demolition/
measured and estimated input variables. The deconstruction and/or those which have ENVIRONMENTAL PRODUCT DECLARATION REUSABLE STEEL 1

study authors have stressed that, due to the been designed and fabricated for use within a
study design, findings should be treated as defined structure which was not erected.
notional, pending a detailed LCA study of the EMR recycles around 10M tonnes of and engineering. Materials are then subject
two buildings and their functional equivalents. materials per year, producing over 100 different to sophisticated separation and processing
The carbon values produced in the grades of ferrous and non-ferrous metals, in techniques before being supplied to customers
LCA study were compared with selected addition to operating a state-of-the-art plastic to continue their lifecycle in low-carbon
benchmark carbon intensity values, and recycling facility. production.
the news report referenced a single finding The company sources materials from across
that reflected a potential reduction of one a number of sectors including construction, Download the EPD at
building relative to one benchmark. The study demolition, decommissioning, automotive www.environdec.com/library/epd6356.
authors note that the benchmarks, although
commonly used, do not necessarily represent
directly comparable buildings in form or
function.
The authors stress that the findings should Industry news
not be assumed to be generalisable to any London discussion forum explores reuse of steel
construction method, building or building
technology. The authors will share conclusions A Circular Steel event was held in London in June to discuss questions around the reuse of
of any further detailed study with the editor. steel. Organised by Steve Gilchrist of Grosvenor Property UK with the help of UKGBC, the
in-person, all-day event featured a series of discussions and interactive sessions focused
Institution news on the reuse of steel. Around 70 people attended the event, which may become an annual
occurrence given its popularity and positive feedback received.
IStructE announces 2022 Gold A panel on procurement and risk busted the myth that insurance is a blocker to steel
Medallist reuse, while the first interactive session of the day saw two separate calculations of the
The Institution of Structural Engineers is embodied carbon of reused steel, one of which already has an EPD.
pleased to announce its 2022 Gold Medallist Steel manufacturers were also present and explained how the demand for steel
as Naeem Hussain FREng, CEng, FIStructE. continues to increase and how they need to work with the wider industry to optimise when
An internationally inspiring engineer whose steel is reused and when it is deemed scrap and sent to their arc furnaces.
designs combine beautiful form with function, The final panel of the day looked to the future, considering the opportunities that are
Naeem has made major contributions to emerging in this space, with the likes of EMR and Cleveland Steel & Tubes both pioneering
bridge design on a global scale which reflect the reuse of steel.
his background in both architecture and Steve Gilchrist said: ‘I was so pleased to see a great turnout and for the conversations
engineering. to be so engaged and collaborative. We had fantastic representation from across the
His work includes the Hong Kong– manufacturing and supply chain, right through to clients.’
Zhuhai–Macau Bridge, Stonecutters Bridge
in Hong Kong, Brunei Temburong Bridge, If you would like to see content from the event, join the Circular Steel group on
the multi-award-winning Hulme Arch Bridge LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/circularsteel/.
in Manchester, and the highly acclaimed
Queensferry Crossing in Scotland, which was
awarded the Royal Academy of Engineering’s Industry news
Major Project Award.
The Gold Medal is the Institution’s
Structural timber educational materials made available
highest individual honour and is awarded for online
personal contributions to the advancement A set of educational materials covering structural timber design and detailing has been
of structural engineering. Naeem Hussain made available online. The materials were originally published in print by Centrum Hout in
will deliver his 2022 Gold Medal address at 1995 under the Structural Timber Education Program (STEP), following the release of the
Institution HQ in London, on 20 October. first generation of Eurocodes.
It is hoped that the content will be updated soon to address the changes being made in
Register for the address at the second-generation Eurocode for timber design.
www.istructe.org/events/hq/gold-
medal-address-2022/. Find out more at https://e-step.net/.

6
August 2022 | thestructuralengineer.org

NEWS_TSE Aug 2022_The Structural Engineer.indd 6 22/07/2022 15:33

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 Upfront President’s mid-term update

President’s mid-term
update: knowledge sharing
is the key to progress
restart a conversation about a Memorandum
JANE ENTWISTLE
of Understanding (MOU) between IStructE and
BSc(Hons), CEng, FIStructE, MICE,
Conservation Accredited Engineer CCRIF which had started in 2014; I am looking
2022 President of the Institution of Structural Engineers forward to signing a new MOU later this year.
The final day of my visit included visits to
the University of the West Indies (UWI) and
the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT)
Where have the last six months gone? The the opportunity to meet with local committees, (Figure 1). I was joined at these meetings by
year is flying by. I am sure that anyone who to welcome their new Chairs, thank the outgoing Omar Allahar, Savitree Singh and Kerrin Burgess
holds office in a 12-month role must have these Chairs and, above all, to thank the Regional (or, as the President of UTT referred to us, ‘the
same feelings at the mid-point of their term. For Group committees for all their hard work. President and her entourage’).
this reason, along with keeping our members At both universities, Omar spoke about the
informed, it is great to take a pause at this point Developing ties in the Caribbean value of involvement with IStructE to structural
and to look back over those first six months. In April, CEO Martin Powell and Tanya de Hoog engineering in their region, and I spoke about
After hopeful expectation of a ‘normal’ year, (our Vice President for the Americas) attended the value to students and teaching staff of
we started well when the badge and baton of the SEI Conference in Atlanta, while I was membership of IStructE, especially in terms of
office were passed from Don McQuillan to me extremely fortunate to be able to undertake a the access to information that it provides for
at our first Board meeting on 13 January this visit to the Caribbean Regional Group. It was them. We discussed the routes to membership
year. The same evening, I delivered my Inaugural a tough call with the pandemic, but John, for staff at both universities and encouraged
Address, entitled ‘Knowledge, skills, history – a my husband, accompanied me and we were them to strive for the quota required for JBM
foundation for a climate-positive future’, to a live overwhelmed by the welcome from IStructE accreditation.
audience of about 360, of whom just under 40 members in that region.
were present in person. Being there for a few days, we had the Climate action
opportunity to meet, and spend more time, with In addition to visiting regional groups, I have
Around the British Isles members and to be able to learn more about been delighted to represent the Institution at a
UK Regional Group visits followed quickly their work and how the Institution can provide number of events, including the launch of Part
thereafter, but Covid-19 had not finished with us, more support. Z (a proposed amendment to the UK Building
resulting in meetings reverting to virtual rather I was very pleased to join a virtual meeting with Regulations) at the House of Lords (Figure 2).
than face-to-face; other meetings/visits were the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility This event was sponsored by IStructE. Our
rearranged. Consequently, my first three visits to (CCRIF) and Caribbean Regional Group members Head of Climate Action, Will Arnold, together
UK Regional Groups were all virtual. Tony Gibbs, Shalini Jagnarine-Azan and Omar with others, each gave a compelling two-minute
The first face-to-face event was with the East Allahar. The purpose of this meeting was to speech about the climate change benefits from,
Midlands Regional Group in Nottingham Castle,
then the following evening I joined Lancashire
and Cheshire, my home Regional Group, for its
legendary Hot Pot Supper, which is always a
highlight in the year. Soon after, I visited Yorkshire
and then Northern Counties Regional Groups.
More recently, I have had the pleasure of
joining Western Counties Regional Group at
Bristol Zoo and Peterborough Regional Group
for a visit to Flag Fen. Not long after, I spent an
afternoon and evening with Devon and Cornwall
Regional Group. A short journey from the UK
then took me to Ireland, where I spent a great
afternoon with the Regional Group committee
and members.
These visits have varied in their format,
ranging from lectures to informal gatherings. But
regardless of the format, whether meetings have
been virtual or in person, I have been grateful for FIGURE 1: Lab visit at University of Trinidad and Tobago

8
August 2022 | thestructuralengineer.org

PRESIDENT'S REPO_TSE Aug 2022_The Structural Engineer.indd 8 25/07/2022 10:23

 President’s mid-term update Upfront

Award 2022: ‘To reduce the carbon footprint

of construction, we need to take immediate
action which includes learning and education at
all levels. What does history teach us and what
systems might be introduced from a structural
engineering design perspective?’
A high number of entries were received and,
in addition to Andrew Blackie’s winning paper
(published in The Structural Engineer in July),
two commendations were also made to James
D’Ambrosio and Ying Xuan Chian.
FIGURE 2: Launching Part
Z at House of Lords – Simon Reuse of buildings
Sturgis, Julie Godefroy, Will
Arnold, Jannik Giesekam
My other main theme is about the reuse of
and Tim den Dekker (l to r) buildings. While I specialise in working with
historic buildings, I am very concerned that we,
as a profession, need take some massive steps
and necessity of, embracing this industry-led and also on the need to share knowledge. The forwards in terms of reusing and/or repurposing
initiative. second of these themes has a further focus 20th century buildings.
It is certainly an initiative for us to follow with on how we can assist this at Regional Group ELG, which I mentioned earlier in this article,
close interest and with the hope that, by showing level. As I have travelled around meeting various also takes this matter very seriously. Under the
government that industry has the appetite groups, I have spoken on different aspects of leadership of Ed Clark, the group is working
for this, they will be encouraged to make the this theme. to make sure that this topic runs as a theme
necessary changes to the Building Regulations On the matter of sharing knowledge, I have through the various committees of its remit.
to limit embodied carbon during construction. spoken on several occasions (actually, whenever Our new Technical Director, Patrick Hayes, is
I get even half a chance either formally or also eager to encourage the development of
Exceptional members informally), as I see this as essential if we are to guidance on this matter for use by members.
It has been very interesting for me to be make the progress that we need in relation to To my mind, we need to share this
able to attend meetings of all the Institution’s reducing the carbon footprint of construction. information, as there is much to learn and we
headline committees. With the exception of the We need to recognise that the sharing of do not have the time to each of us go out and
Engineering Leadership Group (ELG), I have knowledge must be a two-way experience unearth it for ourselves.
served on each of these during my time as between old and young; between specialists
a Vice President; returning to them now, it is and generalists; between academics Looking ahead with hope
extremely encouraging to see the progress that and designers; between consultants and There is so much exciting work going on at
is being made year on year. contractors; between those in different countries the moment in relation to reducing our carbon
My introduction to ELG left me buzzing with and jurisdictions; even between those in our footprint, from virtual meetings through to the
excitement; the meeting was inspiring, with great industry and those not. practical design and investigation advice alluded
enthusiasm and commitment shining through all As I have said on many occasions, to above, that I do have great hope that by the
the members of the group. I came away from the ‘knowledge is too exciting to keep to oneself – end of my term of office at the turn of the year,
meeting feeling inspired and hugely encouraged to make sure that you share it’. I will add, ‘… and we will be able to see measurable improvements
know that we have such a fantastic team working make sure that you listen and learn from others’. and change for good, which will accelerate
in this area. I take this opportunity to thank them With this emphasis on sharing knowledge, through into 2023 and the years to come.
for their leadership and foresight; we truly need I set the following title for the Kenneth Severn Please do keep up the good work.
these visionaries to lead our profession forwards.
In early June, I had the honour of meeting
members who were receiving awards at the
annual People and Papers Awards Lunch
(Figure 3), held this year at the Royal College
of Surgeons in London. The successes
and achievements of the recipients were
outstanding. It was also a delight to be able
to personally thank IStructE members for
their great service to the Institution and to our
profession of structural engineering.
At the same time, I am acutely aware that
there are many, many more unsung heroes of our
organisation, so I do encourage all our Regional
STOP TALKING PHOTOGTAPHY

Group committees to put forward their names

for these awards so that we can thank them and
share the inspiration of their work and effort.

Advancing my themes FIGURE 3:

Knowledge sharing Jane meets
guests at People
As our members are aware, my theme for the and Papers
year is two-fold, focusing on both reuse of Awards
buildings in order to cut our carbon footprint

9
thestructuralengineer.org | August 2022

PRESIDENT'S REPO_TSE Aug 2022_The Structural Engineer.indd 9 22/07/2022 15:34

 Climate emergency Climate justice

5. Influence the brief

Engineering climate justice:

how can we contribute to
equitable global decarbonisation?
In this personal perspective, Tom Newby argues that high-income countries have a moral responsibility
to decarbonise faster, and urges structural engineers to advocate for changes in the way infrastructure is
designed and built in order to work towards this goal.

It is generally well understood that the climate Disproportionate impact of the wealth of the richer countries of the world
emergency is a global problem, which needs With less-resilient infrastructure, less money, and is built.
global solutions. Hence the need for the less capability to respond to and mitigate the
Conference of Parties (COP) process to reach climate crisis, and generally with a geography Block on development
global agreements to mitigate and adapt to and climate more prone to high temperatures In fighting the climate crisis, it is critical that
climate change. and natural hazards, the effects of climate high-income countries stop emitting greenhouse
The COP process includes ongoing change are occurring first, and occurring most, gases, and that lower-income countries do
discussion of who is responsible for the cost in the countries least able to respond to them1. not substantially increase their greenhouse
of adaptation and compensating for loss and This while people in these countries have – both gas emissions. But stopping greenhouse gas
damage in lower-income countries, based both historically and currently – made effectively no emissions now will potentially severely limit the
on ability to pay and responsibility for creating contribution to the climate emergency. development and resilience of lower-income
the crisis we face. However, the construction countries, trapping them in a permanent state of
industry has barely confronted issues of equity Structural disadvantage inequality and poverty.
and climate justice and how these should – and Lower-income countries are structurally
will – affect our ability to decarbonise the built disadvantaged as a result of a history of What does this mean?
environment globally. colonisation and exploitation upon which much This triple injustice is what is meant by climate
This viewpoint seeks to help those working
in the built environment to understand the
reality and context of how we, as a profession, Global South - 8%
respond to the climate emergency in a matter
that is equitable and just for all of humanity.
Rest of Global North - 10%
What is climate justice?
The world is a deeply unequal place, and the
climate crisis greatly exacerbates this inequality.
People in lower-income countries, who make
up the majority of the world’s population, face a
triple injustice of:
1) a disproportionately large impact from climate
change
2) structural disadvantage Rest of Europe - 13% USA - 40%
3) a block on development.
ADAPTED FROM HICKEL, 2020

THE CONSTRUCTION
INDUSTRY HAS NB For the purposes of this
BARELY CONFRONTED analysis, the term Global North
refers to the USA, Canada,
ISSUES OF EQUITY Europe, Israel, Australia, New FIGURE 1:
Responsibility
AND CLIMATE
Zealand, and Japan, whereas the
term Global South refers to the for excess

JUSTICE rest of the world: Latin America, emissions2

Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. EU-28 - 29%

10
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CLIMATE JUSTICE_TSE Aug 2022_The Structural Engineer.indd 10 22/07/2022 15:35

 Climate justice Climate emergency

FIGURE 2: Cumulative CO2 emissions by world region3 Some areas of the world are likely to be become
uninhabitable, or at least much less fertile and
productive, while previously inhospitable areas
may now become liveable and easier to exploit.
OUR WORLD IN DATA | CC BY 4.0

As Hugo Slim argues: ‘Climate justice

demands agreements on new duties and laws
to answer pressing ethical questions about
people’s right to move repeatedly, their right
to be cool and dry, and their ‘right to the city’.
New laws must set out how people share new
land that emerges as productive, and exit well
from land that is dying. Rules are needed to
clarify when dams, drainage systems, and
geo-engineering are fair climate measures, and
when they are unjust because they horde [sic]
for a few and exclude many others’5.
The emerging discourse about human
rights, and what rights people should have in
a rapidly changing world, are highly relevant to
the built environment, and will be an important
consideration in achieving the UN Sustainable
Development Goals in a warming world.
The Right to the City6, in particular,
summarised as the ‘right of all inhabitants,
NB The lion’s share of emissions pre-1850 are from the UK, resulting from the industrial revolution. Note also that different present and future, permanent and temporary,
studies treat emissions embedded in trade, i.e. off-shored emissions, differently. to use, occupy and produce just, inclusive
and sustainable cities, defined as a common
injustice. Without very deliberately addressing their emissions as soon as possible (and this good essential to a full and decent life’, could,
climate justice in the manner in which the world must include emissions from consumption of and maybe should, become a central tenet
responds to the climate crisis, the injustice goods made in other countries). Only then will of good infrastructure and urban design. With
and inequality will continue to worsen. While lower-income countries accept the imperative cities often at the forefront of climate and
this is clearly a moral imperative; it is also a to follow a low-emissions path to further sustainability initiatives, taking actions often
pragmatic one. There will be no successful development. While it is unjust to require the much more radical and progressive than those
globally coordinated action to fight the climate rest of the world to emit less than its fair share taken nationally, the work and responsibilities of
emergency if such action is not just and of greenhouse gases, it is essential for human engineers should be taking human rights into
inclusive. Without globally coordinated action, survival on Earth that these countries do so. consideration if they are to contribute to future
those higher-income countries which have If Asia and Africa, which collectively climate justice.
historically benefited from the inequality set out represent over three-quarters of the world’s
above will themselves suffer from instability, population, were to emit greenhouse gases What does all this mean for
further disrupted and brittle supply chains, and equal to the per-capita amount already emitted engineering?
direct effects of global warming. by the world’s worst polluters, then global It is difficult to see how engineers can
Richer countries must bear the costs, and warming would vastly exceed 2°C – putting meaningfully address global injustice in their
must provide what is needed to lower-income human survival on earth in peril. Successive day-to-day work. Indeed, the best thing most
countries to enable them to develop and Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change engineers can individually do is to eliminate
increase their wealth and quality of life without reports set out in stark terms what a global and minimise carbon from their projects, and
emitting substantially more greenhouse gases. catastrophe this would result in. to advocate for their clients and collaborators
At the same time, richer countries must urgently The future of humanity requires the prevention to enable this. But engineers collectively, the
and rapidly decarbonise their economies to of future emissions on the same per-capita construction industry, and its institutions must
provide the space for lower-income countries to scale. The challenge facing humanity, and its be advocating, and doing so with urgency, for
decarbonise more slowly. engineers, is to enable equitable and just human the fundamental changes in the way we design
development the world over without repeating and build our infrastructure that will enable a
Historic and future carbon the global north’s emissions many times over. more just response to the climate emergency by
emissions This is absolutely possible. A recent study those working in our built environment.
It is a matter of record that the richest countries shows that eradicating extreme poverty Projects which build important infrastructure
have contributed most greenhouse gases to the world-wide would increase emissions by for vulnerable and marginalised people are more
climate emergency (Figures 1 and 2)2,3. less than 1%4. A globally equitable approach justified in emitting carbon than projects which
The combined historic greenhouse gas to addressing the climate emergency could build more infrastructure for already wealthy
emissions from the world’s lower-income absolutely achieve a good quality of life for all and resilient populations. Historic carbon
countries are utterly eclipsed by those from while also staying within planetary boundaries emissions should be considered in deciding
the world’s richest industrialised economies. (Figure 3). what emissions are justifiable where, and who
There can be no expectation of effective global is responsible for paying for avoiding emissions
cooperation to reduce carbon emissions if the Human rights and mitigating the result of emissions.
world’s richest countries keep emitting well As the climate crisis deepens, and climate and Projects in wealthy countries must reach
beyond their fair share of greenhouse gases, environmental breakdown occur, the interface zero carbon all the more quickly to allow this –
given their historical track record. of engineering and infrastructure with human much more quickly than currently planned. In
It is essential that high-income countries stop rights will change and become more critical. practice, this means stricter and lower carbon

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 Climate emergency Climate justice

FIGURE 3: Regional average carbon footprints for countries and regions4

BENEDIKT BRUCKNER ET AL/SPRINGER NATURE

NB The dotted lines indicate the carbon footprints needed to adhere to the temperature goals set out in the Paris Agreement.

targets on projects in high-income countries and is not easy to change. But it is itself built and a few things engineers themselves
than we may have thought. As an international on a system of growth and consumption, and can start to consider in their own work.
institution with a global reach, the Institution of that growth is happening in the wrong places Members of the Institution should be asking
Structural Engineers should be pushing for such – building more and more in places that have their clients and their employers how they
stricter targets, and accompanying regulation, already consumed too much, to the detriment are addressing global climate justice.
insurance and financing practices, in the of places that do not have enough. New
interests of all of its members. economic ideas will need to start reshaping the
People living in lower-income countries construction industry to remain within planetary Tom Newby
have every right to the same standard of boundaries. MEng(Hons), CEng, MIStructE
living and infrastructure as those in wealthy It is no longer acceptable to continue as
countries (although that standard of living we have been doing, and it is high time for Tom Newby leads Buro Happold’s structural
need not necessarily be achieved following considerations of global equity and justice to team in London. He is an experienced aid
the same model!). Wherever they are working, shape what engineers do and how they do it. worker and until 2022 was Chair of the
engineers must seek to show clients and other This viewpoint article sets out some thoughts as Institution’s Humanitarian and International
stakeholders that their needs and expectations to how that process of change could be started, Development Panel.
can be met by locally appropriate, low-carbon,
circular economy approaches. The Circularity
Gap Reporting Initiative7 provides a useful
framework of priorities for low-, middle- and REFERENCES
high-income countries that can help guide a
more just global economy and construction
1) Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (2022) Climate Change 2022: Impacts,
industry. But engineers must remember
Adaptation and Vulnerability – Summary for Policy Makers, B.2.4, B.2.5 [Online] Available at:
always that the most vulnerable – those who www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg2/ (Accessed: July 2022)
contributed least to climate breakdown –
2) Hickel J. (2020) ‘Quantifying national responsibility for climate breakdown: an equality-
must not be denied resilient engineering and
based attribution approach for carbon dioxide emissions in excess of the planetary boundary’,
infrastructure in the name of decarbonisation.
The Lancet Planetary Health, 4 (9), E399–E404; https://doi.org/10.1016/S2542-5196(20)30196-0
All of these things are immensely complex.
Resolving the sometimes (apparently) conflicting 3) Our World in Data (s.d.) Cumulative CO2 emissions by world region [Online] Available at:
objectives of avoiding carbon emissions https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/cumulative-co2-emissions-region?country=Asia+%28exc
l.+China+%26+India%29~CHN~IND~Africa~Oceania~South+America~North+America+%28e
with global equity and justice can seem an
xcl.+USA%29~USA~European+Union+%2827%29~Europe+%28excl.+EU-27%29 (Accessed:
insurmountable obstacle for many projects. July 2022)
However, consideration of these objectives must
become a standard part of an engineer’s design 4) Bruckner B., Hubacek K., Shan Y., Zhong H. and Feng K. (2022) ‘Impacts of poverty
alleviation on national and global carbon emissions’, Nat. Sustain., 5, pp. 311–320; https://doi.
thinking. The Institution and the engineering
org/10.1038/s41893-021-00842-z
higher education sector must produce structural
engineers with the tools to do this. The impact 5) Slim H. (2021) ‘It’s time to pivot from war aid to climate aid’, The New Humanitarian [Online]
of engineering projects can no longer be Available at: www.thenewhumanitarian.org/opinion/2021/10/25/COP26-time-to-pivot-from-
war-aid-to-climate-aid (Accessed: July 2022)
considered only local. The impact of any project
that produces greenhouse gases is global – and 6) International Institute for Sustainable Development (2016) The “Right to the City” and the
the stakeholders are global. New Urban Agenda [Online] Available at: http://sdg.iisd.org/commentary/policy-briefs/the-
These are all big questions and challenging right-to-the-city-and-the-new-urban-agenda/ (Accessed: July 2022)
propositions with no easy answers. The 7) Circle Economy (2022) The Circularity Report 2022 [Online] Available at: www.circularity-
construction industry supports millions of jobs gap.world/2022 (Accessed: July 2022)

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 Using steel in
changing times
22–24 November 2022
Virtual

([[LUK[OPZL*VUMLYLUJL[VSLHYUOV^[V\ZLZ[LLSPUHULɈLJ[P]LHUK
sustainable way in changing times.
Topics will include
‹ +LZPNUPUNLѝJPLU[S`^P[OZ[LLS¶
The climate emergency is one of a number of drivers forcing professions design solutions
HJYVZZ[OLI\PS[LU]PYVUTLU[[VJVUZPKLYOV^[VKLZPNUPUHULќLJ[P]LHUK • Fabrication & execution
sustainable way, while also delivering good design to the steel structures
they design and build. • Reuse and refurbishment

The IStructE’s Using steel in changing times eConference will help structural
engineers understand how to deliver good designs that can be fabricated, Who should attend?
executed, refurbished, and demounted for reuse while also considering • Structural engineers
how to assess, source and reuse steel. The conference will cover real life
L_HTWSLZVMOV^TH[LYPHSHUKKLZPNULѝJPLUJ`JHUILHJOPL]LK • Designers
• Build and demolition contractors
• Material engineers

Registration now open:

PZ[Y\J[LVYNL]LU[ZOX\ZPUNZ[LLSPUJOHUNPUN[PTLZ

21226_steel_conference_FP.indd
TSE.Aug22_013.indd 13 1 21/06/2022 12:26
20/07/2022 pm
11:00
 Professional guidance Construction productivity

Construction
a million workers short by the middle of the
decade, according to a recent article in The
Times4. Higher productivity can help alleviate this
shortfall and lead to higher profits and wages.

productivity:
The issues with construction productivity are
widely recognised and I want to draw attention
to two important initiatives, one in the UK and
one in Germany.

improving the way Construction Productivity

Taskforce
In the UK, a group of tier 1 developers (British

we build today
Land, GPE and Landsec), tier 1 contractors
(Mace, Sir Robert McAlpine, Skanska and
Lendlease), along with Bryden Wood, Cast,
Morrisroe and SOM have joined forces on

and tomorrow
the Construction Productivity Taskforce. An
independent not-for-profit organisation, Be the
Business, is helping to facilitate the Taskforce.
The Taskforce has three initial initiatives: data
and metrics, pilot projects, and collaborative
Bill Baker introduces two initiatives that aim to help address the contracting.
long-standing challenge of low growth in construction productivity.
Data and metrics
Data and metrics are key aspects of improving
My old boss, Hal Iyengar, used to say, ‘never global construction-related spending is 13% any process. The Taskforce identified five initial
propose a design unless you have at least of the world’s GDP, but has only seen a 1% items to measure: productivity (construction
one idea of how to build it’. The message was annual productivity growth over the past two value per labour hour), waste generated, pre-
that the construction process should always decades. In contrast, the productivity of the manufactured value, right-first-time, and tool
be central to the design process. I took this to world economy has seen a 2.8% growth and time.
heart. On the Burj Khalifa project, some of the manufacturing has seen a 3.6% productivity For the data to be meaningful, it needs
formwork was reused over 160 times; this was growth. to be measured in a consistent manner and
not an accident, but was a central aspect of What is true on the global stage is generally made available to the industry. The Taskforce is
the proposed structural system. The goal was true in the UK. According to a recent report working with a new independent organisation,
not only to have a design that was based on from the Office for National Statistics2, in the the Construction Data Trust (https://datatrust.
‘how to build it’, but ‘how to build it with high last 50 years, advancements in construction construction/), which enables organisations to
construction productivity’. productivity levels have remained consistently share their data in an anonymised and secure
IStructE members and our design colleagues below the UK average (Figure 1). The ONS way.
in architecture, M&E and other allied professions states: ‘In real terms, gross value added To explain the process and advantages of
can have a significant effect on construction increased by just 12% in the 22 years to 2019 these efforts, the Taskforce recently published
productivity if it is one of the design objectives. (less than 0.5% per year on average), compared the report Measuring Construction Site
with the whole economy, which saw a 53% Productivity: A seven-step framework for
The construction industry needs increase (more than 2.0% per year on average).’ success5. The report gives an overview of the
our help Construction is one of the largest sectors Taskforce’s efforts, as well as guidance on data
Compared with other industries, advances in the UK, consisting of 9% of the workforce3. and metrics. Included in the report is information
in construction productivity over recent Dramatic changes in the post-Brexit/post- on the initial Taskforce pilot projects.
decades are abysmal. This is a global problem. pandemic labour market could leave the
According to the McKinsey Global Institute1, construction industry more than a quarter of Pilot projects
To start harvesting data, members of the
Taskforce designated two pilot projects in
FIGURE 1:
Output per hour London: The Forge, Southwark and Blossom
worked and multi- Street, Norton Folgate. Much was learned
factor productivity,
from these initial projects, summarised in the
construction
industry and Taskforce’s report.
market sector, UK, Taking what was learned from the two initial
1970 to 20202
projects, the Taskforce has expanded the effort
to include approximately a dozen more projects.

Collaborative contracting
Later this year, the Taskforce will publish a
SECTOR INFORMATION
LICENSED UNDER THE
CONTAINS PUBLIC

‘Private Sector Construction Playbook’ that

OPEN GOVERNMENT

mirrors the UK Government’s Construction

LICENCE V3.0.

Playbook6, published in December 2020.

Involvement of designers in construction

productivity
So far, the Taskforce has focused mainly on

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 Construction productivity Professional guidance

activities for RIBA Stage 5 – Manufacturing productivity. If one could characterise the UK
and Construction. There is a limit to what effort as trying to improve how we build today, William F. Baker
contractors and owners can achieve when the German effort is focused on how we will FREng, FIStructE
they try to execute the design. Where a design build in the future.
incorporates complexities such as structural The DFG is funded by the German states Bill Baker is a Consulting Partner at SOM.
transfers or geometric gymnastics without due and the federal government and has a He led the structural design of projects
consideration for the impact on the construction series of major grants under its Cluster of such as London’s Exchange House, the
process, even the most talented contractor can Excellence programme. One of these grants Tianjin CTF Financial Centre and the Burj
only achieve so much. Construction productivity is to the University of Stuttgart for an effort Khalifa. He was awarded the IStructE Gold
should be considered as part of the early titled ‘Integrative Computational Design and Medal in 2010.
design stages, and, where possible, design Construction for Architecture’ (www.intcdc.
teams should solicit input from contractors and uni-stuttgart.de/research/). The effort started
construction experts. in 2019 and is currently funded through 2025.
This is particularly true in jurisdictions where This expansive research programme has
planning permissions at the end of RIBA Stage many components, some of which are noted HAVE
2 essentially limit what a contractor can do to below. YOUR
improve construction productivity in later stages. Researchers are looking at ways to bring
SAY
As many members of IStructE know very well, digital tools and robotics to the construction [email protected]
numerous aspects of construction productivity site. These include improving existing and
are ‘baked in’ during the early design phases. creating new hoisting technologies. Associated
If the owner is unwilling to take the risk of with this are sophisticated tools to measure
reopening the planning permission with the the actual geometry of the building as it is
@IStructE
authorities, the opportunities for innovative built. Other topics include multidisciplinary #TheStructuralEngineer #TheStructuralEngineer
construction processes are severely limited. co-design (including construction), design
and construction data management, and the
Designing for construction productivity possible role of robots on the construction site. REFERENCES
The Taskforce recently hosted a workshop The training of construction workers to use
comprising structural engineers, architects, these new technologies is an aspect of the
M&E engineers, developers, and contractors research. 1) McKinsey Global Institute (2017)
to explore the question, ‘How can we increase Another major component is the Reinventing construction: a route to
construction productivity through design?’ development of building systems that include higher productivity [Online] Available at:
www.mckinsey.com/~/media/mckinsey/
The conversation has just started. The functionally graded concrete, multistorey wood
business%20functions/operations/our%20
subject is complicated. Many organisational/ systems, composite fibre structures, and bio- insights/reinventing%20construction%20
framework, knowledge and risk barriers impede composite structures. Integral to the evolution through%20a%20productivity%20
construction input in the early design phases, of these systems is the development of the revolution/mgi-reinventing-construction-a-
where it can have the most impact. associated design, fabrication and construction route-to-higher-productivity-full-report.pdf
The IStructE Initial Professional Development technology. (Accessed: July 2022)
(IDP) has many requirements for becoming a 2) Office for National Statistics (2021)
Chartered Member related to construction and The path to higher construction Productivity in the construction industry, UK:
commercial aspects. This is important, but it productivity 2021 [Online] Available at: www.ons.gov.uk/
does not make a structural engineer an expert The current situation was created over many, economy/economicoutputandproductivity/
in construction productivity. Unfortunately, other many years and improving construction productivitymeasures/articles/
design disciplines often have major impacts on productivity won’t be easy. There is a limit to productivityintheconstruction
construction productivity but are less in tune how much change owners and contractors can industryuk2021/2021-10-19 (Accessed: July
2022)
with construction than are structural engineers. implement without the help of the designers.
The entire design community must address the Certainly, construction productivity will suffer if 3) Department for Business, Energy &
topic of design for construction productivity. the basic design is inherently difficult and slow Industrial Strategy (2019) UK Government
The problems have been decades in the to construct. Policy Paper: Construction Sector
Deal [Online] Available at: www.gov.uk/
making. Long gone is the time when the design Instead of just playing the hand dealt to them
government/publications/construction-
team directed the construction on behalf of by the design team, owners and contractors
sector-deal/construction-sector-deal
the owner. The complexity of projects and the should engage the designers in promoting (Accessed: July 2022)
specialisation of the designers often inhibit a construction productivity, and designers
deep knowledge of the entire project. At times, should encourage the inclusion of construction 4) Lea R. (2022) ‘Builders face big shortage
in workforce’, The Times [Online] Available
the conceptual design team is different from the productivity thinking at early design stages. I
at: www.thetimes.co.uk/article/builders-
professionals who produce the construction strongly believe the design community must be face-big-shortage-in-workforce-sprstrzvd
documents. Risk and insurance issues create involved in this effort and that the organisational, (Accessed: July 2022)
barriers between the designers and deep knowledge and risk barriers must be lowered as
5) Construction Productivity Taskforce
involvement in the construction on site. much as possible.
(2022) Measuring Construction Site
The list of impediments is long. But I have been involved in design and Productivity: A seven-step framework
something must be done. The Taskforce construction for over 40 years, but I still learn for success [Online] Available at: https://
initiative is one such effort. new things and new ideas from contractors. media.bethebusiness.com/documents/
And this new knowledge changes my BtB_Measuring_Construction_Productivity_
Construction productivity designs… for the better. We should all embrace TsFJq3Q.pdf (Accessed: July 2022)
research in Germany and update the philosophy of Hal Iyengar. We 6) Cabinet Office (2020) The Construction
In Germany, the University of Stuttgart is leading should ‘never propose a design unless [we] Playbook [Online] Available at: www.gov.uk/
a major effort funded by the German Research have at least one idea of how to build it’… with government/publications/the-construction-
Foundation (DFG) to address construction an eye on construction productivity. playbook (Accessed: July 2022)

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 Professional guidance CROSS report

CROSS Safety Report

Tower crane base designs

This month’s CROSS report again highlights the importance of a competent person fulfilling the
role of Temporary Works Coordinator on a project and the need for suitable checking of designs.

Overview Example 2: The loads to one of the possibly then copies the loads into
A reporter’s firm has been involved legs of a self-erector tower crane were another document. It appears that
in the design and checking of given as 0 under all three load cases. these transcribed numbers are in some
numerous tower crane bases and This could clearly not be the case. We cases not checked before they are
has come across many examples challenged the supplier and a revised supplied to the base designer.
where the supplier of the tower loading detail was provided showing The reporter would like this
crane has supplied incorrect the actual load. information shared to ensure that
loadings. These incorrect loadings designers ‘sense check’, as far as they
could have led to crane failures had Example 3: A tower crane was can, the loads they are supplied with.
the errors not been spotted. originally proposed to be used with They would also like crane suppliers to
minimal ballast, effectively just the use more care when providing loads,
Report self-weight of the kentledge base. perhaps implementing a checking
A reporter’s firm has been involved The crane was quite short and not regime for all loads provided.
in the design and checking of particularly large. The initial loadings This firm carries out a significant
numerous tower crane bases and supplied indicated a very minimal number of tower crane base designs in
has come across many examples tension load of less than 100kN. The an average year. If they are finding this
where the supplier of the tower reporter’s firm was undertaking the many errors, they believe there must
crane has supplied incorrect Category 3 checks on the base, and be others. They believe the problem of
loadings. It is only through their it became apparent that the designer
experience that the firm is picking had used an incorrect factor in the
up these errors and can challenge design.
the suppliers. The reporter provides As the piles had already been Key learning outcomes
three examples found in a 12-month installed and did not have sufficient For crane and lifting equipment suppliers:
period to illustrate the problems. tensile capacity, the crane supplier | Base loadings should be validated before being
was asked for loadings allowing for provided to others
Example 1: A tower crane an additional 60t of kentledge on the
supplier stated that the in-service base. The revised loadings supplied For civil and structural design engineers:
moment was 500kNm, while the indicated a tensile load of over 200kN, | It is good practice to carry out an independent
out-of-service was approaching over two times greater than the check to verify loads received from a third party
20 000kNm. These two numbers previous loadings supplied. Logically, | Check detailing of crane bases carefully,
are a world apart and were the load should have reduced not particularly tension resistance
challenged. The in-service moment increased. After discussion, the crane
was corrected to 5000kNm (a zero supplier admitted that the original set For contractors:
had been missed out). Admittedly, of loadings was completely wrong. | Appoint a competent Temporary Works Coordinator
the in-service does not generally A design based on this incorrect who can coordinate the design and sequencing of
drive the design; however, suppose information could well have led to the temporary works
the mistake had been in the out- tower crane falling over. | Good planning can ensure independent design
of-service moment, and we had checks are carried out in time and approved prior
designed for 5000kNm in service Data for tower crane loadings to the works commencing on site
and 2000kNm (i.e., the same error of The reporter believes the data for | Be mindful of the required tension capacity of
a missing zero) out-of-service. The tower crane loadings are generally crane bases
base would have had less than a obtained from a large document that
third of the capacity required. shows all variations. The crane supplier

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 CROSS report Professional guidance

checking processes are in place

for all parts of the temporary works
design, including for any tower crane What is CROSS?
CONTRACTORS and its foundations. The proper
SHOULD BE coordination and control of temporary
works, as would be undertaken by
Collaborative Reporting for Safer Structures

MINDFUL OF THE an experienced TWC, is fundamental

(CROSS) helps professionals to make structures
safer by publishing safety information based on
REQUIRED in avoiding confusion and, with it, the reports it receives and information in the public
TENSION reducing the risk of something going
wrong.
domain.
CROSS operates internationally in the UK,
CAPACITY OF The Construction Plant-hire US, and Australasia. All regions cover structural
CRANE BASES Association confirms in its Technical
Information Note 031, Managing the
safety, while CROSS-UK also covers fire safety.

design, construction and inspection of

incorrect loads being supplied may be tower crane bases, grillages, and ties,
happening quite regularly across the that ‘for a tower crane installation to
industry. be safe, it must be properly managed
at all stages of its procurement and
Expert Panel comments use, from initial planning during the
This is clearly a worrying account, and pre-construction phase to removal
the reporter does well to raise it. Good from site’. Clearly, this requires the
practice in crane foundation design correct design loadings to be provided
will involve sense-checking input data. to the foundation designer and tower
This can be relatively easily done by (a) crane providers may benefit from
reference to crane manufacturers’ data, checking as to how they ensure the
and (b) by basic mechanics to within correct loadings are communicated to
an order of magnitude. Experience foundation designers.
also plays its part; experienced and The design and detailing of crane
competent designers know what order bases is an area where designers
of magnitude and scale of members should be vigilant. Poorly detailed
they should be seeing, as appears bases may see conflicts between
to be displayed by this reporter. This holding-down assemblies, base
applies as much to crane bases as to reinforcement and/or piles that
any other structural element. require amendment on site. In such
Crane bases and their foundations cases, it has been known for the
are ‘temporary works’, which in site amendments to remove tension How reporting to CROSS
accordance with good practice resistance. Tension loads and tension works
(and industry consensus) should be resistance are a fundamental part The secure and confidential
designed to BS 5975 Code of practice of the whole crane installation. In safety reporting system allows
for temporary works procedures many cases, it will be good practice professionals to share their
and the permissible stress design of to integrate the crane base into the experiences to help others.
falsework. One of the key features of permanent foundations. Contractors Professionals can submit
BS 5975 is that it requires checks to should be mindful of the required reports on safety issues
be made on temporary works designs. tension capacity of crane bases. related to buildings and
The value of such checks has been A previous CROSS report, Tower other structures in the built
demonstrated by this report. crane foundation design error (report environment. Reports typically
CIRIA Report C761: Guide to tower ID: 662), described a case where relate to concerns, near
crane foundation and tie design further incorrect foundation pile loadings were misses or incidents. Find
states that the design of all tower provided, albeit the error was made out more, including how to
crane bases should be subject to an by the structural engineer and not the submit a safety report, at
independent design check to at least tower crane provider; nevertheless, https://bit.ly/cross-safety. Your
Category 2 as per BS 5975. Clearly, this error again illustrates the need for report will make a difference.
for this to be effective, it must surely all involved to validate tower crane
be the case that the design loadings foundation loads.
passed by the tower crane supplier to
the foundation designer must also be The full report, including links to
checked to this standard. guidance mentioned, is available on the
The Temporary Works Coordinator CROSS website (report ID: 1093) at
(TWC), as appointed under BS www.cross-safety.org/uk/safety-
5975, may consider it appropriate to information/cross-safety-report/
assure themselves that appropriate tower-crane-base-designs-1093.

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 Opinion Profile

John Orr
Developing new tools to help structural
engineers make more efficient use of
materials – and persuading them why
they must do so – are key themes for
Cambridge academic Dr John Orr.
He talks to Helena Russell about his
research and plans for the future.

WITH HIS CLEAR FOCUS ON

practical outcomes, Dr John Orr is proof
that a high-flying career in academia no
longer breeds a lofty attitude towards
the realities of frontline construction.
The range and extent of Orr’s
achievements in just 13 years since
graduating is impressive; co-author
FIGURE 1: Underside view of ACORN segmented thin-shell concrete floor prototype
of two books with practical guidance
on embodied carbon, leader of a
series of research projects focusing on
automation of construction processes
to optimise concrete use, and an active
figure in the carbon reduction agenda.

Blurring the lines

Orr’s route into civil engineering was
relatively conventional; he cites the
classic childhood pursuit of playing with
Lego, though recalls that he also played
with dolls as a result of having two older
sisters. Studying design technology
cemented his pleasure in the process
of designing and making, and gave him
the arts fix that he craved to balance
the maths that he admits was never
his great passion. This blend of art and
science has remained a thread through
his life ever since, Orr notes.
Although he can’t recall what first FIGURE 2: John Orr atop ACORN prototype structure
prompted him to consider engineering,
he knew that he’d found his fit at
the University of Bath, where civil be a great architect, you need to Flexible working
engineering and architecture are taught understand the engineering, and the After graduating, Orr was awarded PhD
in a combined degree. ‘It really spoke construction process,’ he says, ‘just funding to work with Professor Tim
to me in a way that maybe a pure as to be a great engineer, you need to Ibell at Bath to investigate the concept
engineering degree wouldn’t have,’ he understand how people use a space, of flexible formwork and its potential
says. and how spaces work together. For for optimising concrete use – allowing
Orr explains that the distinction me, the people historically who built design to move away from regular
between the two disciplines is great structures would be the likes of beam and column elements to highly
deliberately blurred at Bath, an approach Pier Luigi Nervi and Eladio Dieste; optimised structural shapes. The subject
he strongly supports, shunning the they were the contractor, the piqued his interest so much that he
architect/engineer label in favour engineer and the architect and built turned down a job offer at Arup in order
of ‘designer’. ‘If you are going to fantastic structures.’ to pursue it. ‘I had already worked on

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PROFILE JOHN ORR_TSE Aug 2022_The Structural Engineer.indd 26 22/07/2022 15:46

 Profile Opinion

CAREER
MILESTONES
2009 MEng (Hons) in Civil
Engineering (First
Class), University of
Bath
2010 IStructE Henry
Adams Award 2010
for research on
concrete design
2011 IStructE Henry
Adams Award 2011
for innovation in
construction
2012 PhD in Civil
Engineering,
University of Bath.
Flexible formwork for
concrete structures.
Sponsored by Atkins
2013–2015 Consultant to Atkins
2013–2017 Assistant Professor
placements at WhitbyBird, Ramboll, (EPSRC). This scheme provides five FIGURE 3: Robotic and Director of
Taylor Woodrow and others; I felt that I years of funding to a young academic, cell for fabricating Research, University
had gained a certain amount of design to enable them to establish a team of
concrete components of Bath
on adjustable mould
and site experience, so I decided to do researchers and pursue a particular line 2015 Awarded ESPRC
the research instead.’ of enquiry, taking it with them if they Early Career
A job opening came up for an move jobs. It was a huge boost, he Fellowship
assistant professor in the Civil recalls; his theme was computational in Structural
Engineering and Architecture modelling of concrete, and how it could Engineering
department at Bath in 2013, soon be developed and exploited in the 2015–2017 Consultant to OPS
after Orr finished his PhD, and for optimisation of structural elements. Structures
the next four years he taught and led His first major grant was for research
2017 University Assistant
research at his alma mater. In 2017, he linked to his PhD, which had developed
professor in Concrete
was appointed Assistant Professor in highly-optimised concrete shapes;
Structures, University
Concrete Structures at the University the challenge he now took on was
of Cambridge
of Cambridge, and moved his research to find a way to automate creation
team to Cambridge to continue work in of reinforcement to suit these curved 2018 Official Fellow,
optimisation. elements. Magdalene College
One of Orr’s first research grants Orr developed a machine that could Cambridge
at Bath was to investigate whether wind carbon or glass-fibre strands 2018 Elsevier Atlas
granulated plastic could be used as around an arrangement of carbon-fibre Award for Impactful
a replacement for a proportion of the bars, to suit the shape of the concrete Research on
sand in concrete. The work sought to element. This led him to think about Sustainable Uses for
establish whether such concrete had the whether the concrete casting process Excess Plastic Waste
same structural properties. ‘There was might be automated too – a train of 2019 IStructE Oscar Faber
a black market in illegally dredged sand thought he subsequently pursued at Award for Best
in India due to the huge demand for it,’ Cambridge, working with the Universities Presentation of the
Orr recalls. ‘But while this solution would of Bath and Dundee on the Automating Year for Research in
divert waste plastic temporarily, you Concrete Construction (ACORN) project, Robotically Formed
would still have the same problem once which finished in March 2022 (Figures Carbon Fibre
the concrete reached the end of its life. 1 and 2).
The initial aim to use less sand led onto This work focused on developing a 2020 Elected to the
looking at using less concrete. This idea shell structure to replace the material- IStructE Council for a
about reducing material is a key point of intensive slab design that is traditionally three-year term
my research,’ he says. used for floor construction, combining 2022 Professor of
Orr’s fascination for shell structures with Structural
Concrete plans his desire to have a serious impact on Engineering,
In 2015, Orr was awarded an concrete use. ‘Shell structures were University of
early career fellowship in structural more popular when materials were Cambridge
engineering by the Engineering and in short supply; now we need to go
Physical Sciences Research Council back to them as a way of dramatically

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PROFILE JOHN ORR_TSE Aug 2022_The Structural Engineer.indd 27 22/07/2022 15:49

 Opinion Profile

FIGURE 4: deconstructed buildings and work out

Optimised flexibly how you can use those elements to
formed beam
cast in fabric build what you want.’ Importantly, the
mould – reducing publication includes real-life case studies
concrete use that demonstrate successful reduction
of carbon, highlighting scenarios that
designers are likely to encounter.
Orr also co-authored the IStructE’s
How to calculate embodied carbon
guide with Orlando Gibbons, the second
edition of which was published in March
this year. ‘Before we put this together,
we didn’t have an agreed methodology
for counting embodied carbon in
structural engineering, which makes
it hard to compare designs,’ he says.
The book provides a standard method
that everyone can follow. Another
crucial aspect of this initiative is the Built
Environment Carbon Database, which
Orr is advising on. When it launches,
reducing the amount of concrete, and by having porous fabric as formwork. everyone will be able to report carbon
more specifically Portland cement, that The work will start with simple hollow counts for specific projects, the intention
we use,’ Orr suggests. elements, combined with lower-carbon being that lessons can be drawn from
The project explored how shells for a concrete mixes; if successful, attention those projects with notably high or low
typical 8m2 grid could be created from will turn to slabs or 3D elements carbon counts, to identify how we can
nine elements, each cast separately (Figure 4). improve and do things more efficiently.
using a robotic concrete-spraying It will be an anonymous, easy to use
machine over a bed that was adjusted Cutting embodied carbon tool, Orr says. ‘It’s very important that
to the appropriate shape using actuators In some cases, the results of Orr’s practitioners work together on this as a
beneath it (Figure 3). research continue to generate interest, collaborative effort.’
as with the two-year Minimising Energy
Moving on post-Covid in Construction (MEICON) project, an Breaking out
Unfortunately, the plan to build a large- extensive survey of structural engineers September marks the start of a two-
scale, two-bay prototype at BRE had to be and how their behaviour matched up term sabbatical for Orr, during which
ditched when the Covid-19 pandemic hit, with carbon-reduction aspirations. he will be relieved from teaching to
closing access to the lab for nine months Most of those surveyed said that they concentrate on research and his own
and delaying deliveries of equipment. wanted to do the right thing in terms projects. With his interests still in
‘We ended up building a scaled-down of cutting embodied carbon, but the demand reduction and automation of
prototype in the lab in Cambridge instead,’ pressures of commercial life – the time production, he hopes to visit industrial
Orr says. ‘It had a 4.5m span between and money available, worries about how and academic centres in the cement
columns, 20m2 enclosed space and well buildings would be constructed, the sector on a fact-finding mission to see
floor structure on top for testing. But risk of something going wrong on site what preparations they are making for
we showed that it was feasible to build and so on – result in buildings that are changes in the market.
it, we did the carbon calculations and structurally inefficient. ‘It’s not a technical Another exciting development
worked out the savings, and more problem, it’s a cultural one,’ Orr says. that will finally come to fruition in
HAVE
importantly we tested it. Validating our ‘We put forward suggestions YOUR two years’ time is the launch of the
models was very important,’ he adds. for simple things people could do; SAY University of Cambridge’s new four-year
Some of the knowledge and immediate changes in behaviour can undergraduate degree course in Design.
achievements from ACORN will feed into make a lot of difference even if they are Orr has been working with Professor
Orr’s next research project which starts small,’ he adds. ‘For example, if you Michael Ramage and others to develop
in September, funded by EPSRC under don’t have the stomach to go up to a this from scratch over the last five years.
the theme of sustainable manufacturing. 100% utilisation of capacity, try 90% ‘It integrates architecture, engineering
This three-year project, in collaboration instead – it will still make a difference.’ and material science to create a truly
with materials experts from the University This research fed into Design for [email protected] interdisciplinary degree that will equip
of Exeter, will examine the potential of zero which Orr co-authored with students with skills in creative design
auxetic materials for use in concrete Margaret Cooke, Tim Ibell, Claire Smith thinking, so that they know what
construction. and Natasha Watson and which was questions to ask, not just how to answer
Auxetic refers to materials woven in published last year by IStructE. The questions,’ Orr says. Structured around
such a way that they have a negative book challenges overdesign, explaining @IStructE hands-on, problem-based learning
#TheStructuralEngineer
Poisson’s ratio – when stretched they why it is prevalent, and the impact it projects with studio work and practical
get wider rather than narrower. ‘We has on material consumption and CO2 skills, it will lead to a Master of Design
are going to trial the material as both emissions. ‘It states you should make qualification, offering the blend of arts
formwork and reinforcement,’ Orr says; ‘form follows availability’ your mantra,’ and science education that Orr believes
the aim being to simplify material use explains Orr. ‘Ideally, you should look is the key to tackling global societal and
and also create a more durable concrete at what materials are available from #TheStructuralEngineer environmental challenges.

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 Book review Opinion

Review
As readers of this publication will be all too aware, our need to act collectively to fight
climate change is urgent. Tom Woolley’s latest book is therefore an important and timely
reminder that building with low-carbon materials can and has been done, and should
not be seen as a future panacea but instead a realistic ambition, writes Philip Isaac.

Natural building POTENTIALLY AIMED MORE AT

those looking to build their own home
techniques: or architects looking to boost their

A guide to knowledge of low-carbon materials,

the book nevertheless should have
ENGINEERS, AS
PART OF A
ecological appeal to the structural engineering
community. DESIGN TEAM,
methods and It’s rare that after proposing them,
low-carbon materials are dropped
CAN GREATLY
materials for structural reasons, instead issues ASSIST THE
Author: Tom Woolley
with unfamiliar detailing, worries on
durability, perceived lack of suppliers
ADOPTION OF
Publisher: Crowood Press or competent installers, and cost LOW-CARBON
Price: £20.00 worries are the factors that tend to put MATERIALS
ISBN: 978-0-71984-047-0 people off. In this regard, engineers,
as part of a design team, can greatly
THROUGH
assist the adoption of low-carbon BETTER
materials through better knowledge
and awareness to counter the main
KNOWLEDGE
hurdles. AND AWARENESS
Woolley’s book combines an TO COUNTER THE
encyclopaedic knowledge of natural
building materials and techniques with
MAIN HURDLES
a generous sprinkling of good humour,
making the book simultaneously While the book covers myriad
enjoyable and informative. Early low-carbon materials, it avoids the
chapters of the book focus on trap of trying to be everything, instead
building with the primary low-carbon referencing more exhaustive and
materials, nanamely: earth, timber, lime detailed texts on specific subjects. It is
and masonry,
masonry strawbale, and hemp/ this approach that should substantially
hempcrete. T The book concludes enhance its appeal for engineers
with importa
important chapters covering who won’t learn how to calculate the
manufacture
manufactured natural materials, paints/ racking resistance of a hempcrete wall,
retrofit/renovations and
finishes, retr for example, but will develop a much
challenges fo for the future. greater appreciation of when and
One of the real triumphs of the where to use low-carbon materials and
book is the ffrank assessment of the any technical challenges to look out
challenges o of natural building materials for. This should hopefully give us all the
(lack of breathability
brea comes up confidence to propose natural building
numerous tim times). This frank admission materials and have the resources to
allows the b book to counter many of the back up their inclusion on a project,
points detrac
detractors like to make against achieving the main goal of reducing the
low-carbon materials, with the
using low-ca embodied carbon of every structure
information p provided on dealing with we build.
planning, bubuilding control and obtaining
mortgages a and insurance particularly
useful. Philip Isaac
The book even goes as far as to MEng, PhD, CEng, MIStructE
conclude witwith a form of myth-busting,
Philip is a co-founder of Simple
lamenting th the number of reports that
Works and a visiting research fellow
identify the nneed to reduce carbon at the University of Bath. His interests
providing any advice on
without prov include the use of new materials
actually achi
achieving this and providing a in construction and the historical
viewpoint on the merits of the much- development of the structural
lauded Pass
Passivhaus standard. engineering profession.

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 Opinion From the archive

From the archive

Strength is easy!
Or the development
of plastic design
To mark the 100th anniversary of The Structural Engineer, Alan Rathbone looks back at several
key papers that helped advance the development of plastic design of steel portal frames.

Introduction analysis and drew on many publications and the cladding. Unfortunately, this meant that
It was in 1986, after the early part of my papers, such as ‘Plastic design of low rise there were long segments on these slender
career in quite varied roles, that I took what frames’ by M.R. Horne and L.J. Morris. I was members that had little or no restraint to the
at the time was a momentous decision to nominally to look after the new developments compression flange. Thus, any additional
move out of mainstream civil engineering for its software for plastic portal frame design. assistance from restraint to the tension flange
into the up-and-coming domain of software The brand-new limit state steel code at the was worthwhile. The papers here were used in
development for civil and structural engineers. time, BS 5950-1:1985, contained some very the development of the plastic design clauses
Anybody over 50 who remembers a life before helpful clauses on plastic stability of members in BS 5950-1:1985. Comparison of some of
computers, let alone mobile phones, will in portal frames. This was based on my first the formulae in both documents can confirm
appreciate the risk in that decision. sample papers by Horne and Ajmani. this. For example, in Horne and Ajmani (1971),
In the context of this article, many of the the base formula for columns restrained at
statements need to be prefaced mentally by intervals along the tension flange is:
‘at the time’. KEY PAPERS
The company I joined was a wholly owned
d( ) d3( )
subsidiary of a well-known consulting GK o
EI y (a 2 d 2 / 4) o

practice based in Leeds. So the software Design of columns restrained by dz dz 3

development was well grounded in side-rails d
engineering expertise. M.R. Horne and J.L. Ajmani ( x2 (a y ) 2 )dA
Volume 49 (8), 1971, pp. 339–345 A
dz
Early plastic design www.istructe.org/journal/volumes/
While it had its roots in the 1960s and 70s (and volume-49-(published-in-1971)/issue-8/ This can be manipulated in various ways to
earlier), plastic design was still in its infancy, design-of-columns-restrained-by-side- give a limiting length when subject to uniform
particularly so in the provision of software tools rails/ moment and axial force. To improve the result,
to assist the engineer. The company I joined there are various modifications that can be
already had a program that used rigid plastic Discussion on Failure of columns made for linear or non-linear moment gradient.
laterally supported on one flange This is where published discussion on
M.R. Horne and J.L. Ajmani papers (as listed above) can be very useful at
Volume 51 (7), 1973, pp. 251–260 informing designers of helpful comments on
THE PAPER www.istructe.org/journal/volumes/ application or extension of the original paper.
PROVIDED A MEANS volume-51-(published-in-1973)/issue-7/
discussion-on-failures-of-columns-
In this instance, an adjustment for non-linear
moment gradient was highlighted:
TO CALCULATE, BY laterally-suppor/
HAND, THE ELASTIC k
M1 3M 2 4M 3 3M 4 M 5
12M p
2(M S max M E max )

CRITICAL LOAD Both global and member stability in slender

FACTOR WITH plane frames such as portal frames is of great The origins of the above can be clearly seen
REASONABLE importance. The typical restraint to such
members – rafters and stanchions – was, of
in Equation G.3.6.1 of BS 5950-1:1985 and
again in the contemporary code EN 1993-1-1
ACCURACY course, on the outside of the frame to support as expression BB.14.

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 From the archive Opinion

Improvement and codification The other two (full) papers listed together
Out-of-plane member stability under axial cover how best to deal with in-plane stability KEY PAPER
force and moment was thus well covered by effects in such slender structures as portal
earlier research and in BS 5950:1 (very well frames. The first paper (1990) deals with the
crafted by the late Colin Taylor), which was difficulty of estimating the in-plane effective Eurocode 3 and the in-plane stability
first published in 1985. However, there were length in continuous structures, particularly of portal frames
a few areas of uncertainty in slender portal portal frames with pitched rafters. Instead, it J.B.P. Lim, C.M. King, A.J. Rathbone,
frame design and they related to in-plane offers a means of allowing for the consequent J.M. Davies and V. Edmondson
stability of the members and frame as well as second-order effects in the frame when it is Volume 83 (21), 2005, pp. 43–49
to the details of the global analysis of the now particularly slender, using the ‘elastic critical www.istructe.org/journal/volumes/volume-
popular elastic-plastic analysis and design. load factor’. 83-(published-in-2005)/issue-21/eurocode-
The second paper (1991) extends this 3-and-the-in-plane-stability-of-portal-fr/
approach to multi-bay frames and provides
KEY PAPERS ‘simple expressions’ for the determination of
the elastic critical load factor. Various practical Final implementation of an EC3 version of
frames were chosen and compared with an portal frame design in the UK was delayed
False mechanisms in exact analysis using second-order elastic- because some of the rules for member stability
elastic-plastic analysis plastic analysis. The paper provided a means were either missing or not clear in EC3. These
J.M. Davies to calculate, by hand, the elastic critical load were not solved until the development of the
Volume 66 (16), 1988, p. 268 factor with reasonable accuracy and could be SCI Publication P399: Design of steel portal
www.istructe.org/journal/volumes/volume- used to check the output from software. frame buildings to Eurocode 3, published in
66-(published-in-1988)/issue-16/false- Elastic critical load factors are still in use 2015, which in one paragraph cites the original
mechanisms-in-elastic-plastic-analysis/ today to determine the need to take account work by Horne and Ajmani.
of second-order effects or indeed provide a
Inplane stability in portal frames means to include these effects. Summary and the future
J.M. Davies Steel portal frames continue to be a popular
Volume 68 (8), 1990, pp. 141–147 Applying Eurocodes form of construction for single-storey buildings
www.istructe.org/journal/volumes/ So much for the nineties. In 2000, BS 5950:1 in the UK, accounting for around half of
volume-68-(published-in-1990)/issue-8/ was given a makeover with a little more the constructional steelwork per annum. A
inplane-stability-in-portal-frames/ emphasis on second-order effects. Thankfully, recent resurgence has been fuelled by their
the really helpful clauses on plastic design widespread use in distribution warehouses.
The stability of multibay portal and the specific clauses on portal frames Over the last 30 years, the research published
frames remained. But in 2010 came the momentous in the papers described above has held us in
J.M. Davies publication of the first tranche of Eurocodes – good stead. It is still applied with confidence
Volume 69 (12), 1991, pp. 223–229 those for steel design among them. despite the typical portal frame moving from
www.istructe.org/journal/volumes/ For the most part, the member stability steel grade S250 to S355, with a collapse load
volume-69-(published-in-1991)/issue-12/ rules for plastic design were retained, thanks factor reducing from 1.8 to around 1.5, and with
the-stability-of-multibay-portal-frames/ in no small part to Charles King of (at the the typical frame going from a 30m span and
time) the Steel Construction Institute (SCI). 6m to the eaves, to now being multi-span (up to
However, the rules governing frame stability, 40m per span) and anywhere between 8m and
Dealing with the latter first, as this suits second-order effects and, consequently, 20m high. Such research and its publication has
the chronology, a short paper which might in-plane effective lengths were rather enabled this transition.
be thought of as a ‘technical note’ gave obfuscated. Many steel structures, in particular portal
essential guidance on a relatively unknown Dealing with second-order effects in a frames, have become more slender over the
phenomenon in elastic-plastic analysis simple way was part of the outcome of the years. Readers are encouraged to seek out
– ‘false mechanisms’ (Figure 1). The papers in the previous section, but was not the papers that have stability in their title to
paper gave voice to the need to spot this wholly transferable to the new EN 1993-1 for better understand the background to code
phenomenon in software, which thankfully the design of steel buildings. Using similar rules on this important topic.
we had already built in under advice from background work of considering a range of The outcome of such research encapsulated
Professor Davies by allowing hinges to practical portal frames and subjecting them as design rules in our codes of practice is
‘reverse’. A short, clear, concise note that to rigorous analysis (second-order elastic- aided in no small part by publication in The
highlighted a potential problem to the plastic), a simplified solution based on first- Structural Engineer. Long may it and portal
unwary designer. order analysis was proposed by Lim et al. frames as a construction method continue.

FIGURE 1: False mechanisms in pinned-base portal frames

Alan J. Rathbone
BEng, CEng, FICE

Alan Rathbone is Chief Structural Engineer at

Tekla, model-based software for construction,
structural and civil engineering by Trimble. He
DAVIES, 1988

is Chairman of the BCSA Connections Group

and a member of BSI Committee CB/203
which deals with the majority of design codes
for buildings in steel.

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 Opinion Regional Group lecture prizes

Viewpoint
Regional Group lecture
prizes: are your speakers
getting the recognition
they deserve?
Martin Ashmead shares his extensive experience of Regional Group lecture prizes, encouraging
Groups to set down formal judging criteria to ensure that ‘excellent lectures’ are recognised by
the award of a prize and are then put forward for consideration for the Institution’s Sir Arnold
Waters Medal.

Introduction had long been encouraged to give papers for ‘excellent lectures’, not necessarily the
Since its foundation, the Institution has and lectures – confirmed by all the names that ‘best’.
encouraged the publication of papers and I recognised back to the lecture prize of 1947.
delivery of lectures for the benefit of its As an aside, I had met Professor Sir Alfred Judging criteria
members. It has also sought to recognise Pugsley in 1955, who was a regional prize In general, the above approach was used
the achievements of authors and presenters, winner in 1946, WCRG Chair in 1951/52 and by committees for many years (up to 2003)
with awards at both Regional Group and HQ IStructE President in 1957/56. without any criteria being in writing, thereby
level. Since 1966, the Sir Arnold Waters Medal As part of my research, I discovered the seeing the criteria periodically reinvented. I am
(Box 1) has been given to the best of Regional following criteria and precedents for the also of the opinion that, due to lecture awards
Groups’ ‘excellent lecture’ award winners. awarding of prizes: not being considered over a number of years,
However, it appears that not all Regional there were occasions when awards were not
Group members or committee members are Excellent lecture award(s) made made when they perhaps should have been.
aware of the awards or their criteria, and that | Only to those registered as WRCG The problems of this approach are
critical information on timescales may not be members on the day of the lecture. summarised in the following extract from a
passed on as the make-up of committees | Given to one or more lectures during the letter from a committee member to the Chair
changes from year to year. This can see key session. of the WCRG in the late 1990s:
criteria forgotten or reinvented, instead of the | For a single lecture given by more than one ‘After the discussion that took place
initial criteria gradually being clarified/improved. lecturer providing they were all IStructE under any other business about the branch
As a result, it is likely that some Regional members. prize, and the decision not to award it at all
Group members will have been denied the this year, I felt a certain regret that I did not
opportunity to receive recognition for their No award made enquire what options were available to the
papers or presentations, and will have missed Acceptable reasons committee, what precedents had been set
out on consideration for the prestigious Sir | If no WCRG member had given a lecture. in previous years and what criteria had been
Arnold Waters Medal. | Lectures considered not deemed to be established for awarding the prize. This was
This article aims to offer some advice on how ‘excellent’. not, in my opinion, explained adequately
to avoid this by improving the judging process. | Chair’s lecture during year(s) of office not for me and perhaps others who have no
eligible for an award. knowledge of previous awards.
Experiences with Western ‘It seems to me that we were encouraged
Counties Unacceptable reasons to merely make comparisons between the
After my retirement, I was fortunate to be | Excellent lectures rejected due to the various presentations rather than judge each
asked by a past Chair to research the details committee not knowing the facts/criteria. against set criteria. As said at the meeting,
of Western Counties Regional Group (WCRG) | No consideration of lectures for prizes not many committee members had attended
prize winners back to the group’s foundation during the following year. all of the lectures and so a consensus on this
in 1923. I agreed to do so, not realising what a | On occasion, committee members who basis was impossible to achieve.
voluminous and difficult task it would be. had not attended all lectures during a given ‘On reflection, two of the lectures I
However, it proved to be a brilliant journey, year did not discuss/vote as they felt they attended … were well attended, entertaining
as I read all committee minutes back to 1923. could not determine the ‘best lecture’; and informative and so I cannot see what
The journey indicted that WCRG members this was a misunderstanding as prizes are else they could have achieved.’

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 Regional Group lecture prizes Opinion

Some good came of this a few years later Determining what is ‘excellent’ is a
when a WCRG Chair set up a subcommittee to subjective judgement. However a first-class
create written criteria for judging. These were to honour’s degree is regarded as excellent at
be reasonably simple and easy to update if any most universities. As this requires a grade of
issues arose, no matter how small. For example, 70% and over, a feedback score of 7/10 can
the Chair’s address had never (in almost 100 be regarded as a crystal-clear definition of an
years) been considered for a lecture prize, so excellent lecture.
this could now be added to the written criteria. The feedback scoring, on a scale of 1 (low)
The basic guidance adopted by the WCRG to 10 (high), is crystal clear. Tip: 10 does not
in 2003 is presented below. denote a perfect score; as such, it should be
| It may be that during a session a Regional achievable and be given when appropriate;
Group Member, or Members, give a 0.5 can also be used if considered
presentation that the Regional Group appropriate. This should ideally be done
Committee considers warrants the award immediately at the finish of the lecture; this is
of the Regional Group prize. What is the Sir Arnold Waters time-effective and powerful.
| It is not obligatory to award the prize in Medal? The Covid-19 pandemic has seen a rise
any particular year. Equally, it may be The Sir Arnold Waters Medal is an in ‘virtual’ lectures (via Zoom, etc). I have no
considered appropriate to award more than annual prize that recognises the best doubt that these have many benefits, but in
one prize in a year. presentation to have received an my view they are no substitute for a face-
| The nominee(s) must be a member of the Institution Regional Group ‘excellent to-face meeting between the lecturer and
WCRG. lecture’ award during the previous year. attendees. While these different approaches
| The maximum number of contributors in The prize is named in honour of Sir do not provide a level playing field for judging
any shared presentation will normally be Arnold Waters, twice President of the an award, I feel sure an excellent lecture can
limited to two (in exceptional circumstances Institution, as set out in The Structural still be determined.
only the Committee may opt to amend this Engineer in April 1966 (Volume 44, No. 4):
restriction). ‘The Council have recently reviewed Drawbacks to the current
| ‘Roadshow’ type presentations or the procedure that has been followed for Sir Arnold Waters Medal
professional contributors are not eligible for many years for the award of Institution arrangements
nomination. Silver and Bronze Medals and Diplomas, Lectures that have won a Regional Group
| The Committee will consider each Branch and Section Prizes and other prize for an excellent lecture can be submitted
nominated presentation in respect of: awards. The review was prompted by to HQ for consideration for the Sir Arnold
Subject matter the thought that the system hitherto Waters Medal. However, in my view, the
Quality of presentation adopted to select the ‘best’ paper in a timescale for entry is unrealistic, as Regional
Interest shown by the audience defined category tended in some cases Groups in general can only judge the lectures
Input by the lecturer(s) to eliminate from further consideration in their January committee meeting.
Excellence of lecture (proposed to be many excellent contributions to the The submission deadline is the end
added in 2022) Institution’s meetings and proceedings. of February. This leaves little time if any
| The decision will be based on a simple With the new arrangement the discussions are needed. Additionally, if the
majority of votes cast by the Committee Institution Branch and Section Award, lecturers are informed they have won a prize in
members either present at the June/July for the paper adjudged to be the best mid-February, it is usually too late to prepare
meeting (in recent years January) or those of those read at Branch and Section additional paperwork to submit to HQ. It also
received in writing, in advance from those meetings throughout the Session will creates unreasonable and impractical time
unable to attend the meeting. become the Sir Arnold Waters Medal – a pressures for Regional Group committees
silver medal named after the Institution’s to decide their awards if more thought,
Advice on judging Regional Charter President, the holder of the discussions and fact finding are required.
Group lectures highest award for gallantry and a
It is very important to note that lectures are distinguished member of the Midland Closing remarks
chosen by the Chair for the benefit of the Counties Branch.’ I hope this Viewpoint will assist all Regional
attendees. As such, detailed definition of the Sir Arnold was awarded the Victoria Groups, including the WCRG, to form
lecture requirements is not required. Cross for his bravery during the Second their own criteria, and that more members
While the committee members have their Battle of the Sambre in World War One, will be encouraged to give lectures, and
own scores, they should take into account when he finished construction of a subsequently receive the recognition they
the atmosphere among the attendees; if they temporary bridge while under point- deserve in line with the criteria set.
have not attended a lecture, they should seek blank machine gun fire.
feedback where practical. The Medal is awarded at the discretion
While judging can be difficult, it can be of the Institution’s Papers Awards Martin Ashmead
made easier by considering developing the Judging Panel, and on occasions CEng, FIStructE, FICE, MRICS
criteria/guidance into two categories: i) crystal awarded jointly in a given year, or not
Student 1960, Graduate 1961, Chartered 1966,
clear; ii) subjective. at all.
The following criteria can be regarded as NB There is no restriction on the Fellow 1981. Martin has served the Western
crystal clear: number of prize-winning lectures that Counties Regional Group committee
| Eligibility to be considered for the award. a Regional Group may submit to the continuously and enthusiastically for 52 years.
| Minimum standard for an award – an Sir Arnold Waters Medal competition. He has given many lectures to other Regional
excellent lecture. Should a Regional Group award more Groups and has been awarded a number of
| The number of awards not being limited than one prize, all may be submitted for WCRG excellent lecture prizes, a Sir Arnold
if more than one lecture is deemed to be consideration. Waters Medal in 2017 and a Lifetime
excellent. Achievement Award in 2021.

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 Opinion Letters

Verulam
Send letters to…
HAVE All contributions to Verulam should be
YOUR submitted via email to: [email protected]

SAY Contributions may be edited on the grounds

of style and/or length by the Institution's
Readers’ letters, comments and queries publishing department.

Teaching In the same issue, I read with

interest Andrew Blackie’s essay on a Renewed risk of
structural new approach to the climate
emergency (Kenneth Severn Award). I
subsidence
behaviour applaud his attempt to reject the
passive cost, quality and time
BRIAN CLANCY
Here in the UK, we are all enjoying the
Recent letters discussing how an
understanding of structural behaviour approach. I suspect many engineers lovely summer, though the Met Office
should be developed have inflamed confuse quality with functionality. and numerous experts are warning us
passions in all parties. Although Quality is an essential or distinctive that it will be one of the hottest yet.
Verulam is pleased to have seen this characteristic, property or attribute. For structural engineers, this has a
important subject debated, we Therefore, cost, time and functionality number of potential problems, a major
should all endeavour to remain civil are indeed qualities, but they are only one being subsidence damage to
and respectful of each other. three of many more, including at least buildings, due to the drying and
Ultimately, as Verulam noted in July, safety, serviceability, resilience and shrinkage of clay substrata, often
this understanding takes a long time sustainability. exacerbated by tree root action.
to acquire, beginning at university Andrew is right to point out the May I remind members – and all
and continuing in industry. Verulam need for more ‘joined-up’ supply interested in the subsidence
would urge all interested parties to networks (not chains). I agree with a phenomenon – that the Institution
work together and find common need to learn from history in a manner published Subsidence of low-rise
ground for the benefit of our younger that can broaden our approach to buildings – the seminal work on the
engineers. We have published interdisciplinary understanding and subject – back in 1994 and an updated
enough letters on this subject for working, and widen our education. edition in 2000. Further comment was
now! However, I think he should note added in two Viewpoints in The
Verulam’s wise reply to Rory Baird’s Structural Engineer, in September 2019
comment on lean design that reducing and May 2020.

Saving safety margins based on a

probabilistic approach would be
Both editions of the guide were
drafted by a multi-professional group of
humanity, not unwise without changing our
procurement and quality controls.
independent experts reflecting all
sections interested in the subject,
the planet The Bayesian approach to evidence including insurers, local authorities,
is not statistical and has severe chartered surveyors, structural and civil
DAVID BLOCKLEY limitations that a thorough literature engineers, contractors – and others.
I was disappointed to read (Verulam, July search would reveal. It is a partial Members would be well advised, in
2022) that promoting ‘saving the planet’ approach that neglects many my opinion, to refresh themselves on the
will be central to the revamped Structural important aspects of whole-system subject, as they and others associated
Awards in November. safety. As Rory notes, contracts that with the problem will definitely be
I, and many others, have repeatedly minimise the involvement of designers required to ‘step up to the plate’ within
pointed out that the planet will be fine – it in the construction works are clearly the next few months. In fact, the
will survive no matter what. Rather it is dangerous for everyone. problem may already be manifesting
life on earth that is threatened with, at itself.
the very least, much unnecessary As David points out, the The Institution is at present reviewing
suffering and loss of life. The difference challenges we face are enormous its advice on subsidence for a new
may sound trivial, but it is not. The focus and one aspect is to recognise edition of the guide, but the publications
of our attention must be on protecting that, come what may, we have to
our way of life as extreme weather tackle the climate challenges that
events impact on us. are now inevitable, as well as
Of course, we must design our trying to minimise their further OF COURSE, WE MUST
structures sustainably but, even more extent. UK readers may have DESIGN OUR STRUCTURES
importantly, we must create resilient
systems that resist damage and also
noticed that power companies are
being urged to invest to increase
SUSTAINABLY BUT, EVEN
recover as quickly as possible. resilience, recognising what MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE
Sustainability is not just about lean design,
with sustainable materials and methods of
happened in Storm Arwen. In July
we have been able to see what
MUST CREATE RESILIENT
construction – it is much bigger than that. might happen in future extreme SYSTEMS THAT RESIST
Resilience is a necessary but not sufficient heat events. Verulam encourages DAMAGE AND ALSO
condition for sustainability, and it requires
a whole-systems approach that includes
readers to write in to record any
structural effects observed
RECOVER AS QUICKLY AS
reuse and recovery. consequent on the extreme heat. POSSIBLE
26
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 Letters Opinion

HAVE
YOUR
SAY @IStructE
[email protected] #TheStructuralEngineer #TheStructuralEngineer

referred to above are still authoritative have been used ‘very carefully’ to fulfil destructive testing of reinforced concrete
and practical works on the subject. the intended purpose with complete beam/column corners.
confidence. V&V must be as much a part Turning to the misuse and/or
Verulam’s comments on David of contemporary design as building a over-reliance on computer analysis, in
Blockley’s letter asked for feedback model and running the analysis. the early 1980s such computer-aided
on observed structural effects from I understand that V&V clauses in ISO design (CAD) was in its infancy. That did
the current extreme heat, and Brian’s 9001 are mandatory, and therefore a not mean there wasn’t a problem! One
contribution is a starter. Actually, calculation with no V&V cannot be of my earliest projects after graduating
Brian’s prediction may not emerge considered as ISO 9001/NAFEMS was the structural checking of a
immediately, since what might ESQMS compliant. I suggest that any steel-framed sinter plant in Algeria,
matter more is a sustained period of computer-assisted calculations which had been designed using a 3D
higher temperatures combined with presented without a V&V section are not computer analysis without, seemingly,
less rainfall, in combination drying accepted by structural engineers as any regard for actual likely load scenarios
ground out to depths historically not demonstrating a safe design regardless or their interaction, including seismic
seen (perhaps made even worse by of whether the designer claims ISO 9001 loading. The computer output consisted
advice to plant more trees for compliance or not. of many volumes of printout. The
shade). Nonetheless, the message building had suffered some signs of
is: beware. As Neil implies, this is indeed a very distress and failure and our structural
important subject given the trend to check found that load paths were

Verification and presume everything can be input to

a computer and the answer
unclear and some members were
overstressed, whereas others were
validation accepted. Older engineers have
been wary of this for some time. At a
excessively sized. It was a salutary
lesson on how not to use CAD!
NEIL MORTON simple level, you ought to be able to
As a long-serving structural engineer, I assess the answer of a model by Let’s recall that what we offer is the
am often tasked with reviewing/checking approximate hand analyses (even if both the art and science of structural
a wide variety of designs. The norm now this is only an elaboration of WL/8). engineering. None of us can yet be
is for the use of computer programs to CROSS has numerous reports of replaced with a machine. The skilled
undertake both an analysis and a problems caused by blind control of what the machine
member design to the codes. Errors and acceptance of output. The Structural (computer) can do rests in our
omissions await the unwary in the Engineer has published articles on hands, and that still requires ‘art’;
process! this (e.g. Rogers, March 2016 and expertise and judgement based on
I very much enjoyed Bill Harvey and Macleod, February 2007) and the experience.
Edward Maunder’s article (June 2022) on IStructE guide to Computational
the challenges of finite element analysis
of masonry viaducts. What caught my
engineering offers advice too.
Retrofitting
attention was the words of wisdom
quoted: ‘All models are wrong … but Understanding solar panels
some models are nonetheless useful’.
The authors then elaborate in a way I
computer JONATHAN PREW
I am pleased that my article (‘A guide to
wholeheartedly agree with. output assessing existing roofs for the addition
Wrong models are all we have, but if of solar panels’, April 2022) has had
we are very careful about how we use PHILIP NIAS some resonance with readers. Alastair
them, we can gain enough legitimate I read with interest David Brohn’s letter in Hughes makes some good observations
confidence to build structures or assess the June issue of The Structural Engineer (Verulam, June 2022) which I generally
their capacity. However, Bill and Edward (‘Teaching structural behaviour’). While it concur with. A question was raised on
have indirectly noted a most crucial is fair to say that my own degree the proliferation of panels on domestic
challenge to our profession, just how experience (engineering at Cambridge roofs, and I can say that I have personal
should we ‘be very careful how we use University, 1976–79) was a long time experience.
computer models’? ago, my recollection is that those of us Some 11 years ago, I had solar PV
Coincidently, in the same issue, in a who took structural or civil engineering panels installed on my property in ‘rural’
letter to Verulam, Chris Rogers options were equipped with a Suffolk, which dates back to around the
enlightened us on the application of reasonable understanding of structural mid-19th century. The rafters were, what
verification and validation (V&V) to engineering principles, or at least the you’d say, economically proportioned, of
computer models (NAFEMS ESQMS and tools from which to develop a sound irregular shapes and spacing, with a bit
ISO 9001). It seems to me that V&V is understanding through experience, of old woodworm to boot. The
the means by which structural engineers post-degree. Practical work backed this contractor self-certificated for building
should demonstrate that their models up, e.g. the design, detailing and control, but no structural engineer visited

27
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April 2022
2022

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 Opinion Letters

the property to check the roof.

Fortunately, I was in a position to
take up 60% of one slope, and occur in
both the panel and edge strips. The Should carbon-
establish that the installation would be
satisfactory. However, the general
roof is bound to flex differently and
joints that have been in good
related learning
situation is far from satisfactory as it
seems possible for installations to take
compression may be lessened and
pried against, with effectively 1.5t less
be free?
place without proper checks. weight on the roof. While the panel GRAHAM EDGE
system designer can effect a secure Just a general question about an online
CROSS has some disquieting reports arrangement to ensure their panels stay course. The course is entitled ‘Using
about this echoing Jonathan’s on the roof, they need also to concrete in a changing environment’.
observation of panels being installed understand their actions on the primary As I understand it, this course will help
without sensible verification of an structure – even more so when teach engineers about the benefit of using
existing roof’s adequacy. How can lightening the load. concrete, which could lower the
that ever be done if an engineer fails Discretion is required, as well as embodied carbon in projects.
to look inside the roof space? engineering assessment of joints that It seems a little odd that there is a fee to
have worked well since inception, but attend this course, which pushes against
are about to be tested in other ways the fantastic drive by the IStructE on the
CHARLES SHAPCOTT under the proposed loading change. I climate emergency. I would have thought
I have been following the articles and did a pair of Bow’s notation analyses, any course relating to lowering embodied
comments on this topic on a number of one as now all tiled, and the other with carbon in the buildings we design should
fronts, one being as an adviser on one slope tiled with all panels – the be free of charge (especially when online)
Birmingham Diocesan Advisory changes were quite marked, just under if we are to convince all engineers that we
Committee with churches being dead load. need to design better buildings with a
challenged to become greener. I don’t As an additional requirement in the lower carbon intensity.
‘design’, but assess and recommend. re-roofing, building control has
It has been found that older, pre- stipulated that the insulation is to be Pedantically, this course is actually a
1930s buildings fare quite well with the upgraded, to meet current regulations conference with a focus on concrete.
extra loading, whereas those of more with their associated additional However, the Institution’s climate
recent ‘designed loading’ need more ventilation requirements. conference in October will be free to
consideration. We had one instance of attend.
an early Metsec-style joist and metal As ever, what seems a simple task
deck flat roof, which was so near to
design minimum loading that only 50%
(can we add loading to a roof)
brings with it a large number of Offering a full
of the panels required could be
accommodated, and these could only
complexities. As one of our other
readers remarked, reducing the
design package
be placed on the two edges of the load raises the possibility of uplift. HENRY DALTON
building. I was interested to read the CROSS report
It was most useful having the list of 10
items from Alastair Hughes (Verulam, Snow and wind in the May issue of The Structural
Engineer.
July 2022) to eke more out of each
structure, as well as Andrew Smith’s
loads When asked to design basements, we
always do the ‘full package’ – permanent
appraisal (Verulam, May 2022) and his JONATHAN PREW works design, temporary works design,
least-intrusive but necessary Alastair Hughes is to be congratulated method statements and reinforced
intervention. I believe older farm on his excellent and pragmatic concrete detailing.
buildings took a pragmatic view, approach to assessing the combination Often, the design of the structure in a
following their contemporary domestic of snow and wind loads (‘Snow and temporary condition is critical and
structures, but the proprietary designers wind: not such a fearsome therefore dictates the form of the
akin to Atcost and Blatcon probably combination?’, June 2022). This is a permanent structure. I would suggest that
used their own data to effect savings load combination that requires sense on small domestic projects this
even before BS 5502-22:2003 or earlier and sensibility, assessing particularly arrangement is better and safer than
BS/CP. where snow can drift in stormy having a permanent works designer, a
A friend has asked me to look at their conditions. Wind orientation is therefore temporary works designer and a
1960s roof, with a view to installing a important in assessing where drift or temporary works co-ordinator. If one
Marley PV panel system where the lying snow could and couldn’t occur, person (either the client’s engineer on a
panels replace the tiles, being laid over a and the probability will differ by country traditional contract or the contractor’s
modern form of ‘sarking felt’ and and region. engineer on a design-and-build project)
battens. This roof was constructed Just as a clarification, the blanket designs both the permanent and
during a period of timber shortage, and imposed loading allowance in CP3: Ch. temporary works, then there is no need
has since then supported tiles as laid at V:1952, on which the later 1967 metric for a co-ordinator.
49kg/m2 through all the weather has code was based, included for loose
thrown at it, including the great storm of snow of up to 2ft (0.6m) thick on roofs The key part of Henry’s letter is to
1987. The local design criteria from CP3 up to 10° pitch, which left a residual observe that ‘often, the design of the
range between 34–43kg/m2. The battens allowance for other undefined loading. structure in a temporary condition is
have become ‘nail sick’, requiring critical and therefore dictates the
replacement and refixing, and this is What views does anyone have form of the permanent structure’.
seen as an opportunity to ‘go green’. about how snow loads may vary in This is certainly not exclusive to
The new panels, not ‘solar tiles’, only future, taking account of our basements; rather it should be the
weigh 12.9kg/m2, and are proposed to changing climate? default starting point for any design.

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 Diary dates At the back

Most events run by IStructE

HQ are being delivered online.
For in-person events, a
location will be given.
History Study Group meetings
start at 18:00 and are free of
charge to attend. Registration

Diary dates
is not typically required
Meetings may be online or in
person.
For Regional Group events,
check the website for the
latest information. Note that more current information may be available from
the Institution website: www.istructe.org/events

CONFERENCES CPD COURSES 19 September

15 September 12 September Resilience-based design of
Annual academics conference 2022 Design and analysis of tall buildings structures
09:30–17:00 Presenter: Dr Feng Fu Presenters: Caroline Field and
IStructE HQ 10:00–17:30 Alessandro Palmeri
Price: Free Online 10:00–17:30
Register: www.istructe.org/events/hq/2022/ Price (early booking): Member: £265 + VAT; Online
annual-academic-conference Standard: £355 + VAT Price (early booking): Members:
Booking: www.istructe.org/events/hq/2022/ £265 + VAT; Standard: £355 + VAT
22–24 November design-and-analysis-of-tall-buildings- Booking: www.istructe.org/
Using steel in changing times e-conference (september) events/hq/2022/resiliance-based-
Speakers: TBC design
14:00–18:00 (each day) 14 September
Online Eurocode 4: composite design REGIONAL GROUPS
Price (early booking): Members: £155 + VAT; Presenter: Prof. Dennis Lam Note that events are subject to
Standard: £245 + VAT; Student members: £45 10:00–17:30 change due to Covid restrictions.
+ VAT IStructE HQ Please visit www.istructe.org/
Booking: www.istructe.org/events/hq/2022/ Price (early booking): Member: £265 + VAT; get-involved/regional-groups/
using-steel-in-changing-times Standard: £355 + VAT for up-to-date information and
Booking: www.istructe.org/events/hq/2022/ registration details.
8 December eurocode-4-composite-design
Structural rehabilitation conference HONG KONG
Speakers: Lila Tachtsi, Akram Malik, Ash
Parmar and Roozbeh Shirandami 28 September
09:30–17:00 SPONSORED SEMINARS Climate action in structural
IStructE HQ and online engineering
Price: In person from £199 + VAT; Online from 6 September 14:00–17:00 (GMT +8)
£155 + VAT; Student discount available Modern solutions for repairing, Online
Booking: www.istructe.org/events/hq/2022/ strengthening and waterproofing Price: Members and Students:
structural-rehabilitation-conference concrete with Mapei Free; Non-members: £20 + VAT
Speakers: Bob Orishaguna, Calwyn Register: www.istructe.org/
LECTURES DeCoster, Paul Russell and Tim Boarer events/hong-kong/climate-action-
20 October 09:00–14:00 in-structural-engineering
Gold Medal Address 2022 IStructE HQ
Speaker: Naeem Hussain Price: Free LANCASHIRE &
18:00–19:30 Register: www.istructe.org/events/
CHESHIRE
IStructE HQ and online hq/2022/modern-solutions-for-concrete
Price: Free 20 September
Register: www.istructe.org/events/hq/gold- 22 September Reinforced autoclaved
medal-address-2022 Structural safety in the digital aerated concrete (RAAC)
engineering process with Graitec Chris Atkins
20 September Speakers: Jameel Deader, Ashley Kacha 18:00–19:30
Averting disaster: How to save a collapsing and Craig Mallard Renold Building, The University
building 09:00–10:00 of Manchester, 32a Altrincham St,
Speaker: Chris Shaw Online Manchester M1 7JR
18:00–19:30 Price: Free Price: Free
Online Register: www.istructe.org/events/ Register: www.istructe.org/
Price: Free hq/2022/structural-safety-in-the-digital- events/lancashire-cheshire/
Register: www.istructe.org/events/hq/averting- engineering-proce reinforced-autoclaved-aerated-
disaster-how-to-save-collapsing-building concrete-(raac)

29
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 At the back Diary dates

NORTH THAMES SURREY INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES

Cape Town, South Africa
Wednesdays, 7 September 5–7 September
21 September–7 December Fire engineering – An introduction for Eighth International Conference on
Preparation course for Chartered structural engineers Structural Engineering, Mechanics and
Membership Presenters: Jenny Burridge and Roger Plank Computation
18:45–21:00 09:30–16:00 Web: www.semc.uct.ac.za
Online Lecture Theatre M, University of Surrey, Register: www.semc.uct.ac.za/semc/register_
Price: £323.99 Guildford GU2 7XH exhibit/registration
Booking: www.istructe.org/events/ Price: £175 Contact: Prof. Alphose Zingoni
north-thames/preparation-course-for- Booking: www.istructe.org/events/surrey/fire- ([email protected])
chartered-membership engineering-cpd-course
Malaysia (online)
27 October WALES 5–8 December
Awards ceremony and celebration 15th International Conference on Concrete
evening 13 September Engineering and Technology: Innovation
Special guest: President Jane Patent precast concrete hyperbolic and Resilience in Concrete Construction
Entwistle paraboloid roof shells Early booking registration deadline: 31 August
19:00–late Speaker: Martin Ashmead Web: https://concet2022.com
Drygate Brewery, 85 Drygate, Glasgow, 18:00
G4 0UT Trevithick Lecture Theatre T2.09, Trevithick
Price: Graduate members: £20; all other Building, Cardiff University, The Parade, Cardiff
members: £30 CF24 3AA Regional Group Committee members
Booking: www.istructe.org/events/ Price: Free should submit details of forthcoming
scotland/awards-ceremony-and- Register: www.istructe.org/events/wales/patent- events to: [email protected]
celebration-evening precast-concrete-hyperbolic-paraboloid-roof

Examples for the seismic

design of steel and concrete
buildings to Eurocode 8
Simple design calculations for basic steel
and concrete elements for buildings within
the scope of BS EN 1998.

Primarily intended for application in areas of

moderate/high seismicity for the majority of low/
medium-rise, medium ductility class buildings,
this publication is the perfect companion to the
‘Manual for the seismic design of steel and
concrete buildings to Eurocode 8’.

Standard: £75.00 Buy now:

Member: £48.75 istructe.org/resources/guidance/
Student Member: £37.50 examples-eurocode-8-seismic-design

30
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 Spotlight on Structures At the back

All articles in Structures

are available free of
charge to paying-
grade members of
the Institution as one
of their membership
benefits. The journal
is available online at:
www.structuresjournal.
org

Don’t forget to check out the winning

papers in the 2022 Structures prizes. These
will be free to access – for both members
and non-members – until the end of August.
The Structures prizes are sponsored
by Elsevier and judged by the IStructE
Research Panel.

Best Research
Paper

Design of prestressed, jointed

columns for enhanced seismic
performance
Travis Thonstad, Marc O.
Eberhard, John F. Stanton
University of Washington, Dept.
of Civil and Environmental
Engineering, Seattle, WA, USA

| Read the full paper:

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.
istruc.2021.01.105

Best Research into

Practice Paper
Modelling of soil-structure
interaction in OpenSees:
A practical approach for
performance-based seismic
design
Smail Kechidi, Aires Colaço, Pedro
Alves Costa, José Miguel Castro,
Mário Marques
Department of Civil Engineering,
Faculty of Engineering, University
of Porto, Portugal

| Read the full paper:

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.
istruc.2021.01.006

31
thestructuralengineer.org | August 2022

SPOTLIGHT ON STR_TSE Aug 2022_The Structural Engineer.indd 39 22/07/2022 16:01

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A NEW CHALLENGE?
If so, we have the ideal role for you.

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For more information, please email us at [email protected]

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 Telephone:
Telephone:
+44 (0)1223
+44 378
(0)1223
051 378
Email:
[email protected]
Email: [email protected]
Services
Recruitment
Directory

knowledge based

IMAGES SHOW RECENT PROJECTS UNDERTAKEN BY SOME OF OUR CORE CLIENTS

recruitment in
structural engineering
consultancy
SD STRUCTURES

Associate/ Structural Project

Associate Director Director
Central London Ref: 52442 Central London Ref: 52309
Up to £80,000 + Benefits Up to £95,000 + Benefits
Leading global USA consultancy Premier global consultancy requires a
requires an Associate or Associate Director- GL&SS Structural Project Director to join the expanding ENGENUITI
level Structural Engineer to join the expanding London studio. Candidates will need to be a
London operation as it establishes its European Chartered member of IStructE and/or ICE
group. Candidates will need to be a (Structural) and will have gained extensive structural (Structural)
Chartered member of IStructE and/or Technical Director engineering design, project and team- Director
ICE and must have gained good running experience in another
Central London Ref: 52337 Central London Ref: 52469
design, project, and team-running premier London consultancy with
Up to £90,000 + Benefits Up to £110,000 + Benefits
skills in premier London the ability to add value from
consultancy. Premier UK consultancy requires a day one. Mainstream UK consultancy requires a
(Structural) Technical Director to join the (Structural) Director to join and run the well-
expanding London head office. Candidates will established London office. Candidates will need to
need to be a Chartered member of IStructE be a Chartered member of IStructE and
and/or ICE and will have gained extensive will have gained extensive structural
structural engineering design, project engineering design, project and
and team-running experience in UK team-running experience in London
consultancy and join with consultancy. This would be an
a confirmed range of warm alternative option to forming
clients & projects. their own business.

(Structural)
Associate Director
East London Ref: 52462
Up to £85,000 + Benefits
Mainstream UK consultancy requires a
AKT II (Structural) Associate Director to join WEBB YATES ENGINEERS
expanding London head office. Candidates will
need to be a Chartered member of IStructE
Associate/Associate and/or ICE and will have gained Associate
Director extensive structural engineering design, Designate
project and team-running experience Central London Ref: 52400
Central London Ref: 52383 in UK consultancy and will need
Up to £75,000 + Benefits Up to £60,000 + Benefits
to be both technical and
Niche New York/London consultancy commercial. Niche consultancy requires an Associate
Designate to join the expanding London LYONS O’NEILL
requires an Associate or Associate Director-
level Structural Engineer to join the expanding design studio. Candidates will need to be a
London design studio. Candidates will need Chartered member of IStructE and/or ICE and
to be Chartered with IStructE and must must have excellent design and project-
have gained excellent technical design running skills in private exclusive London
and project-running skills in high- residential refurbishments/extensions
profile London consultancy on with another premier/niche
architecturally-led projects. London consultancy.

ECKERSLEY O’CALLAGHAN STRUCTURE WORKSHOP

9 Long Street T 07971 980043

Shoreditch E [email protected]
London
HEYNE TILLETT STEEL E2 8GS EXPEDITION
uualkerdendle.co.uk
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11:03
 Upcoming CPD
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