1,721,008 research outputs found
Issues in the mitigation of progressive collapse through the tying force method for steel framed buildings with simple connections
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Protective design for RC framed structures against blast loading through event control with a case study of the Murrah Buildings
No full textAnalysis of composite beams with widely spaced shear connectors
No full textBS 5400: Part 5 requires consideration to be given to the non-uniform flow of longitudinal shear and to the slippage between the slab and steel member of composite beams, where the longitudinal spacing of shear connectors exceeds 600mm. Analysis of such effects is complex and involves finite-element analysis with contact logic. This paper presents a simple spreadsheet based alternative solution. The method is suitable for serviceability limit state (SLS) checks and assumes that longitudinal shear is transferred between the steel member and slab only at shear connector locations. This method can be used for the assessment of existing
bridges with widely spaced shear connectors. It can also be used for designing the strengthening measures for bridges built before composite construction was widely recognised
Graduate shortage: the key to civil engineering's future?
No full textRecent years have seen a steady decline in admissions to UK civil engineering degree courses such that an intense skills shortage looms. Civil engineering graduates will be in greater demand than ever before—but ironically this could finally trigger the increase in status that the profession has sought for so long. This paper reveals the roller-coaster trend in university admissions since 1966 and shows why many of the engineering departments across the country are now struggling to survive. But, reassuringly, there are signs that the profession is at last attracting an increasing number of high-calibre students.<br/
Introduction. Organisational lessons from failure
No full textThis special issue of the highly respected Civil Engineering journal from the Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers looks to study and learn from the catastrophes, collapses and failures that fascinate and horrify the civil engineering community.<br/
Design of steel framed buildings at risk from terrorist attack
No full textRobust frames require relatively weak beams, but strong connections and columns. Limit state design may provide the reverse. The composite beams used in the majority of steel framed buildings are shown to possess a “hidden” reserve of strength. When subjected to the large sagging deformations associated with terrorist attacks, these beams are capable of resisting typically twice their design load. This creates a situation whereby the weak point in a frame can be transferred to the connections, leading to non-ductile and potentially catastrophic failures in the event of severe overloading. Furthermore, certain industry standard nominally pinned connections are shown to lack the ductility required to accommodate large beam end rotations. This lack of ductility could result in the premature failure of connections due to the high tensile forces generated in the connection bolts. To address these problems an alternative approach is advocated, whereby ductile beams are designed to resist only working loads, albeit elastically. Thereafter the upper-bound flexural strength is established. It is the corresponding upper-bound reactions that are used for the subsequent design of components lower down in the load path. This approach would improve robustness and provide economies in the use of construction materials in structures considered at risk from terrorist attack
British civil engineering skills: defusing the time bomb
No full textThe UK's civil engineering industry is facing a demographic time bomb. Half the country's chartered civil engineers—a total of 15 000 professionals—are likely to retire in the next ten years. During that period only 6 000 new graduates are expected to join the profession, leaving a shortfall of around 9 000 civil engineers. This paper analyses these alarming statistics and concludes that more funding is needed for domestic civil engineering degree courses if Britain is to avoid becoming reliant on foreign civil engineering skills
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