Buildings, especially tall buildings, are susceptible to vibrations. The most dangerous vibrations come from earthquakes – however, we as structural engineers in Cornwall and Devon don't have to worry about them too often! Human footfall, though, can cause vibrations inside high offices or buildings which are annoying for the people inside...
Fibre has been used in beam design for more than 35 years to improve and reinforce existing properties. For example, fibre-reinforced concrete, also known as FRC, is commonplace. Concrete as a material has little tensile strength, as we mentioned in our guide to concrete beams. While usually reinforcement bars are...
Timber has been a staple in the construction industry for thousands of years and is now used alongside many other building materials to create the structures we see today. Certain structures have used timber in incredibly complex ways to create breathtaking buildings, engineers have used it to build boats, buildings...
After steel, aluminium is the most quantified metal used in buildings. Discovered over 200 years ago, aluminium has been used in many structural applications. It is praised for its corrosion-resistant and lightweight properties, making it a widely considered resource in construction, featuring in beam design and brace columns. However, what are...
With everyone being a lot more environmentally conscious, many property owners are looking to help reduce their carbon footprint by installing solar panels on their roofs. Choosing this energy source can have a multitude of benefits such as reducing the cost of electricity. In fact, they can generate a significant...
Timber has been used in structures for thousands of years, and as time has passed, it has developed to help the construction industry achieve the efficiency in the structures they create. Due to its versatility, this building material is still widely used due to its excellent load bearing and thermal...
There is a wealth of large construction projects popping up all over the world every single day, and with advances in state-of-the-art technologies, some are very impressive. Projects can take years and years to plan due to the complex design, scarcity of materials and sheer magnitude of the task in-hand...
There are many reasons why you may need to instruct the help of a structural engineer as they usually play a key role in the renovation project, a property purchase and much more. (more…)
If you are ever involved in a substantial insurance claim, such as a flood or burst pipe, then chances are you will experience a loss adjuster in your home. These professionals are hired on behalf of insurance companies to review your claim and roughly assess the amount of compensation you...
A team from The Alan Turing Institute, Imperial College London and 3D printing company MX3D, as well as a member of the Cambridge Centre for Smart Infrastructure and Construction (CSIC), is collaborating to measure, analyse and monitor the performance of a 3D printed footbridge. (more…)
