Appendix 2

8/23/2009
Dr D M Brohn
"Understanding structural modelling"

Structural Engineering Education

The Real Structure
in the 21st Century
IStructE Conference 21 September 2009 The Client’s building, usually as an
Architect’s drawing will show the whole
building. The real structure is the load-
bearing skeleton.
UNDERSTANDING Increasingly in major or prestigious
STRUCTURAL MODELLING structure, the structural engineer will be
involved at an early stage so that the
David Brohn structure can be efficient or contribute to
New Paradigm Solutions the architectural solution

The Engineering Model

All the major decisions about the load-bearing
skeleton. Are there expansion joints, how is the
structure braced.
What materials, where all beams, columns and
slabs etc are located.
Key decisions about the supports and releases;
supports pinned or fixed, soil structure interaction,
members pinned and fixed.
This is not a check list! You have to understand it!

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The Analysis Model

Not structural analysis, but STRESS analysis.
Normally in two stages; structural analysis and
design code post-processors. Eurocodes will
replace State codes in 2010.
This is the model that will be used for the input of
data for structural analysis, with the load and load
combination data.

The Analysis Model

Clear statement of design assumptions to be made;
1st or 2nd order analysis for example.
Steelwork: What type of connections to be
designed/assumed for restraint.
It is at this stage that the designer identifies a worst
case part of the system and carries out an
approximate analysis against which the computer
analysis can be checked.

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The Computer Model

This should be a straightforward replication of the
Analysis model, but some conditions will require
special modelling to meet any limitation of the
computer input. Most software cannot handle
scissor joints, for example.

QSE

But how does it resist

the horizontal loads?

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QSE

Citibank New York

The one that got away

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How does the Engineer spot these design
issues?
By applying an
Understanding of Structural Behaviour
What has happened when they
don’t apply an understanding
of structural behaviour?

Physical model

Abstract
FE Model http://www.architectureweek.com/2005/0427/news_1-1.html

‘But it seems that the complexity of the

structure was underestimated during the
entire design and construction process.
According to investigators speaking at a press
conference in February 2005, the design
process was insufficiently rigorous for so
complex a structure.
No detailed, independent analysis was done to
check the design models’.

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Structural engineers;
Never prototype. There is no feedback as to the
accuracy of the analysis
Never analyse the structure that is built, but a
model of the structure
Lost theoretical basis for member design, as
Codes become complex and obscure
8/23/2009
Understanding Structural Behaviour
2 day post-graduate training course developed
for Arup in 1970’s and taught continuously
since then.
Test results steadily dropping.
Course delegate results from internal training
course, Spring 2009. Graduated MEng
Newcastle University 2007
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An Understanding of Structural Behaviour is the

alphabet and grammar of Structural
Modelling
Typical mean score for the
IStructE courses Difficult to teach as there is no predictable start
20% or route through the problem.
many candidates zero
You have to be able to understand the
behaviour

The risks
Without this skill, young engineers
• Use the computer as an alternative to
understanding
• Have no process for discussing alternative
solutions
• Cannot develop checks on computer output