The Eurocodes and the teaching of Structural Engineering

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The Eurocodes and the teaching of Structural
Engineering

• David Anderson
• Vice-President IStructE
• Emeritus Professor, Warwick University

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The Eurocodes are design rules for civil
engineering structures
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The Eurocode programme

• 10 Eurocodes including
• EN 1991 Actions Loading on structures
• EN 1992 Concrete structures
• EN 1993 Steel structures
• Other common structural materials
• EN 1997 Geotechnical design

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The Eurocodes will apply across Europe
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Eurocodes different from British Standardsbut
much input from the UK
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Principal aim of the Eurocodes

• To eliminate technical obstacles to trade within
  Europe

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Trade in design services and construction
products
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The advantages

• Up-to-date design methods based on European best
  practice
• International harmonisation will help students
  and graduates who wish to work abroad
• Harmonisation between different materials
• reinforced concrete composite steel-concrete
• Harmonisation between different structures
• buildings bridges

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The Eurocodes are in EnglishSo less need to
master foreign languages!
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But there must be some disadvantages?

• Eurocodes represent structural behaviour more
  precisely
• Deeper understanding required
• Formulae (where given!) may be more complicated
• Design calculations tend to be more lengthy
• So software and design aids are essential

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Implementation in the UK

• National strategy needed for successful
  implementation
• IStructE report to ODPM 2004
• Recommendations for engineering community,
  including industry, profession, BSI, government
• Standing Committee to monitor implementation

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Needs common to industry and teaching

• Technical manuals
• Commentaries
• Designers Handbooks published by Thomas Telford
• Worked examples
• Software

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University needs

• Knowledgeable, enthusiastic teachers!
• Curriculum to provide deeper understanding
• Research income and publications

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Issues on teaching and research

• Eurocodes
• based on past research
• particularly on behaviour of elements
• now a mature subject
• Much structural engineering is taught by mature
  staff
• Research has (rightly) moved on
• sustainability, risk, managing existing assets
• Universities need research-active staff

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The challengeHow to provide the teaching that
industry needs with the staff that the university
needs!
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Topic for a future meeting?