Why engineers need to know more about existing infrastructure
Eugen Brühwiler of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne argues in the latest issue of the ICE Engineering History and Heritage journal that civil and structural engineers are too focused on new-build.
Civil and structural engineering is still predominately driven by a desire to design and build new infrastructure. The engineer’s vocation is to start afresh, even when dealing with existing facilities. The general view is that existing facilities have a finite service life of 80 to 100 years and then needs to be replaced by a new construction.
Whereas the mindset was perhaps rational 50 years ago, it is now far from modern society’s demands for built infrastructure. Existing infrastructure is a social asset, and civil and structural engineers are more often called upon to maintain and enhance such assets effectively, within the availability of limited public funds, instead of replacing them with new construction.
The first objective when engineering existing infrastructure is to show that the performance responds to the requirements of modern use with no need for construction intervention. This might seem to be a contradiction for many engineers. Only if this first objective cannot be achieved, and when existing infrastructure shows damage, are construction interventions required.
Modern intervention methods:
However, traditional retrofitting techniques are often laboured and invasive, leading to high intervention costs. Modern intervention methods, involving targeted use of advanced, high-performance materials can lead in many cases to cost-effective engineering solutions with the goal of achieving non-invasive interventions and adding value to existing infrastructure.
Verification of the safety of existing infrastructure must first rely on in-situ measurements of structural behaviour and action effects. This should be complemented by advanced structural analysis such as refined elastic finite-element models for structural behaviour under service conditions and fatigue loading, as well as non-linear models for the determination of ultimate resistance and deformation capacity of structural members.
If interventions on existing infrastructure are necessary, a targeted use of advanced high-performance materials is often effective in enhancing structural behaviour and resistance. Composite materials, such as fibre-reinforced plastics and ultra-high-performance fibre-reinforced cementitious composites and their corresponding technologies, need to be introduced, together with advanced technologies in prestressing or geotechnics.
The ultimate goal is to limit construction intervention to a strict minimum, while providing the structural performance for long and safe service duration for existing infrastructure with low maintenance needs. While this approach aligns with sustainability principles, it represents a fundamental paradigm shift for most civil and structural engineers focused on new build.
Need for broader education:
The main problem is that most civil and structural engineers have little or no education in the engineering of existing infrastructure and have limited awareness of the opportunities available for the effective modern engineering of existing infrastructure.
Civil and structural engineering curricula at most technical universities have remained traditional with little significant updating for more than 50 years, with the core focus on design of new structures in reinforced concrete, steel and maybe timber. In addition, most design classes in such courses are largely based on Eurocodes, which reflect the state-of-art from the end of the last century.
Considering the rather bureaucratic and uninspiring design education of civil and structural engineers, it is not surprising that design engineers are often considered as mere ‘code checkers’. They often have a limited understanding of the broader context of their design solutions and insufficient skills to collaborate with other professionals such as architects and environmental engineers, often coupled with a lack of incentives and motivation. This in turn reduces their perceived value and the fees they can charge.
Novel engineering methods and technologies now need to be fully integrated in the education of civil and structural engineers and within the profession, with the goal of adapting and enhancing existing infrastructure and extending their service duration, thereby adding value.
This article was originally published here by ICE on 21 Dec 2017. It was written by Simon Fullalove.
--The Institution of Civil Engineers
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Articles by ICE on Designing Buildings Wiki.
- Career development for infrastructure leaders.
- Civil engineer.
- Civil engineering course essentials.
- Initial Professional Development for Civil Engineers.
- How to become a civil engineer.
- Refurbishment.
- Structural engineer.
- Structural failures prompt recognition of complex management systems.
- Uncertainty in the civil engineering profession.
IHBC NewsBlog
ICOMOS-CIF 2024 Symposium celebrates 40th anniversary in Venice
It aims to critically review current practices and theories of conservation of built heritage around the world, and more.
HES establishes new national centre for retrofit of traditional buildings
HES plans to develop the centre follows £1m of funding from UKRI Arts and Humanities Research Council.
High Court rejects oral appeal against tower block decision in historic Bloomsbury
The request was for a full Judicial Review hearing against Camden Council’s approval of a 74m-high tower block in Bloomsbury.
Mayor of London and Government announce bold plans to transform Oxford Street
Plans include turning the road into a traffic-free pedestrianised avenue, creating a beautiful public space.
Crystal Palace Subway, for 160th anniversary
The remarkable Grade II* listed Crystal Palace Subway in South London begins a new era following major restoration.
National Trust brings nature back to an area twice the size of Manchester in less than a decade
The National Trust has achieved its aim of creating or restoring 25,000 hectares of priority habitat on its land by 2025.
18th-century hospital in York to become sustainable homes
A former mental health establishment founded by a Quaker in 1792 is to be converted into 120 energy-efficient homes in York.
Context 180 Released - Where Heritage and Nature Meet
The issue includes life, death, Forests, bats, landscapes and much more.
Church architecture awards 2024: now open
The National Churches Trust has announced three awards, all of which are run in partnership with the Ecclesiastical Architects & Surveyors Association (EASA).
The essential sector guide includes officers' updates and a foreword by EH Chair Gerard Lemos.