Once upon a time in a land far away, Genevieve awoke from a lovely slumber in her wooden house. Although it was the dead of Winter, she had no need for central heating, thanks to the Mycelium insulation between her wooden floors and walls. She gazed happily out of her wooden window (yes, her wooden window) at the suspension bridge constructed by millions of spiders which freely spanned 4km over the river beyond. She flung open the window with gaiety and took a great lungful of the crisp Winter air, which was completely absent of any harmful substances thanks to the photocatalytic 'air-purifying' paint which coated her house in a brilliant white to match the snow below...
Who said that 'once upon a time' had to refer to a time in the past...?
Known for his work on bridges across the French railway network, Gustave Eiffel was a world-renowned engineer. Though trained in chemical engineering, his true legacy lies in the iconic structures he built—including a certain tower in Paris you’ve definitely heard of.
In this episode, we explore Eiffel’s contributions to the Statue of Liberty, his pioneering research in aerodynamics and meteorology, and the surprising backlash his famous tower initially received. Don’t miss Ellie’s dramatic reading of those scathing early reviews—if you can keep a straight face!
Happy listening!
How do you pronounce 'regenerative'? Don't ask Ellie, but at least she can tell you that 'regenerative design' takes inspiration from how living systems have evolved over time to thrive on our planet. And this is exactly what the Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture (RICA) characterises; this is a climate-positive agriculture school designed by MASS Design Group and Arup. With multiple social, economic and environmental traits, it is no wonder why ISTRUCTE gave RICA the award for 'holistic regenerative design advancing the use of low-carbon, locally sourced materials, and promoting local training and benefits'...
Happy Listening!
As brilliant as concrete is, it has its pitfalls. Several defects can occur in concrete depending on the constituent materials and their chemical interactions. Others can arise because of the interaction of concrete with its surrounding environment. In this episode, we talk about concrete cancer, alkali aggregate reactions, and an infamous cement mix that initially gives you strong concrete but later converts to weaker concrete (concerning… yes).
Does creep in concrete compare to bread becoming stale? Listen on for Ellie’s reasoning.
Happy listening, and please send any comments or suggestions for future episodes to spanatter.contact@gmail.com
What do concrete and bread have in common? Yes it is another concrete episode but don't dismiss it just yet! This time we delve into the wonderful and complex world of concrete chemistry and material science.
Much like bread, the various constituent materials in concrete each play a crucial role in achieving desired strength, durability, and workability. The curing (baking) of concrete also requires careful consideration of temperature and available water to ensure complete hydration of cement. What is hydration of cement? Why is it important and how does it relate to concrete strength? Find out in this episode!
Happy listening, and please send any comments or suggestions for future episodes to spanatter.contact@gmail.com
A building structure doesn't simply exist; once it is built it requires upkeep and materials for repair, just as a plant requires pruning and nutrients. Unfortunately, the maintenance or reuse of a 30-year-old building seems incredibly dull when compared to a flashy new skyscraper.
With an increasing emphasis on 'build nothing', and design for deconstruction, this attitude is slowly beginning to change. Today, Janet and Ellie examine what exactly maintenance involves, and how ideas such as 'material passports' could elevate the building industry; after all, 'one man's trash is another man's treasure'...
If a batch of muffins 'may contain traces of nuts' but you have to use your epipen pen after the first bite, do you continue to eat the remaining muffins? If somebody had said to you 'thismuffin is wrong', would you have tucked in?
Now imagine that muffin represented a bridge.
The Polcevera Viaduct (aka Ponte Morandi) in Genoa is one of the most fatal cases of structural failure in the 21st century. Designed by Italian engineer Riccardo Morandi, its unprecedented prestressed concrete cable-stayed design featured only four stays from each tower... Ever heard of the term 'redundancy', Morandi?
This major design flaw was blatant to structural engineers, one of whom warned 'that bridge is wrong. Sooner or later it will have to be replaced'... Two years later, his warning was laid catastrophically bare.
How confident would you feel crossing one of Morandi's other almost identical bridges...?
Have any suggestions for future episodes? Please send any comments to spanatter.contact@gmail.com
Spanning long distances without internal supports is a challenge encountered in many structures. Think of sports centres, exhibition halls, malls, airports, train stations etc. What options does the structural engineer have when faced with such a challenge? In this episode, we discuss a few such options like cable structures and diagrids used in the Munich Olympic Stadium roof and London King’s Cross Station roof respectively.
Happy listening and please send any comments or suggestions for future episodes to spanatter.contact@gmail.com
It is February, yes, but we did want to round up some of the construction projects either completed in 2024 or still ongoing. From London’s super sewer to an iconic airport upgrade in Oregon, and the only permanent venue constructed for the Paris 2024 Olympics, we delve into what 2024 looked like for the construction industry. It is by no means an exhaustive list but will give insight into what is being built and where!
Happy listening and please send any comments or suggestions for future episodes to spanatter.contact@gmail.com
Hello listeners, apologies for the long delay in releasing our favourite episode to date: An Interview With Alison Cox!
If you are contemplating a career in construction, or wonder what it's like to be a female in a traditionally male sector, then wonder no more. Alison Cox is a leading female in construction, having worked for prominent contracting firms and on famous structures.
We learned a lot from our discussion with her, and anticipate you will too... Happy listening!
Picture the scene: you're given a nice chunk of land to develop and make billions, but there's a catch. There's already somebody situated on the plot of land who won't budge - you need to share.
This was the problem faced by structural engineer William LeMessurier in 1976 for the construction of Citigroup Centre at 601 Lexington Avenue in New York City.
His seemingly simple design solution created a chain of design implications, which cumulated in SERENE - the code name for the secret emergency works required for this skyscraper which was found after construction was complete to have a 1 in 16 chance of collapse in any given year...
Happy New Year!!
We're learning about another pioneering engineer in today's episode; the 'father of civil engineering' - Thomas Telford.
Born in 1957, the Scotsman rose from humble origins to become the 'Colossus of Roads', so called for his work on over 1000 miles of UK roads. Just as the 'Colossus of Rhodes' was one of the ancient seven wonders of the world, Telford himself was a wonder; unafraid of new materials and techniques, he built aqueducts of stone, and suspension bridges of iron.
And you thought Othmar Amman was the dramatic one? Think again - we learn about Telford's beef with famous engineers John Rennie, and Isambard Kingdom Brunel.
Happy listening, and happy holidays!
It is statistically proven that a positive mindset enables positive outcomes... Then let's learn from success! When "101" appears after a term, it typically signifies an introductory level of knowledge about a topic... And Taipei 101 is a good place to start this series of podcasts; the Taiwanese skyscraper was record breaking when built in 2004, and remains record breaking to this day. Find out how the number 8, the speed of a cheetah during a typical chase, and the name 'Damper Baby' are all linked by this magnificent skyscraper.
Much to Janet's delight, Ellie has agreed to another Career Corner episode. Today we're spotlighting engineering in academia; what is it like to do a postgraduate degree in engineering, and how does it compare to R&D as an industry career? We discuss the pros and cons of our experience, and the advice we'd give to those considering a PhD in civil engineering.
Happy listening, and please send any comments or suggestions for future episodes to spanatter.contact@gmail.com
Follow us on Instagram #structurespracticenatter and TikTok @SPANNATTER.
In our reinforced concrete episode, we learnt that concrete began as a plant pot. Today we discuss the less humble origins of steel, who's inventor also developed patents for sugar extraction and reducing seasickness on passenger ships.
We also learn about steel's 'Achilles heels'; we discuss an extraordinary example of fatigue, consider the environmental impact of corrosion protection, and Janet tries to restrain Ellie from yabbering on about her passion - buckling.
Enjoy learning even more about steel, and please reach out to us with any questions or topics you would like us to discuss! Also, we're now on TikTok! https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGdFftpC7/
After covering concrete and wood in previous episodes, I’m sure it is no surprise that we are talking about steel! Steel is a versatile material used extensively in our structures today. Find out why engineers (us) love steel as we talk about its wide ranging benefits...ductility, stiffness, machinability. We of course balance that with its weaknesses…corrosion, fatigue, buckling.
If you can get through our attempts at describing steel’s microstructure and phase changes during heat treatment… we see you, we appreciate you! And we hope you come back for part 2 because we did what we do best, nattering.
Send in any comments to spanatter.contact@gmail.com or use the Q&A box in the podcast description. Happy listening!
We start another series… Yes, another one. This time we want to highlight engineers, past and present (P&P), that have made a significant contribution to structural engineering. Othmar Hermann Amman is best known for his suspension bridges and unprecedented use of steel.
It was said of Amman that he was ‘the enemy of the ornate, the complicated, the extravagant’. It is no surprise his simplistic design philosophy was much appreciated by Ellie. She also admires Amman’s ability to pivot and learn from his mistakes.
Amman’s relationship with his mentor, Gustav Lindenthal, was filled with some *drama* and we share all the tea. Let us know what you think about Gustav’s dream bridge and whether or not Amman was right in bidding for the same bridge with his design!
Send in any comments to spanatter.contact@gmail.com or use the Q&A box in the podcast description. Happy listening!
Hello, and welcome to the final part of our mini series where we discuss ten projects we feel... [insert adjective here] about!
In our final* episode we learn about diagrid skyscraper design for China's Sany Irootech HQ; should China be commissioning new skyscraper projects amid their 'ghostscraper' crisis? Janet points out further issues with 'greenwashing'...
We also discuss Gaudi's Basílica de la Sagrada Família; would you consider a 135 year-old construction project to be more than a little delayed? Ellie argues that perhaps not...
Merry listening!
*I'm sure we'll find a way to continue the discussion - which you are welcome to join! Reach us at spanatter.contact@gmail.com, or find us on Instagram :)
Are floating cities the answer to rising sea levels? Do we need a city dedicated to innovation and technology-driven research for the transport industry to accelerate sustainability efforts? Can you have too many footbridges?
We discuss these questions in this episode as we continue in our four-part series on upcoming construction projects. We are back in Japan with Woven city, in the Maldives with their floating city, and in our backyard (Oxford) with the Oxpens River Bridge.
Happy listening, and as always please get on touch at spanatter.contact@gmail.com or on Instagram #structurespracticenatter
What if we changed the way we build our cities? The Line aims to revolutionise how cities are configured and built. Would you fancy living in this skyscraper turned horizontal metropolis?
The Fjords in Norway are deep as they are wide making travel across the western coast a challenge. With the E39 road project, Norway aims to provide efficient travel routes which might include the world’s first Submerged Floating Tunnel. Join us in this episode as we discuss The Line and the Fjords.
Happy listening, and as always please get on touch at spanatter.contact@gmail.com or on Instagram #structurespracticenatter