Discussion. Steel for Structures.

Abstract

Discussion.&Ir. Woods. Mr. E. WOODS, Vice-President, said that the subject was a most interesting and important one, and he was glad to notice the presence of many eminent manufacturers of steel and others who had occasion to use steel for boilers, steam-engines, ships, bridges, and machinery of various kinds. Amongst the various lines of inquiry which the Author had noticed, he thought attention should be particularly directed to three or four.One was the standard tests which had been adopted to test the quality of steel for various structures, especially as to whether any modifications in them could be properly introduced in view of the most recent experience. Another question was the efficient mode of testing so as to secure uniformity in the results. At present tests were obtained by different classes of machines, and machines in different conditions.It would also be of importance to learn the precautions which had been found necessary in manufacturing steel of different qualities required for different classes of work. Then there was the question of the relative cost of structures, which might be advantageously considered. did not know whether the Author intended to draw any distinction between different qualities of steel. It should always be remembered that a great deal of the steel now manufactured, so far as its chemical constitution was concerned, was rather entitled to the appellation of wrought iron. Some years ago he took part in a Conference a t Philadelphia, in which an endeavour was made to avoid confusion of nomenclature by speaking of steel as either welded or ingot, and of iron as either welded or ingot. Some such distinction required to be borne in mind in speaking of the strength of a material which might differ so much in character and composition. Unfortunately the suggestions then thrown out were not adopted, and the consequence was t,hat engineers were placed in the difficulty of not knowing what was really the article with which they had to deal when speaking of steel or iron. Of course a great deal depended upon price, and the difficulty of introducing steel for certain purposes appeared, according to the Author, to be ascribed to the greater cost. That, however, he believed was a mese question of time. The Author had mentioned the fact that steel rails were made more cheaply than wrought-iron rails, but it had been stated that on the Tees manufacturers could afford to bring iron ore from Spain, a distance of a t least