Editorial

Abstract

This issue presents an exciting set of six papers covering a wide range of topics in the broad context of structures and buildings. It leads with two very interesting reviews: one exploring the state of the art in the rapidly maturing field of building information modelling (BIM); followed by an equally fascinating review of how engineers grapple with the enormous complexity associated with fluid-structure interactions in the context of long-span bridges. The two following papers involve strain measurement in cast-iron tunnel linings in the London Underground; and the use of distributed fibre optic sensors to measure localised strains such as those resulting from reinforcement corrosion. The penultimate article investigates the enhancement of the strength of profiled composite deck slabs brought about by introducing end-anchorages. The final paper presents an improved model of slender rectangular reinforced-concrete (RC) column buckling using an energybased approach.The first paper (Gilkinson et al., 2015) presents a practical review of the BIM concept with the help of six interesting case studies in Europe and Australia and offer useful insights into the use of this process. Despite considerable potential benefits, BIM in its full form is yet to be widely adopted, however, its most recognisable components, such as computer-aided design are being used and are evolving. The authors also point out that recent changes to UK government policy will require companies bidding for public sector projects to be BIM-ready to secure a contract therefore engineering companies should include BIM in their strategic planning.In the second paper, Kareem and Wu (2015) present a comprehensive review of how the complex interaction of wind with long-span bridge cross-sections are dealt with by engineers, beginning with simple models that ignore much of the non-linear and unsteady behaviour to advanced methodologies that attempt to include more and more of the complexity short of full computational fluid dynamics modelling. This review presents a relatively complex topic in a language that should be accessible to most readers.The third paper (Yu et al., 2015) stems from taking advantage of major works on the Northern line at Tottenham Court Road London Underground station in anticipation of increased footfall expected after completion of the Crossrail project. The paper describes the instrumentation installed on segments of tunnel linings to be removed, and on those that were to remain in situ, in order to record the changes in the strain and deformation during the process. Predictions made before the process of removal were found to be similar to the measured strains.In the fourth paper, Regier and Hoult (2015) present an investigation of the potential of distributed sensors (in this case fibre optic cable) in monitoring the long-term damage (e.g. through corrosion) in steel reinforcement bars in RC beams. Following an axial tension test on two notched rebar specimens to test the system, four-point bending tests of RC beams with emb...