SCI has just released the second revision of EMBlast, its energetic materials blast load software. This release incorporates two modules, free-field and loads on structures which calculate incident and reflected pressures, respectively. The software was released to the members of the Energetic Materials Blast Information Group (EMBIG), which has now been in existence for four years.

Shortly after its formation, the group members identified a need for software to calculate blast effects on structures because methods that are available to civilian organisations are often limited to simple legacy software developed by the US Military in the 1960s and 70s. These codes are automated versions of empirical formulae found in US Military manuals. They provide rapid results but require an understanding of the underlying methods to be used effectively and within their limits of application. These software codes were written for what are now obsolete operating systems (e.g. MS-DOS), hence are difficult to run and not user friendly. The US Department of Defence considers many of them to be classified and only licenses them to US contractors so their use by civilian organisations in the UK could be without the necessary licences.

EMBlast performs blast calculations for all the high explosives covered in ISO/FDIS 16933:2007 using TNT equivalence as well as user-customisable explosives. Both the free-field and loads on structures modules cover hemispherical surface bursts on hard and soft ground, spherical free-air bursts and spherical above ground bursts. Software output includes graphical and numerical reports of pressure and impulse time-history and target area contours. The modules also calculate peak pressure, impulse and arrival time as a function of range for multiple target points. The functionalities and the theoretical background of EMBlast were recently presented at a FABIG webinar: https://www.fabig.com/publications-and-videos/online-lectures-webinars/webinar-036/

The work for this new release of EMBlast was completed in collaboration with the Blast and Impact Group of the University of Sheffield through a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) supported by Innovate UK. Work has already commenced on additional features to the modules released and on the development of a third module dealing with internal detonations.

The group members currently include: The Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE), Ministry of Defence, The Centre for the Protection of the National Infrastructure (CPNI), The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Francis Lok, INERIS, DNVGL, ColMor Consulting, Aibara Associates Ltd, Patrick Mann & Associates, KHBLAST Consultancy and 8065 Limited.

For EMBIG membership or software licenses please contact: embig@steel-sci.com. For further information, please contact Bassam Burgan.

The SCI Assessed independent verification scheme has always been one of the more flexible assessment and certification schemes available from SCI, which has meant that it has always been an attractive option for international companies. However, over the last few months SCI has been working with a number of international companies which have recognised the benefits of obtaining 'SCI Assessed'status. The full list of companies with assessments or certifications from SCI is available on the website, however, two international companies with new SCI Assessed certificates are spannverbund and Netverk Steel & Construction Solutions.

The SCI has assessed the technical data and the design processes of the Geilinger Column® and Shear head system Europilz® from spannverbund Ltd. The Geilinger Column® product is an unconventional composite column made of a concrete-filled steel hollow section with a solid steel core. The Europilz® shear head system provides bespoke punching shear reinforcement for concrete elements such as flat concrete slabs and slender foundations. Geilinger-Columns® and Europilz® shear heads have been used in Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Sweden, Norway, France, Italy, Luxemburg, the Netherlands, Belgium, Poland, Slovenia, Slovakia, Russia, Georgia, Middle East, and the United States. spannverbund usually provides clients, structural engineers and architects with consulting services, cost estimates / proposals, the structural calculations and shop drawings of Geilinger-Columns® and Europilz®, and licences local steel construction companies to fabricate the products. Based on this business model the products of Spannverbund can be used worldwide.

Netverk Steel & Construction Solutions is a private limited company based in India. The company manufactures innovative and value engineered products for the construction sector, including a range of composite metal deck systems. SCI has assessed the fire performance data for the Netverk SR-D60 Advance Composite Metal Deck System. The assessment was based on testing carried out according to EN 1365-2:2014 and EN 1363-1:2020. SCI reviewed both the test report and classification report. For the test report, SCI verified that:

• the specimen tested was according to the sponsor's (Netverk) specification;
• there was sufficient evidence in the report demonstrating that the experimental setup, equipment used, instrumentation etc were according to the requirements/guidance given in EN 1365-2 and EN 1363-1;
• the analysis of the results was carried out according to the guidance given in EN 1363-1.

The specimen exhibited satisfactory performance during the test. The test was stopped after 182 minutes, the insulation criteria were exceeded at 128 minutes.

For more information on assessments or certifications from SCI, please contact assessment@steel-sci.com.

The Offsite Awards recognise excellence across every aspect of the industry from hybrid and modular technology to engineering and installation, ensuring that all aspects of the offsite building process are celebrated - recognising the design and technology that makes these inspiring projects possible.

As Best Use of Steel Technology category sponsors, we want to send a big CONGRATULATIONS to all finalists! Curious about who made it to the shortlist? Discover the Offsite Awards 2022 Finalists here: www.offsiteawards.co.uk/2022-finalists

A date for your diary - 20 September - book now for £95+VAT and celebrate this year's Offsite Awards winners!

For more information and to book tickets, visit: https://www.offsiteawards.co.uk/attend

The new Advisory Desk service emails sent this month included;

Advisory Desk Note - AD 366
Bolts and pins - Background information

Advisory Desk Note - AD 490
Vibration response: root-mean-quad acceleration

If you are an SCI Sole Trader or Corporate Member and not receiving these email alerts go to the SCI Information Portal and in your Profile click on notifications/alerts and select the notifications you require.

All the Advisory Desk Notes and Questions and Answers together with other technical resources are all available at all times on the SCI Information Portal.

For SCI Sole Trader and Corporate members, SCI offers support through our Advisory Desk Service. For questions asked which we feel are pertinent to the wider member audience we publish anonymously the questions and answers.

Where some questions relate to SCI Publications we publish the question and answers in Connect.

This month our published question is about;
Tie forces in orthogonal directions

Question: Do tie forces in orthogonal beams connected to a column need to be considered as acting simultaneously?

Answer: Tie forces acting in orthogonal directions are not required to be considered simultaneously. The codes only require that the connection of each beam to the column is capable of resisting the tie force.

This is Advisory Question/Answer Ref No: 7172-22

For all other membership Advisory Question /Answers please visit the the SCI Information Portal.

The Advisory Desk Service is for SCI Corporate and Sole Trader Members advisory@steel-sci.com | +44 (0) 1344 636525

SCI Online Training Courses

Our public courses and webinars keep engineers updated with the latest developments within steel design and equip them to design competently, efficiently and safely.

Essential Steelwork Design
This course will be delivered in 4 Sessions:

Part 1: 6 September
Part 2: 7 September
Part 3: 13 September
Part 4: 14 September

Timing: 10:00-12:00

This online course introduces the concepts and principles of steel building design, before explaining in detail the methods employed by Eurocode 3 for designing members in bending, compression and tension. Load combinations, frame stability, brittle fracture and connection design are also covered. The methods are illustrated through a series of worked examples and workshops.

The course will highlight the similarities and major differences between BS 5950 and the Eurocodes but it will not assume any prior knowledge of either code.

The exercises will focus on the Eurocode design methods.

The objectives of this course are:

• to introduce the concepts of limit state design and explain the calculation of load combinations for ULS and SLS;
• to provide information on the correct specification of steel grade and sub grade;
• to explain the principles of frame stability and robustness;
• to describe local buckling and the requirements for section classification;
• to provide details of how to design steel members, including restrained and unrestrained beams, compression members and tension members.

Having attended this course you will:

• understand the principles of steel building design;
• be able to confidently specify steel for building purposes;
• be familiar with the key clauses in EC3 for member and frame design.

Member Rate: £250.00 +VAT
Non Member Rate: £330.00 +VAT

To attend this course register here

Next SCI Member webinar is;

SCI Tedds Modules: Turning SCI Guidance into Designer
13 September 22
Time: 12:30-13:30

This webinar will introduce and demonstrate the first of the newly released SCI add-in modules for the popular 'Tekla Tedds' software. The features of these modules will be illustrated and related to current SCI guidance. The webinar will conclude with a preview of future modules coming soon to the SCI Shop.

Register for this event here

Fire Resistance of Light Steel Framing (P424)
This New publication provides guidance on how light steel framed buildings should be designed and detailed to provide fire resistance in accordance with the Building Regulations. The guidance addresses the criteria that need to be considered and explains how these can be achieved with light steel framing.

Fire Resistance of Steel Sections Galvanized to EN ISO 1461 (P429)
This design guide provides tables to calculate fire resistances and maximum fire exposure periods for galvanized steel beams, composite beams, columns, and plates in tension, according to the Eurocodes and the UK and Irish National Annexes.

Design of Columns Subject to Localised Fires (P423)
This design guide presents a Eurocode-aligned method for determining the temperature of a column subject to a localised fire. Guidance on how to determine the resistance of a steel column when subject to elevated temperatures is also given. The use of this performance-based approach for assessing structural fire resistance will usually lead to a reduction in the cost of fire protection compared to that required by a prescriptive approach.

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