PODCAST · education
SPAN
by SPAN
SPAN (Structures, Practice & Natter) is a podcast and community of structural engineers passionate about the industry. We focus on knowledge sharing to aid professional development.
Episodes
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Future Construction Materials - Structural Behaviour (15)
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…
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GE…what a man, what a man - Engineers P&P (03)
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...
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RICA - Learning from success (02)
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;...
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Engineer's Bread Part 2 - Structural Behaviour (14)
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,...
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Engineer's Bread Part 1 - Structural Behaviour (13)
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…
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Maintenance and Reuse - Structural behaviour (12)
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...
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Ponte Morandi - Learning from failure (07)
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…
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Atria and long span structures - Structural behaviour (11)
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...
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2024 Wrapped… in Construction
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...
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An Interview With Alison Cox - Career corner (04)
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...
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Citigroup Center - Learning from failure (06)
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...
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Telford's Tea - Engineers P&P (02)
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'…
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Taipei 101 - Learning from success (01)
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...
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Engineering Research - Career corner (03)
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...
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Steel your gaze (Part 2) - Structural behaviour (10)
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...
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Steel your gaze (Part 1) - Structural behaviour (09)
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,...
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Amman the man - Engineers P&P (01)
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...
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Ten Projects We Are [*adjective*] About - Part 4
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...
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Ten Projects We Are [*adjective*] About - Part 3
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...
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Ten Projects We Are [*adjective*] About - Part 2
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…
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Ten Projects We Are [*adjective*] About - Part 1
Can birds stop bridges being built? Should historic events prevent us from rebuilding monuments? Are data centres something tourists would love to see? These are three questions we encounter today in our first episode in a four-part series on upcoming construction projects (with varying…
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Alfred Murrah Federal Building - Learning from failure (05)
Structural failure is often accidental. In a minority of cases, acts of terrorism cause deliberate impact-induced damage. The 1995 bombing of the Alfred Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City is the most deadly act of 'homegrown' terrorism in the United States to date. How does a structure…
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Bridge That Gap! (Part 2) - Structural behaviour (08)
"It so happens that the work which is likely to be our most durable monument, and to convey some knowledge of us to the most remote posterity, is a work of bare utility; not a shrine, not a fortress, not a palace but a bridge." - Montgomery Schuyler on the Brooklyn Bridge (1883) There is little...
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Bridge That Gap! (Part 1) - Structural behaviour (08)
Form and function; two words familiar to any structural engineer. The bridge is where these two words form a union - the very function of a bridge is its form! Bridges preceded buildings: bridges enabled our nomadic ancestors to traverse river and ravine. Since ancient times, bridges defined the...
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Woodn't You Like To Know? (Part 2) - Structural behaviour (07)
CLT, LVL, DLT... No, they're not diseases, they're types of mass engineered timber! Mass timber is a beautiful material that has taken sky scrapers to the next level (literally) in recent years. It is strong and flexible (making it especially resilient for earthquake design); while being...
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Woodn't You Like To Know? (Part 1) - Structural behaviour (07)
Did you know that the oldest timber building has been standing for more than 1300 years? Or that the tallest tree is taller than the Stature of Liberty? Or that mass timber can sustain load for longer than steel during a fire? There are so many environmental, structural, and health benefits to...
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Natter (01)
Join us for our first natter episode. The natter series has a few bloopers and bits of the chit-chat Ellie and I have while recording. Nothing serious, we catch up, laugh a lot and think we’re funnier than we probably are! Please have a listen and let us know. Send any comments to...
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Hyatt Regency Walkways - Learning from failure (04)
In 1981, the collapse of two pedestrian walkways at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Kansas City resulted in one of the most devastating structural failures in U.S. history in terms of loss of life and injury. This tragic event highlighted the critical need for peer review and independent checks during...
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Sustainability 101 - Structural behavior (06)
Climate change due to global warming is one of the major crises of our time. The construction industry contributes significantly to carbon emissions globally, which means that structural and civil engineers are well placed to effect change and drive towards a net zero world. In this episode, we...
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Structural design philosophy - Structural behaviour (05)
As a structural engineer, you are legally required to provide functional and safe designs. Depending on where you are, there are particular codes/standards you can use to meet this legal requirement. In this episode, we consider the UK and cover these standards (Eurocodes), regulations (Building...
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Reinforced concrete - Structural behaviour (04)
Ever wondered how reinforced concrete came to be? Reinforced concrete is a versatile and ubiquitous material in the construction industry for its strength, durability and fire resistance. In this episode, we cover the history of reinforced concrete (in Ellie's dramatic narration) and discuss why…
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Jobs a civil engineering degree can get you - Career corner (02)
Civil engineering isn’t a subject taught at school, it can feel like a leap of faith to study it at university; what if it’s not for you? As it happens, a civil engineering degree is one of the most versatile programmes you can undertake - with possible future careers ranging from acoustic...
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Ronan Point - Learning from failure (02)
Ronan Point’s partial collapse was a turning point for the industry as it brought disproportionate collapse and the need for redundancy to the picture. Built using the Large Panel System (LPS), Ronan Point is an unfortunate example of why new systems should be rigorously assessed. We cover the...
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Vajont Dam - Learning from failure (03)
The Vajont dam disaster is one of Italy’s worst disasters. Dams provide critical water supply and renewable energy, but can cause catastrophic loss when they fail. This dam disaster is peculiar as the dam structure did not fail and is still standing today. It highlights though that our structures...
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Material matters - Structural behaviour (03)
Form is influenced by function, forces, and therefore the material which makes that form matters! Today we discuss the different types of materials typically used in construction, their properties, and their advantages and disadvantages. Send in any comments to [email protected] or use...
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Strength through geometry - Structural behaviour (02)
What does a structure’s form/shape have to do with its efficiency in carrying load? Find out in this episode and get to hear of Ellie’s love for curves and arches...again! Let us know what you think. Should form inform function or vice versa? Send in any comments to [email protected] or...
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About forces - Structural behaviour (01)
What is a force? Why are forces so important? In the Structural Behaviour series, we will discuss fundamental principles and concepts underpinning structural behaviour. Join us in this episode as we discuss what forces are, their types, and why we design against them. How a structure behaves is...
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Let’s go to uni! - Career corner (01)
The career corner series is all about platforming educational and career development resources, tips, and experience. In this episode, we share our tips on choosing the right course and university to fit you, writing your application, and finding funding. We mention a number of resources and...
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Galloping Gertie - Learning from failure (01)
We kick off our 'Learning from failure' series with the prominent Tacoma Narrows Bridge. The bridge was nicknamed 'Galloping Gertie' due to its torsional vibration deformation induced by wind. We cover why the bridge failed and how this failure has transformed the industry today. Thanks for…
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Meet the hosts (Janet & Ellie)
Welcome to SPAN! In this Episode, we (Janet and Ellie) introduce ourselves with the help of some cheesy structural engineering themed ice breakers, share our career paths to date, and the content you can expect from us on this podcast. Thanks for joining us! Send in any comments to...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
SPAN (Structures, Practice & Natter) is a podcast and community of structural engineers passionate about the industry. We focus on knowledge sharing to aid professional development.
HOSTED BY
SPAN
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does SPAN have?
SPAN currently has 40 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is SPAN about?
SPAN (Structures, Practice & Natter) is a podcast and community of structural engineers passionate about the industry. We focus on knowledge sharing to aid professional development.
How often does SPAN release new episodes?
SPAN has 40 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to SPAN?
You can listen to SPAN on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts SPAN?
SPAN is created and hosted by SPAN.
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