The Natural Philosopher wrote:
S Viemeister wrote:
Alistair Riddell wrote:
On Fri, 3 Mar 2006, Tim Downie wrote:

Hmm.. how would you fix this?

http://www.zen31010.zen.co.uk/images/1.jpg

It looks like the wooden beams were just glued into the metal parts without
any through-bolting. Given their differences in expansion coefficients,
seems a bit dodgy to me. What would have happened if one of the joints at
the top had given way?
I get a 404 not found at that URL.

You aren't perhaps talking about the Scottish "Parliament" are you?!

It certainly sounds like that. I was amazed when I saw the photos - I had
assumed that the beams would be held by more than just their tapered shape,
and glue, but there was no sign of a bolt.

All the joints are in compression, so no need to cope with any shear
force at all.

Probably don;t even need teh glue.

A reasonable flexible polyurethane glue should be entirely adequate.
BUT what a complete load of old ******** that structure is. Obviously
designed by architects and structural engineers with too much time and
public money to spend. Its engineering for the sake of it. Not for any
PURPOSE.

The architect is dead but was known as "el collapso" after the roof of
a building he designed in his native Spain collapsed. Apperently the
builders were at fault that time but I see a pattern forming...

MBQ