It’s amazing what you get to learn about someone when you take the time to sit down and really chat. My latest catch up with our Senior Structural Engineer Jing Cao was no different! Growing up in Shanghai China – I think Jing was destined to be an engineer. Although as a youngster he was an…
Fire design techniques for steel structures have progressed rapidly in recent years. Epitomised in the new Australasian multi-storey composite building design standard AS/NZS 2327:2017, where latest advances in fire design for composite concrete/steel structure components is comprehensively presented. That’s why in collaboration with the Auckland Structural Group (ASG) we’re supporting Holmes Technical Director Dr Linus…
The Greater Auckland region is facing a housing crisis that requires greater urban density to help fix it. That’s why our Structural Systems team has been conducting innovative research on a light steel framing (LSF) multi-storey building solution. An approach that answers the Auckland Unitary Plan’s calls to action to house a growing population. While…
Every day, we’re driven to solve our members problems. So, when the opportunity to work with Steel & Tube came up to help develop their new construction product – we jumped! We spent 18 months driving R&D focused on getting their new composite slab product ComFlor SR market ready. Providing design of the test specimens,…
We’re proud to have our General Manager Structural Systems Dr Stephen Hicks invited to deliver a keynote address at the 13th International Conference on Steel, Space & Composite Structures. Hosted in Perth from 31 January to 2 February 2018, it’s expected to be attended by over 70 attendees from 18 different countries across design, fabrication and…
Recently, the SESOC2017 conference was held in Wellington – the fourth to be hosted in New Zealand with the theme ‘Securing the future.’ During this event, both local and international speakers came together to address topics falling under this idea. In particular, the need for structural engineers to look beyond our New Zealand standards when…
In August 2017, a SCNZ-led standard development committee, which HERA also takes part in, was established to develop a new technical specification for steel corrosion protection. Superseding NZS 3404.1:2009 Chapter 5 Corrosion Protection, the new stand-alone technical specification SNZ TS 3404:2017 Durability requirements for steel structures and components will be developed into a document that keeps abreast…
The media has been rife with stories of non-compliant steel. Where it has either performed poorly or been utilised despite its inability to meet New Zealand standards. Not surprisingly, this has become a key concern for many local structural engineers who are sourcing structural components from overseas. Not only in regards to performance – but…
In the recent Steel Research Panel’s annual workshop, HERA agreed to launch quarterly workshops focused on the 5-to-10 year strategy for New Zealand steel research. Based on the themes of fire, seismic, robustness/reliability and productivity – the first one-day workshop is now confirmed to be held at HERA House on 14th November on the theme of FIRE.…
HERA has recently made a decision to assist the commercialisation for a seismic damage-resistant system for modular steel structures developed by Dr. John Jing in his PhD thesis. He’s received this opportunity through a HERA research scholarship fund, starting his PhD study in 2009. Supervised by Prof Charles Clifton, he has developed a base isolation…
Our AGGAT engineers Dr. Lei Chen and Dr. Haiam Abbas attended and presented at the recently held third consecutive Engine Organic Rankine Cycle Consortium (EORCC) workshop 2016 in Belfast, North Ireland. The conference attracted more than 100 representatives both from university and industry sectors of the Organic Rankine Cycle technology, 44 researchers, including four keynote…
HERA is pleased to welcome Dr. Jing Cao to the Structural Systems division. Jing graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering from Tongji University in Shanghai, China. He obtained his PhD from the University of Southampton, UK, which was fully supported via EPSRC research funding. He has design and assessment experience in the UK, China, Australia…