On 26th February 2015 the CMD Research Group hosted an event on the yield-line method, held at the new IStructE HQ in London.

The yield-line method has remained largely a hand-analysis technique, limiting its usage. However, recent CMD research has led to it being systematically automated for the first time. The event was held to gauge interest in the new development, and also to demonstrate new software, LimitState:SLAB, which incorporates the new automated method.

In addition to four presentations, a panel discussion was held to allow workshop participants to ask questions and to voice their opinions. It was clear that there is significant interest in the new automated method, which has the potential to demonstrate that existing slabs contain additional resertves of strength, and that less reinforcement is needed in new slabs. However, it was also clear that there is considerable work to do to e.g. move the industry away from the conservative linear elastic FEA based design methods currently used for slabs. 

See the event page to view the event programme and speaker presentations.