Structural Systems

From concept to construction, engineers are an integral part of delivering innovative and cost-effective solutions.

In a world where advancing technology pushes us to give more, connecting with the right structural expertise has never been more crucial.

We know there’s always more than one acceptable solution for a given engineering problem. Identifying them and selecting the right one takes a depth of expertise that HERA have worked hard to foster, so that we can connect our members and clients to the answers they need.

Bringing structural understanding to projects at hand

We work closely with steel, composite steel-concrete and light gauge cold-formed steel sectors to understand the challenges. Combined, our experience spans a wide variety of complex projects, materials and construction methods to confidently assist our clients to achieve their goals.

Using these skills and knowledge we are able to assist with the following focus areas:

Corroded structures – we have a proven methodology that we can assist our members to apply to the assessment of existing structures. This methodology identifes the level of corrosion in structural elements and helps assess the residual strength in the member. Based on this assessment, clients are then able to identify if remedial action is required.
Earthquake engineering – we have expertise in assessment and strengthening design, where necessary, of existing structures, where we can utilise our advanced FEA capabilities along with extensive engineering experience to assist your seismic projects.
Structural health monitoring – we’ve developed a novel methodology utilising modal identification to help assess structural health. This non-invasive procedure gives you a high-level assessment of the overall health of a structure and identifies structures that may have issues.
Structural engineering – our experience in steel and composite design means we can assist members with their projects and help them achieve favourable outcomes.

Standards build a strong foundation for members

In the background, we’re focused on enabling our members in the structural engineering space – driving required changes in engineering standards, guidelines and best practice.

We have representatives on multiple standards committees, and as a result are able to assist members in developing solutions that meet these evolving standards.

We’re also focused on the development of design guides, technical reports and software tools to assist engineers in their projects through standards development and similar. We see this as essential in enabling engineers to remain current with the continuously evolving standards.

Engage more with our team

Make sure steel is a 'go to' material for bridge design and construction

There’s been a government focus to connect people and communities by improving transport infrastructure across New Zealand. Consequently, we’ve seen a flurry of bridge projects arise. As a result, ensuring the heavy engineering industry is able to compete fairly against the many alternative materials out there has become a strong focus for us.

In collaboration with SCNZ we’ve developed the Steel Bridge Development Group (BDG) to assist with this. Through this forum we’ve been able to raise the awareness of the composite benefits of steel and concrete in bridges and provide technical support.

As a result, a range of design workshops, publications, preliminary design aids and services to prospective clients and engineers now exist, because arming our members with resources to stay relevant in a competitive space is so important to us!

Contact Kaveh Andisheh

Develop a product for competitive advantage

The fall of geographic borders has seen our members move from competing locally to globally for work. That’s why we know it’s never been so important to have a unique product to take to market.

That’s why we’re helping our clients undertake product development through the design, testing and evaluation phases. Producing technical literature and design tables along the way, so they’re able to take control of their future pipeline.

A great example of this is our works in the development of three new cold-formed steel floor deck products for steel-concrete composite construction.

Contact Kaveh Andisheh

Get third party verification to meet international best practise

Today, maintaining a competitive edge means ensuring your product adheres to international best practice. However, while it gives our members a valuable point of difference against imported alternatives, it also requires them to meet stringent requirements.

To support this, our team is able to provide independent third-party assessment through HERA Verified. Here, we use the latest standards to verify performance values quoted by manufacturers have been achieved. In addition, we also take into account international harmonised standards, CE marking and energy efficiency ratings including R-values and thermal bridging.

Get the consultancy advice you need for projects unable to be resolved inhouse

Every so often, we know a challenging project can turn up in your pipeline that needs a different perspective on it to get it resolved. Luckily, that’s where our Structural System team shines!

Our staff have strong capability across a range of consultancy offerings – from predicting structural behaviour through finite element analysis, structural fire engineering, structural assessment and seismic design. Let us help you find innovative solutions for your client projects today!

Our R&D projects

Evaluation of shear connectors in composite bridges

Making sure our members are on a level playing field globally means adapting to an ever-changing environment. That’s why aligning our local data for various types of existing composite bridges to Eurocodes was necessary. For us, it was a natural step towards helping our members embrace new technological advances in our industry.

Our research has led to the generation of a new standard AS/NZS 2327. We see this as an integral tool to arm our engineers with the ability to safely push boundaries for their clients.

First joint design standard for steel and composite bridges

International trends are calling us to use less natural resources, higher compressive strength concrete, quenched and tempered steels. As a result, it’s become clear our existing standards have to adapt.

Working with Standards Australia, we’re working to greater align with international best practice. In some cases significantly improving design options for our members involved in bridge infrastructure projects.

It’s a step that will increase trade flows with Australia. Consequently, this has led to more cost-efficient bridge designs as we look to open the door of opportunity for our members.

Seismic design

The Canterbury Earthquake Sequence has seen construction standards react swiftly in a bid to protect our communities in the future. This has achieved safety, but often at the cost of innovation – with engineers opting for conservative and costly approaches to complex projects.

Our research seeks to drive innovation again. Collaborating the University of Auckland and global partners we carry out advanced FEA modelling and large-scale seismic tests to optimise weld details for seismic connections. As a result, our members can confidently select the best performing and most cost-effective weld solution in critical seismic connections for their clients.

Steel research panel

As an association – research and development is at our core. That’s why we’re driven to find the right topics to apply this capability to – forming the Steel Research Panel for this very purpose.

Here representatives from industry, universities and other relevant organisation come together to set research priorities for our New Zealand construction sector. Evaluating project proposals for funding with many of it’s outputs ending up in New Zealand’s structural steel design standards and our own HERA guidelines for the direct benefit and value of our membership.

So far this has led to research in structural steel connection guides, fire engineering programs, seismic research and design guides for composite bridge.