What is SCITIC?
Structure Cladding Interaction Technology Innovation Centre (SCITIC) is an inter-disciplinary “Technical Innovation Centre” positioned within the University of Manchester. Professor Yong Wang, chair of Structural Engineering, acts as Director with Professor Mike Davies acting as a ‘visiting Professor’ to offer guidance.
A number of eminent experts from both academia and industry have been invited to form a ‘Steering Committee’.
It is hoped that as SCITIC expands it will be able to make a formal link with the University of Salford in the subject area of Structure Cladding Interaction.
Why do we need SCITIC?
Structure Cladding Interaction (SCI) is a big enough subject to be recognised as a separate discipline (e.g. alongside ‘Soil-Structure Interaction’). With a rich heritage in research relating to the structural behaviour of cladding, and relevant aspects of structural behaviour the Univerity of Manchester is a natural home for this centre.
With all cases of SCI, there needs to be a unified approach that embraces the alternative cladding systems (e.g. single skin trapezoidal, sandwich panels, two-skin systems and cassettes). SCITIC aims to act without preference or prejudice to any system and assist the industry in developing robust guidance