Denmark: The Global Leader in Special Steel Structures: Fid-Bau Portal

Denmark: The Global Leader in Special Steel Structures

Støttrup‐Andersen, Ulrik

Although small in size and without any domestic production of steel, Denmark has over the years contributed with a series of innovative steel structural designs, and today plays a key role globally in the design and construction of some special steel structures.

Danish engineers have been pioneers internationally in many fields and have a good reputation worldwide. This is also the case within steel structures. Today, Danish consulting engineering firms are extremely big compared to the size of its native population. These firms contribute significantly to global ranking within special steel structures, for instance, masts and towers, steel foundations for offshore wind turbines and large span steel bridges. Additionally, Danish engineers and fabricators are at the forefront globally within steel structures for wind turbines.

The Author has worked with structural steel design for more than 45 years in Ramboll– – the largest consulting engineering company in Denmark. He has participated in many innovative designs and contributed to the national and international standardisation of codes of practice.

This paper introduces the global leads on special steel structures, as well as some innovative steel designs in Denmark. Out of the large portfolio of innovative steel structural projects performed by Danish engineers, only a small fraction of steel projects from the past 45 years are mentioned, primarily where Ramboll has been involved.