David Knight
Director, Cake EngineeringDavid Knight is a chartered structural engineer and Director of Design and Engineering at Cake Industries. He created the design and engineering team within the multi-material fabrication business and established the stand-alone structural engineering consultancy Cake Engineering. He has managed and designed a variety of projects, both large and small, and delights in working closely with artists and architects to design and project-manage bridges, buildings, sculpture and moving structures.
David is Visiting Professor of Design at Cambridge University and has taught and lectured widely. He serves as Chair of the International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering (IABSE) British Group and was awarded the IABSE Early Career Prize 2023 in recognition of his work in the industry to date.
My Sessions at Day 1
Wednesday 10 March 2027
Timber Bridge Failures: Research Findings and Lessons Learnt
Timber bridges are attracting renewed interest for their low-carbon credentials, but recent failures show the importance of getting design and maintenance right. This session presents research into recent timber footbridge failures and the lessons owners and designers can learn.
- Common causes of recent timber footbridge failures
- Current design practice for detailing that protects timber from moisture and decay
- Inspection and maintenance priorities for timber structures
