Category Archives: GI

ISTRUCTE TALK ON EC7

Just in case you haven’t seen the advertising put out by IStructE, you may wish to know that our Dr Andy Goodwin is giving a presentation to the Regional Group on 16 May 2018.  Entitled “EC7 is Just for Geotechnical Engineers – Isn’t It?”, the talk is aimed at de-mystifying EC7 to help structural engineers recognise its implications for them and aid its wider adoption going forward. 

It is being held from 6pm in Lecture Theatre 3, The Diamond, 32 Leavygreave Road, Sheffield S3 7RD.  Further details can be found here.

UPDATED SOIL NAILING STANDARD

Just in case you missed it, BSI recently announced that the UK’s soil nailing design standard has been reviewed and updated.  In their release, BSI stated:

“BS 8006-2 Code of practice for strengthened/reinforced soils ‒ Part 2: Soil nail design gives recommendations and guidance for stabilizing soil slopes and faces using soil nails. As there is no corresponding EN or ISO standard, BS 8006-2 is the national de facto soil nailing design standard in the UK and Ireland.

Principal technical changes include:

  • Improved compliance with BS EN 1990 on partial factors
  • Clarification of potentially ambiguous notation
  • Updated advice on atmospheric corrosivity
  • Inclusion of site investigation BS 5930

Note that the European standard in this area, BS EN 1997-1, specifically excludes soil nailing. BS 8006-2 is harmonized for use alongside that standard, as well as with BS 8006-1:2010+A1:2016 which covers other stabilization approaches using reinforced soil methods which covers the design of reinforced soil structures.“

EUROCODES AND BREXIT

We are often asked when delivering training courses on eurocodes what impact Brexit will have on Eurocodes.  BSI recently issued their update on the matter, which essentially says that “Eurocodes are here to stay and will continue to perform an essential role across Europe and beyond going forward….the intent is for the UK to remain full members of the European Committee for Standardization and European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization post-Brexit”.

Further details can be seen in their article, which can be viewed here.

SETTLEMENT OF OPENCAST BACKFILL

Following successful delivery of a similar project, we were approached by a new client to support them on a large residential development in Derbyshire.  Since our appointment, we have completed the assessment of the likely settlement of backfill placed during previous coal extraction works and made movement predictions across the site both if the ground was not treated and if the ground was treated using vibro methods.  We are now about to aid the developer consider foundation solutions across the site, taking account of variable structural form, variable loadings and variable fill depths

If you think we could assist you with similar issues you may be having on a site then please contact Dr Andy Goodwin on 01246 807808.

 

GEOTECHNICAL DESIGNER FOR MULTI-STOREY BUILDINGS

Over recent months we have been working with a site investigation specialist to support a developer on the ground investigation for and geotechnical design inputs to the piled foundations for two large multi-storey buildings in Yorkshire.  Close liaison with the structural engineer is required to assess not just the pile capacity but also stiffness, prior to detailed design of the piles being undertaken by a piling contractor.  More details of the project will be released in due course so watch this space!