Category Archives: Specification

SETTLEMENT OF OPENCAST BACKFILL

Over recent months we have been working with a developer on the assessment of the likely settlement of backfill placed during previous coal extraction works on a site in Derbyshire.  The assessment resulted in movement predictions across the site both if the ground was not treated and if the ground was treated using vibro methods.  The work showed that vibro techniques offered a potential cost-effective treatment solution and work is now progressing to develop the treatment design.

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.

 

DESIGNERS GEOTECHNICAL ADVISOR APPOINTMENT

Over recent months we have been working for a developer on the geotechnical design of an acoustic bund adjacent to the M1.  We have been liaising with Highways England (HE) on behalf of the Client, to help them steer through the HD22/08 process as their Designers Geotechnical Advisor.  The aim of the work is to secure the HE’s approval of the development in due course, as the project is ongoing.

 

HOWARD MEDAL AWARDED

As announced previously, we are very pleased and honoured to announce that on 6 October 2017 our Dr Andy Goodwin, Simon Ellis (Mott Macdonald), Prof Liz Laycock (Sheffield Hallam University) and Dr Chris Hurst (Mott MacDonald) were all awarded the Howard Medal by ICE Publishing for a paper jointly published in 2016.  The awards dinner was held at the ICE headquarters near Westminster. The happy recipients are shown below on stage, and both before and after perhaps a little too much champagne!

Entitled “Use of crushed brick in reinforced earth railway structures”, the paper was published in ICE’s Construction Materials Journal.  Targeted at improving the sustainability of the development, the work reported on a short practically-focused research project undertaken in association with Sheffield Hallam University with a clear focus on assessing the suitability of crushed bricks to be sourced from a viaduct for re-use as engineered fill.  It shows the benefits that can be gained from integrating focused research into a large project.  

More details of the project can be seen in the paper, which can be downloaded for free from http://www.icevirtuallibrary.com/doi/10.1680/coma.15.00014.  

ANOTHER SLOPE STABILITY ASSESSMENT

We have been working in recent months on a sub-consultancy basis to support a housing developer resolve a slope stability issue on a confidential site.  The geological conditions at the site indicated periglacial landslips may be present, with consequential slope stability and retaining wall stability issues.  Working closely with the developer and structural engineer, we have undertaken investigations of the site and are presently resolving whether the current design needs to be amended at all.

Though a small commission, the project is a good illustration of the benefits of taking a multi-disciplinary approach to solving a problem.  If you need any support on your earthworks projects then feel free to call our Dr Andy Goodwin to discuss how we could assist and add value.

 

HOWARD MEDAL WINNER

We are very pleased and honoured to announce that a paper jointly published in 2016 by our Dr Andy Goodwin with Simon Ellis (Mott Macdonald), Liz Laycock (Sheffield Hallam University) and Chris Hurst (Mott MacDonald) has just been awarded the Howard Medal by ICE Publishing.  The paper, entitled “Use of crushed brick in reinforced earth railway structures”, was published in ICE’s Construction Materials Journal.  Targeted at improving the sustainability of the development, the work reported is based on a short practically-focused research project undertaken in association with Sheffield Hallam University with a clear focus on assessing the suitability of crushed bricks to be sourced from a viaduct for re-use as engineered fill.  It shows the benefits that can be gained from integrating focused research into a large project.  

More details of the project can be seen in the paper, which can be downloaded for free from http://www.icevirtuallibrary.com/doi/10.1680/coma.15.00014.  All of the authors are looking forward to attending the Awards Ceremony in October 2017 and to receiving their medals!