We are currently assisting a large developer with their planning and design of a housing scheme on a former landfill in the East Midlands. The work initially involved critically reviewing designs prepared by others for foundations, highways and drainage, to identify issues and constraints that needed further consideration. Preparation of an earthworks specification for a thick engineered crust to form the development platform is now underway, with others looking at the piling aspects.
About 50 people turned out to hear our Dr Andy Goodwin speak about EC7 at the IStructE Regional Group meeting at University of Sheffield on 16 May 2018. Entitled “EC7 is Just for Geotechnical Engineers – Isn’t It?”, the talk gave an overview of the drivers behind the ‘new’ code and the principal practical changes from a structural engineering perspective. The talk seemed too go down well, and it attracted a lengthy Q&A session.
We have recently been commissioned by a new client to support them on a large residential development in Yorkshire. The site lies in a floodplain and the associated drainage attenuation scheme presents significant geotechnical issues. Problems to be addressed include slope stability in rapid drawdown conditions and potentially de-stabilising groundwater flows. It promises to be an interesting challenge and we are looking forward to working on it.
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.
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.
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:
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.“