Geotechnical Design
As experienced geotechnical engineers we offer a full range of services to address frequently occurring issues. Click the links below out find out more...
Slope Stability Analysis and Remediation
Reinforced Earth
Load Transfer Platforms
Working Platforms
Earth Retention
Reinforced Concrete Substructures
Advanced Numerical Analysis
Please click on the links to the left for more information, should you wish to discuss anything in more detail please feel free to contact us.
Slope Stability Analysis and Remediation
We offer slope stability analysis and remediation solutions and use industry standard software SLIDE and PLAXIS to optimise our approach. Solutions have been developed using anchors, soil nails, geotextiles, gabions and micro-piles.
Our experience of slope stabilisation and remediation is extensive, we have been responsible for several large slope remediation projects. Our capabilities in this respect are greatly enhanced by using advanced numerical analysis where appropriate.
Soil nails and anchors offer many advantages over traditional methods of soil slope remediation such as toe surcharging. We have also used soil nails to stabilise existing retaining walls.
Piles of course can be used as cut-offs for potential slip surfaces. On slopes access can be difficult for larger piling machines and the key is to establish what increase in factor safety can be realised with systems that can access the slope. Again advanced numerical techniques with a large dose of practical common sense can determine the practicalities of this type of solution.
Geotextiles are often used in conjunction with one or more of the three methods above, we offer a design and specification service for geotextiles for use in slope stabilisation projects.
Reinforced Earth
We offer a design service for the remediation of unstable or potentially unstable retaining structures using reinforcement techniques, we also offer a design and/or checking service for all types of reinforced earth structures to assure our clients that the solution offered is best suited for the intended purpose.
Reinforced slopes can be a very cost effective for schemes such as road widening compared with more traditional methods. Near vertical excavations are possible and with the optimum reinforcement solution, this method can offer large savings over traditional methods of construction. These types of walls are more often offered on a design and construct basis, however we offer an independent checking service for your wall solutions.
Load Transfer Platforms
We design load transfer platforms which are used under embankments and large low rise buildings for spreading vertical compressive loads into an underlying piled foundation.
Working Platforms
After several catastrophic and fatal accidents particularly with piling plant in recent years due to inadequately constructed and maintained working platforms, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has worked closely with the Federation of Piling Specialists (FPS) and fully supports the principle of reducing accidents by the use of properly designed, prepared and maintained working platforms.
We are ideally positioned to design and supervise the construction of working platforms having been initially involved in early consultation on the BRE guide (BRE 470), we have experience of working platform design on many projects. We would be pleased to advise Principal Contractors on their obligations under this initiative, which in the longer term must serve to reduce the number of fatalities and the associated costs that such an incident can involve.
Earth Retention
We offer a full design service for earth retaining structures such as:
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Gravity walls
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Gabion walls
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Reinforced concrete cantilever walls
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Retaining wall remediation
If you have any questions please feel free to contact us.
Reinforced Concrete Substructures
We have extensive experience in the design of all types of reinforced concrete substructures. We offer a design service for:
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Pad and Strip Footings
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Concrete Tank Bases
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Ground Beams
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Floor Slabs
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Pile Caps
If you have any questions please feel free to contact us.
Advanced Numerical Analysis
We undertake advanced numerical analysis of geotechnical problems using the Finite Element Analysis (FEA) program PLAXIS. PLAXIS is an advanced piece of software developed at the Technical University of Delft, it is used for geotechnical applications in which soil models are used to simulate the soil behaviour.
Where ground movements are of particular interest around open excavations and tunnels FEA can be used to make useful predictions and the effects of these on adjacent structures can be assessed. We have used PLAXIS on several UK contracts and in certain situations large savings can be realised for clients who are prepared to invest in the time taken to undertake this type of work. In recent times we have been able to eliminate the requirement for temporary propping to a large open excavation by using PLAXIS alongside an observational approach. This saved both time and considerable expense for our client.
We are actively seeking new clients who are keen to investigate the benefits of advanced numerical techniques, please contact Stuart Bradshaw for further assistance.