The Portonave Quay Wall Improvement Project is located within the boundaries of the Container Terminal in the city of Navegantes in the State of Santa Catarina within the Federative Republic of Brazil. The project aims to upgrade the existing quay structure to enable the terminal to accommodate 400m LOA containerships. The nature of the ground (alluvial deposits) has necessitated the use of Single Bore Multiple Anchors (SBMAs) to support the new quay structure. SBMA Ltd’s principal geotechnical consultant, Dr Mothersille, was engaged by the main contractor BESIX-ECB SPE Ltda, to provide consultancy support for the design team for the design, fabrication, construction and testing of the anchors.
The 42nd Grouting Fundamentals & Current Practice workshop was held at the Bundeswehr University in Munich, Germany, between 24th and 27th April 2023. Dr Mothersille represented Single Bore Multiple Anchor Ltd and delivered a presentation entitled ‘High Capacity Anchors in Soils and Weak Rocks’. Over 70 delegates registered for the event from as far afield as New Zealand, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Italy.
The event was sponsored by Ernst & Sohn, and from the feedback received, tremendous benefits were derived from the group of experts who unselfishly shared their knowledge and vast experience.
The 43rd workshop is scheduled to take place in Phoenix, Arizona, between 11th and 15th September 2023.
Below are some photographs showing Dr Mothersille presenting his material.
After 2 years of meticulous development and rigorous internal testing by the partnership of ground anchor specialist AnchorTest Ltd and the outstanding team of international geotechnical software developers hetGE LLC, the first major update to AnchorTest (Version 2) is here. Bringing the latest international ground anchor testing code, EN ISO 22477-5:2018 (Test Method 1), AnchorTest v2 has many new and cutting-edge features such as the use of “Artificial Intelligence” for the estimation of anchor pull-out resistance using creep rate measurements.
AnchorTest v2 is available for all corporate license holders as a free-of-charge update through Apple App Store.
Please visit anchortest.info for more information.
Also please ensure your volume is on and watch this short video:
SBMA Ltd’s associate Geoserve Global Ltd was engaged by Ingerop South Africa to provide an objective assessment of the progress made by Glötzl GmbH in relation to the manufacture of rock anchor load cells for the Hazelmere dam project. The proposed load cell technology will deliver the largest hydraulic electronic pressure transducer annular load cells ever installed on anchors, with capacities ranging from 10,000 kN to 20,000 kN. To expedite this assessment GGL’s representative, Dr Devon Mothersille visited the headquarters of Glötzl in Rheinstetten , Germany on 1st June 2022. Dr Mothersille was joined by Mr Veron Birbal (Veepro Industrial & Engineering, South Africa) and Mr Jean-Louis Rouvet (Giacintec, France), Mr Jean-Marc Basset (Glötzl, France) and the host Mr Joachim Schneider- Glötzl (CEO, Glötzl, GmbH).
Jean-Louis Rouvet, Devon Mothersille and Veron Birbal travel by train from Stuttgart to RheinstettenGlötzl headquarters in Rheinstetten, GermanyHydraulic electronic pressure transducer annular load cells; 10No. distribution plates in the foreground and 4No. cells in the backgroundFrom left to right: Jean-Marc Basset, Devon Mothersille, Joachim Schneider Jean-Louis Rouvet and Veron Birbal
The Deep Foundations Institute (DFI) promotes a webinar series, ‘IT$ Money’, which stands for Increased Testing Saves Money. In this series, DFI highlights, every other month, 3 case studies during a 30-minute presentation each, followed by another 30 minutes of Q&A. The whole concept is that additional testing (whether foundation testing, soil investigations, or concept testing) can develop a cheaper execution plan, has a shorter execution schedule and reduces risk.
Dr Mothersille was invited to speak at this webinar and used the rock anchor investigation tests carried out during the construction of post-tensioned anchors at Hazelmere dam as the case study. Dr Mothersille explained that in his 30 plus years’ experience, Hazelmere dam stands out as one of the best examples showing how an asset owner’s commitment to a substantial anchor test programme resulted in significant benefits for the project in terms of reduction in anchor execution costs and geotechnical risk mitigation.
The test programme involved installing and testing four sacrificial trial anchors comprising 61No., 15.7mm diameter prestressing stands with an overall length of approximately 40m. These trial anchors were installed in the stilling basin, and the fixed anchors targeted the founding stratum layers of the proposed production anchors. In addition, the specialist anchor contractor was required to fabricate and install a full-scale anchor through the non-overspill crest of the dam. This 80m long trial anchor was called the dress rehearsal anchor and provided an opportunity for the specialist anchor contractor could demonstrate the execution of a complete corrosion protected anchor system. Provision was made that in the event of poor performance of the dress rehearsal anchor, a replacement anchor could be installed adjacent to it. Fortunately, this was not required, and the dress rehearsal anchor satisfied the acceptance criteria stipulated in the specification. The data produced from the test programme was digitised, managed and analysed in real-time using the cloud-based software AnchorTestTM. This innovative tool proved invaluable by providing authorised parties access to the digitised performance data and convenient storage of records in the Cloud.
Dr Mothersille was joined by fellow speakers Patrick Ijnsen (Netherlands) and Dustin Walkenhorst (Canada). Notable mentions are due to Gerald Verbeek (Host for the event) and Carol Planitzer (Administrative Assistant, DFI).
IT$ Money Webinar Speakers (left to right) Dustin Walkenhorst, Patrick Ijnsen and Devon MothersilleScreenshot taken during the online Q&A session61No. strand sacrificial trial anchor installed at Hazelmere dam, South Africa
The Maggoire Policlinico Hospital in Milan is the first project in Italy that utilises removable anchor technology. SBMA Ltd, in collaboration with its certified tendon manufacturer DECA srl (CEO Mr Gianni Carnabuci), was awarded the contract to design and manufacture the special anchor tendons in September 2020. Since this time, the main contractor (SIS SCPA) and the specialist anchor contractor (Palingero) have worked through the challenges of the global pandemic to deliver an effective deep excavation support system. The system incorporates a total of 186 No. removable SBMAs that work in conjunction with secant piles to support the excavation that exceeds 10m in depth.
A small number of removable SBMAs are scheduled for installation in one section of the site. In addition, the permanent floor slabs that form an integral part of the foundation structure are currently under construction. When this phase is complete, the process of tendon removable will begin. During a recent site visit, Senior site engineer Massimo Chiofalo (SIS SCPA) gave SBMA Ltd’s Managing Director Dr Mothersille a site tour. Enjoy the images.
Original hospital building located adjacent to the siteDr Mothersille and Mr Massimo Chiofalo discuss tendon removalDr Mothersille and Mr Massimo Chiofalo standing next to the SBMA tendons awaiting installationRemovable SBMAs support deep excavation at the Maggoire Policlinico Hospital sitePanoramic view of the Maggoire Policlinico Hospital supported excavation
The raising of Hazelmere Dam by an unprecedented 7m required technology never before seen in the KwaZulu natal region of South Africa. Extensive feasibility studies established that the optimum solution to facilitate the raising was to install 83 high capacity rock anchors through the 47m high concrete superstructure into the underlying rock. The anchors, installed in 355mm diameter boreholes, ranged in size from 49 to 91 strands (15.7mm diameter) and were up to 90m long. With test loads up to 19042kN, these are the highest capacity cyclically loaded post-tensioned anchors ever installed. In addition, ten of the anchors will be instrumented with the world’s highest capacity annular hydraulic pressure transducer load cells. These bespoke instruments will allow full remote monitoring technology, permitting authorised personnel to interrogate the anchor load throughout the design service life.
Circumstances associated with the works resulted in a four-year delay to the project. This raised concern that the anchor tendons allocated for load cell installation may have suffered adverse corrosion.
On behalf of Ingerop South Africa (ISA), lead anchor consultant Dr Mothersille (SBMALtd/Geoserve Global Ltd) engaged the services of corrosion specialists Intertek to assist with a forensic investigation that included physical inspection and assessment of the anchor tendons. The detailed investigation involved using an illuminated x60 magnifying glass and digital endoscope to examine the surfaces of the steel tendons in situ. Back at Intertek’s laboratories in Manchester (UK), replica moulding samples of steel strand surfaces were coated with gold using a Polaron 500 Sputter Coating Unit and photographed with a Keyence VHX-2000 Digital Microscope. This allowed the creation of 3D surface reconstruction and detailed measurements of surface profiles. Additional testing included tendon metallography, chemical analysis, hardness testing and water analysis to establish a thorough assessment of the tendon condition. Enjoy the images from this visit to South Africa.
Part of ISA’s team in South Africa. From left to right; Mr Karabo Kgaphole (Resident Engineer, Hazelmere dam), Mr Neelesh Daya (CEO, ISA, Mozambique, Kenya), Dr Devon Mothersille (Managing Director, GGL), Mr Duane Booyse (Technical Director, ISA) and Mr Shakendra Bhagwandin (Regional Head – Eastern Region)Mr Adam Botha (Approved Professional Person, ISA) and Dr Devon Mothersille (GGL)Dr Mothersille using a x60 illuminated magnifying glass to examine steel strandFrom left to right; Mr Geoff Coates (Principal Engineer – Metallurgy, Intertek), Dr Devon Mothersille (GGL) and Karabo Kgaphole (Resident Engineer, Hazelmere dam)Dr Mothersille uses an endoscope with readout on iPad to examine steel strandExample 3D profile generated from replica samples taken on strand surface
Back in September 2020, SBMA Ltd in collaboration with its certified tendon manufacturer DECA srl, were awarded the contract to design, manufacture and partly supervise the construction of removable anchors which form an integral part of the foundation support system for the new Maggiore Policlinico Hospital in Milan, Italy.
Following a series of anchor trials and substantial progress with the foundation piling works, the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the temporary closure of the site. In September 2021 the project resumed and following a further series of anchor trials, production anchor works are now underway.
This project is of particular significance since it is the first time that SBMA removable anchors have been used in Italy and paves the way for more applications in the future.
SBMA Ltd wishes to take this opportunity to thank and acknowledge the professionalism and perseverance of the tendon manufacturer (DECA srl), the main contractor (SIS SCPA) and the specialist anchor contractor (Palingero) who through effective teamwork have successfully implemented this pioneering technology.
Enjoy some photographs recently taken on site.
Installation of SBMA removable tendonHomed tendon in preparation for end-of-casing grouting in coarse-grained soilsExtracted tendon elements (prestressing strand)
We are delighted to announce that Geoserve Global Ltd (SBMA Ltd’s closely aligned collaborator) has won the UK SME Southern Enterprise Business Award 2021. Geoserve Global Ltd has now been afforded the title ‘Global Leaders in Ground Anchor & Soil Nail Systems Monitoring Solutions 2021‘. This is an accolade we are very proud of and it is a testament to the high standards of service Geoserve Global Ltd has delivered to its clients worldwide.
Singe Bore Multiple Anchor Ltd’s closely aligned collaborator, Geoserve Global Ltd (GGL), is delighted to announce that it has been nominated for the Southern Enterprize Awards hosted by SME news. SME News is a quarterly digital publication aimed at those who own, run or assist in the running of small and medium-sized businesses within the UK.
Despite the challenges that GGL have faced, and still face, due to the global pandemic it is confident that it will continue to adapt to provide the specialist consultancy services its clients require. GGL regard the nomination for the Southern Enterprize award as welcomed recognition for its efforts!
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