Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
3/1997
THEARUP. Front cover:
American Air Museum, Duxford (Photo: Peter Mackinven)
Back cover:
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. Wellington
(Photo: Michael Hall)
JOURNAL
Vol 32 No 3 Editor:
3/1997 David J Brown
Art Editor:
Published by Desmond Wyeth FCSD
Ove Arup Partnership Deputy Editor:
13 Fitzroy Street Beth Morgan
London W1 P 6BQ
Editorial:
Tel : +44(Ol171 636 1531 Tel: +44 (0) 171 465 3828
Fax: +44 (0 171 580 3924 Fax: +44 (0) 171 465 3675
Museum of New Zealand The national treasures of New Zealand are now housed in this
Te Papa Tongarewa 3 new building on a prime waterfront site in the nation's capital.
Pippa Connolly Ove Arup & Partners' design responsibilities embraced both a
wide range of structural applications - including all of the
building steelwork, several internal and external bridges ,
structural support for the large areas of glazing, and the
precast concrete cladding system - and the civil engineering
design. The latter included dynamic consolidation and the
requirements to accommodate the interface between a base
isolated building designed to withstand the earthquake forces
anticipated in this seismically unstable region .
The American Air Museum, The new permanent home for the Imperial War Museum's
Duxford 10 collection of American aircraft consists of a 90m span double-
David Andrews skin precast concrete shell , designed to accommodate the
Gabriele Del Mese giant 852 bomber plus 20 other aircraft. Several of them,
Kevin Franklin weighing up to 10 tonnes, are hung from the roof. The design
Chris Wise team's concept aimed to combine visual calmness of form with
effective passive environmental control and use of natural light,
all within a very tight construction and maintenance budget.
Control Techniques' R&D The client's brief was for a research & development
HQ, Newtown, Powys 16 headquarters and administrative centre separately
Dick Lee accommodated within a single building. Arup Associates' two-
Declan O'Carroll storey design met these requirements in a curved plan shape
that exploited the natural contours of the greenfield site.
New materials The question is often asked 'What new materials are available
for construction 18 to designers and constructors?' To develop a meaningful
Simon Cardwell response, this article takes a fresh look at how materials used
Bob Cather in construction may be categorised , and sometimes
Steven Groak re-categorised , as their properties and capabilities become
more thoroughly understood and in some cases developed
and enhanced by materials scientists.
The Observational Method This article , based on a report by Arups for the UK
in ground engineering 21 Construction Industry Research & Information Association
Che-Ming Tse (CIRIA), describes the continuous process of predicting,
Duncan Nicholson monitoring , reviewing , and modifying geotechnical designs
which has come to be known as the Observational Method.
The OM is shown to have a number of advantages over the
alternative method of a fully developed and predefined design,
as demonstrated through several practical applications on
Arup projects.
1. Wellington waterfront reflections viewed from the Marae in the new Museum.
2. Site location.
Introduction
New Zealand's National Museum and Art Gallery Further approval for design and construction
opened in 1936, and is the repository of the was granted in early 1990. In the same year an
nation's treasures. However, because the original international two-stage competition was won by
main building was reduced in size during its JASMAX Architects. supported by a team of
design phase it was always too small, which consultants including Ove Arup &Partners in joint
forced the unsatisfactory compromise of the venture as structural, civil , and fa9ade engineers
collection being housed in several locations with Holmes Consulting Group. In May 1992 the
around the capital city, Wellington. Government authorised construction.
A series of consultations with groups throughout A distinctive characteristic of New Zealand is
New Zealand led to the proposal to build on the the two mainstreams of cultural heritage: that of
Wellington waterfront the Museum of New the Tangata Whenua (those who belong to the
Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa ('Te Papa') - the land by right of discovery) and the predominantly
Maori part of the name loosely translates as European Tangata Tiriti (tho~e who belong to
'treasure house' (Fig 2). In 1986 the Government the land by right of the Waitangi Treaty). The
approved the project in principle and directed Museum's fundamental concept is to integrate
the then Minister of Internal Affairs to continue the essence of these two cultures. expressing
consultations. The concept was given the their interaction, while at the same time revealing
go-ahead for planning purposes in April 1987. and retaining their diversity.
10 30 90m Marina
[_____
site with an external exhibit area known as the
Harbour Park (Fig 6). This aims to give visitors
the chance to explore New Zealand's varied
environment and experience at close hand a
selection of its unique flora, fauna, and geology,
an effect achieved by incorporating different
areas of vegetation and rock displays, including a 5. Site plan
recreated limestone cave and simulated fossil dig.
6.
The Harbour Park
14b. (Below)
South end of the Wall
fully clad in basalt
precast cladding.
13
Panel/wall
connection detail.
17.
East elevation showing dolomite cladding
panels in varying forms. The sloping panels
at the base of the building in the foreground
are retaining walls, forming landscaping and
a ceremonial approach to the Marae.
Steel design the Museum. followed closely by the complete Part of the visitor experience in the Harbour Park
The steelwork design required close collaboration skeleton of a rare Pygmy Blue Whale. is the swing bridge, the brief having required
with JASMAX to establish a multitude of solutions Bridges form an integral part of the museum. a 'moving bridge' capable of being negotiated
for the differing locations. Much of the steelwork is Internally they criss-cross the multi-storey voids, a by wheelchairs. This bridge, which consists of
exposed and forms a fundamental part of the notably unusual one, the lhonui bridge, curving a series of cables strung between abutments
architectural expression. Uses ranged from basic across the wedge-shaped central space (Fig 19). and carrying boards at their base, passes over
staircases to the live-storey high entrance glazing Its support is taken substantially from lour hangers a stream flowing into wetlands and the more
support and restraint system, other large openings fixed to the roof above. articulated with large pin adventurous visitors can certainly instigate a
in the orientation lobby (Fig 18), and a three-leaf, joints. Differential movements at each end of the significant swinging motion (Fig 20).
variably opening, ceremonial door, 8m wide and bridge are accommodated with sliding bearings. Corrosion of external steelwork was investigated
two storeys high. Bearings to allow for movements up to SOOmm in depth with Arup Research & Development.
The roof forms incorporate many curves and were required for the Harbour Park bridge, which The environment is very corrosive, being right on
geometrically unusual shapes, all formed in a spans from the main building out to the orientation the waterfront with strong winds to carry moist,
variety of structural steel (Figs 16, 17 & 20 ). The building in the Harbour Park. This is essentially a salt-laden air onto every element. All external
main exhibition spaces are column-free, spanned propped cantilever, painted yellow, mostly hung connections are either fully welded or pinned, all
up to 27m by square hollow section trusses, all of from the main structure (Fig 16). The requirement pins being stainless steel (grade 316) as are the
which incorporate in their design hanging points to cater for large movements results from the plates they connect. Where these plates connect
for exhibition loads. The heaviest was judged to bridge connecting a base-isolated building and a to the structure the weld interlace is painted to
be a Tiger Moth aeroplane currently owned by traditionally-founded building. prevent corrosion.
21. Southern elevation from Cable Street. Uplift pressures of up to 7.5kpa were designed for on the ~antilever roof..
Introduction
Duxford, about 8km south of Cambridge,
England, has been a working airfield since 1918.
Founded to train British pilots for the Great War.
its association with American military aviation
extends from 15 March that year when the 159
US Aero Squadron marched in from nearby
Whittlesford railway station. They lived under
canvas and built their own mess to cater for their
different tastes in food and drink (coffee not tea).
The historic listed hangars from that time survive
to this day, except one which was blown up, on .
purpose, during the making of the Battle of Britain
film. In the Second World War, Duxford was used
by the USAAF 8th Air Force as a fighter base,
active from 1943 to 1945. It was closed in 1961,
but was taken over by the Imperial War Museum
in 1972 to be opened to the public four years later
as a Museum housing a fine collection of historic
British and American aircraft. Some of these still
grace the skies with the beauty of their lines and
the roar of their engines, whilst many others have
been lovingly restored and still more are under-
going countless hours of diligent restoration by
Imperial War Museum staff and volunteers.
For many years the Museum's collection of
American aircraft. the finest outside the USA. had
languished in the open air. and an initiative was
taken almost 12 years ago to launch a campaign
to fund and build a new American Air Museum for 2. Plan of the aircraft within
the American planes - a project conceived in part the building (the planes shown
as a tribute to the nearly 30 OOO American airmen in pink are suspended).
who lost their lives during the Second World War,
flying from English airfields including Duxford. The Funding
centrepiece was to be the sinister B52 bomber, After the initial effort, the project had to be The structure of the building aligns completely
with its 61m wingspan and tail fin 16m high. The shelved due to recession and lack of sufficient with these aims, and is deliberately underplayed
scheme that evolved with Norman Foster as funds, and detailed design only took off again to give a very calm background against which to
architect, Ove Arup & Partners as structural, early in 1995, thanks to fund-raising on both sides view the exhibits. In the end the design team
geotechnical. and acoustic engineers. and of the Atlantic. The film actors Charlton Heston chose the essentially simple form of a great shell
J Roger Preston as environmental engineers, was and the late James Stewart led the campaign on partly buried in a raised landscape.
largely shaped by the need to house this giant, the American side, and Field Marshall Lord
and the desire to hang many smaller planes from Early in the design process, the team compared
Bramhall in Britain. 60 OOO individual donations steel and concrete roof solutions, showing that a
the roof. The suspended planes, weighing up to were made to the project, much of it from the
10 tonnes, range from an F100 Supersabre to a concrete building could keep the temperature
USA. With great foresight, this money was mainly above the dew-point so that condensation did not
U2 spy plane, from a PT13 Stearman to a TBM3 used to finance detailed design work so that the
Avenger. The grounded planes in the exhibition occur, with a minimum of dehumidification plant.
project was well placed to receive the first ever A detailed life cycle cost study showed the con-
include - apart from the 80 tonnes B52 grant, of 6.5M, from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Stratofortress - an F111 , a B25, a B29, an F4. crete solution, with its inherent low maintenance
This was later supplemented by a further $1M and minimal dehumidification, to be in overall
and a P47 Thunderbolt, amongst others. A 45 from Saudi Arabia in gratitude to the US and
tonne section of the notorious Iraqi 'Supergun' is terms the most cost-effective. even though the
British Forces for their efforts in the Gulf War. structure itself with its larger foundations was
fortunately mounted on the floor.
The design marginally more expensive.
Key aims of the design were: The roof
low capital cost The roof spans up to 90m, and is made from two
precast concrete shells only 100mm thick,
low cost in use spaced 900mm apart. At the front of the building
ease of construction the structure behaves mainly as an arch, and at
effective passive temperature control the back, where it is very flat, as a beam. The
membrane action of the shells allows load sharing
maximum use of controlled natural light in two directions. especially under the weight of
1. The 21 aircraft accommodated, effective condensation control. the suspended aircraft. Forces from the concrete
starting with the 852 (far left). Elegance and grace of form were prerequisites. roof shells are collected into an in silu curved
upper concrete ring beam, and then passed
across a 'daylight slot' via 34 steel arms spaced
at approximately every 4m to a lower in situ ring
beam and finally to the abutments and foundations.
2 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24
Time (24 hour clock)
17.
The completed
shell roof prior to
de-propping.
June 1996.
18
Suspending the
first aircraft.
the U2 spy plane
weighing 5.9 tonnes.
September 1996
E. 27 March 1996 F. 2 April 1996. G 8 May 1996. H. 5 June 1996. Sequence continues II,
Environmental/structural interaction Construction 22. South-east side:
Humidity Work began in earnest in October 1995, just inclined columns supporting
The nature and material of the building were in before the onset of winter. As chalk excavation the lower in situ edge beam at abutment level.
part determined by the need to provide a carefully was inv~lved. the project was fortunate during the
controlled humidity regime with minimum active foundation works to have very little rain, but it was
control. This is because, although planes do not affected by severe cold. Frost blankets and
mind extremes of heat or cold, they are sensitive heating were used to protect the concrete during
to condensation, which attacks their frames curing. Some five months on. the structure of
from the inside. The Museum is divided into two heavily reinforced abutments emerged from the
distinct areas: a large display area for the aircraft, ground, allowing placement of the first steel arms
where temperature control is unnecessary, and that support the roof at the rear of the building.
humidity is at 50% RH maximum, and a small The precast units were then craned into position
exhibition space for displays and artefacts. For on temporary falsework. Some 800 tonnes of steel
the latter area the environmental conditions are falsework was used to limit roof deformation
temperatures of 22C2C in summer and during construction, and the entire roof was kept
17C2 in winter. while humidity is 55% RH. propped until all precast units were placed, so
Conditions in both spaces are maintained that no transfer of loads to the foundations took
24 hours/day. place until the whole structure was assembled
and ready to work as predicted. On a good day
Temperature th~ contractors erected either eight lower precast
The thermal mass of the concrete shell, together units or 40 upper units. Depropping began at
with the partly buried form, is sufficient to buffer the end of June 1996 and took about a week to
extremes of heat and cold, effectively averaging complete. Jacks were unwound in steps of
out day and night time temperatures. In the 5mm progressively across the whole structure,
exhibition space, conditions are maintained by a with 20 passes needed across each of the 600
close control air-conditioning system with electric or so jacks.
heating coils. a direct expansion (DX) cooling coil
and a steam humidifier. Toilets are tempered The internal works, including casting the ground-
in winter with electric convectors. Cooling for bearing slabs and the elevated ramps, proceeded
the exhibition space is achieved by a DX coil alter the falsework was removed, and the
connected to an air-cooled condensing unit with structure was essentially complete by September
integral compressor. 1996. Installing the aircraft, erecting the glass
wall, and completing internal finishes and exhibits
Light continued until the official opening. This took
Lighting is critical in achieving the desired viewing place on 1 August 1997 when Her Majesty Queen
cond!tions. The great glass wall faces south east, Elizabeth II met the project team and, in a rather
flooding the adjacent part of the interior with moving ceremony, was watched by some 4000
natural light, but the deeper parts of the plan American Air Force veterans.
would be dark unless daylight was artificially 23. South-east side:
Cost shell supported by variable length steel arms
in)roduced into them. Alter analysing schemes through the lighting slot.
with strips of rooflights, individual rooflights, and The total cost of the project was about 11 M. Of
indirect bouncing of light, the team chose to this, construction totalled approximately 8.4M,
introduce a glazed slot around the perimeter. while the cost of all the concrete work was
Daylight pouring through the slot meets a sloping tendered at 4.5M. The glass wall cost 1.1M.
reflective wall which bounces it back to gently
light the great curve of the roof.
This is supplemented by 2000W floodlights -
46 in all - for winter evenings.
20. 21.
Front glass wall: Front glass wall:
detail of head detail of foot
sliding support. fixed pin.
1. The east elevation. showing the circular dining pavilion to the north.
Arup Associates was originally appointed in existing ground to the west and rises above ground
November 1991 to design a new research and level on its east side. A landscape of grassed bank
development facility for Control Techniques pie, varying in size surrounds the perimeter up to
adjacent to St Giles Technology Park, Newtown. window cill level on the ground floor. 650mm above
Powys, where they had their existing headquarters office floor level. To the east. where the line of the
and other functional units. Control Techniques site flood flow comes very close to the gable, a
manufacture variable speed drives for electric retaining wall holds the fill below the building,
meters and were expanding their successful preventing encroachment into the flood area.
business. The new R&D headquarters building The overall layout is divided by the two-storey main
was part of this expansion, encouraged and grant- entrance, which penetrates the building's full depth.
supported by the Development Board of Rural On the ground floor, to the east, are the stairs.
Wales who were also supporting a new factory, offices, meeting rooms, and lavatories. To the west the site flood level with a grassed, landscaped
separately procured, and built first. is the R&D department itself, plus an exhibition bank rising to window cill level around the
Control Techniques' primary requirement was to space which can be viewed from the hall and perimeter, and is linked to the main entrance hall
focus all the R&D and administrative functions in accessed by visitors. Inside the R&D area is a by an open-sided, glass-roofed corridor.
one place. They were to be under one roof but machine test space. enclosed by blockwork walls Most of the main building is air-conditioned,
separately accommodated to give the R&D area to reduce noise. A bridge at first floor level links the providing comfort cooling, heating, and mechanical
the appropriate level of security. The building was R&D area to the offices, etc. on the east side, extraction. Most of the plant is at the west end on
to reflect the high tech nature of the company busi- where the staircase provides direct access to the two floors within the external envelope, except for
ness. and Arup Associates' response to this brief outside for fire escape. the chillers. which are external. Natural ventilation
took the form of a two-storey building, 18m deep, A goods delivery and despatch area is located at has been used for the entrance area, the restau-
and curved on plan with an inner radius of 100m. the north-west corner of the building with a paved ranVdining pavilion, and the machine test area.
The site is a 1.2ha plot within a 2.Bha pasture, and roadway for service vehicles alongside, whilst a Detail design started in July 1993 and was
the building's curve is centred on a natural separate pavilion building with glazed walls and an completed in January 1994. Construction
landscape feature known locally as the Gro Tump. external terrace houses the 48-seat restaurant and commenced in September 1994 and was finished
Because of this slope, the building is cut into kitchen. Like the main building, it is raised above for client occupation in February 1996.
16 THE ARUP JOURNAL 3/1997
Dick Lee Declan O'Carroll
2. South elevation of
the main building.
The main plant and
service entrance 1s
situated to the west.
4 (above). A fixed blade sunscreen is positioned along the southern glazed perimeter
elevation, effectively reducing solar gain.
5 (below). The office environment The north-facing clerestory windows and transparent
perimeter envelope provide good levels of natural daylight and fine views across the
surrounding countryside.
Credits
Ghent
Developmen Board for Rural Wales
Occupier;
Control Techniques pie
Designers:
Arup Associates D,ck Lee (pro1ec1 co-ord1na10,)
Dav,d Thomas. Alas1a,r Gourlay. David Laing. Declan O'Carroll
(architects)
Peter Skead. Hanif Humayun (struc1ural engineers)
Alan Ross (mechanical eng,neer)
Dav,d Hymas (electncal engineer)
Geoff Stevens. Nick Taylor (quanhly surveyo,s)
Mam contractor.
Norwest Holst
Photographs:
Andrew Puller
Brickwork
One way of categorising a 'new' When will failure occur and is this
material is to define it as one with acceptable, given the desired design The better understanding that can be
which we are unfamiliar. life and maintenance? developed of these familiar materials
In some instances materials that are can be used in two broad ways. In
familiar will be asked to do unfamiliar conventional applications we might be
Unfamlllar Materials things. We have become well used to able to improve the efficiency of use or
sealants acting as weather seals - to achieve the same efficiency at lower
to exclude water and air - but when cost - initial or whole life - or with lesser
Composites asked to be an adhesive, to hold environmental impact. The same
Adhesive joining components into the building, a range knowledge base can also help Arups
of new performance requirements and its clients to achieve better
Titanium is imposed. solutions or to solve problems in
Some construction applications can, new ways by extending materials
Super alloys performance beyond that which was
because of their cost structure or lack
Parafil ropes of existing design solutions, have a previously thought possible. Examining
stronger need for new materials and the microstructure of timber before,
Honeycomb
can more readily drive the adoption of during, and after extremes of loading
them. A clear example is in the can permit a more pronounced move
offshore and petrochemical industries, for timber design from an essentially
where the potential advantages of craft basis to one of more fundamental
It may be new in the sense of being engineering design more common,
totally new, but is more likely to be advanced composites for lightweight
components and enhanced chemical perhaps, in steel (Figs 3-5).
new to construction applications; it
may have seen service elsewhere, in resistance in pipes and safety and We can progress similarly - but not
aerospace or defence systems, for maintenance structures are becoming as readily - for cement and concretes
example. 'Unfamiliar', therefore, well established (Fig 1). with craft-based boats to the bigger,
implies insufficient real experience, Elsewhere, the adoption of composites engineered boats we call concrete
so that engineers are not sure or is at present perhaps more of a gravity platforms, and beyond (Fig 6).
confident in using these materials in solution seeking a problem - can we How far can engineers move with
building applications. really justify advanced composite this developing knowledge? Building
footbridges. or are they an exercise in structures have already progressed
learning to better see what might be from the more common 40MPa and
possible? Other advanced composite SOMPa concrete structures to the
or new fibre materials have moved 1OOMPa plus now being used in
2. The upper guys on Torre de Collserola, some way towards use, eg parallel Hong Kong (Fig 7) and considered
Barcelona, are of non-conductive aramid, filament ropes have for reasons of light elsewhere. To some extent the anchor
invisible to radio signals. weight or radio transparency been to this progression is the need to
used to stabilise mast structures (Fig 2). develop confident design rules for the
Where they have been employed in They are at present a small but interest- material, its interaction with other
other industries, something can be ing sector. These and other composites materials, and the site practice to
learnt, but the needs or methods of may become widespread or they may ensure the promise is fulfilled in our
adoption may be different and thereby not: It is too early to predict. structures. For the concrete material
limit transfer. Some of the more obvious alone, we can already make - albeit in
differences in other industries are: In any assessment of new or unfamiliar
materials there is clear benefit in
the ability to repeat production on a understanding the underlying science
large scale, to use prototyping and of behaviour and performance, to
component testing predict what behaviour we might
more developed concepts of, and encounter from the new material in its
shorter periods for, design life new applications. In some physical
the ability of, or expectations for, sciences there may be the temptation
inspection and maintenance from time to time to assume that all
in service. basic knowledge is known and it
To bring unfamiliar materials into simply has to be applied . In materials
wider use in building applications, science, however, we are still at the
confidence in their potential stage of basic understanding opening
1. Glassfibre reinforced epoxy pipe. performance needs to be developed. up before us.
How will the material or product A framework for understanding the
behave and then fail , as at some point structure and behaviour exists but is 3. Microphotograph
- before Armageddon - it must? still developing in detail. of epoxy-Khaya glueline.
18 THE ARUP JOURNAL 3/1997
4. following the 1970s oil price increases.
Traditional timber-frame These newer applications will tend to
boat-building. move our familiar material away from its
more normal experience, and we will
find that these demands will create an
unfamiliar material about which we
must predict and learn.
'Contemptible Materials'
Thatch
Mud walls
Lime mortars
Cast iron
Waste products
Ice
Smart materials are a subject in their own right and a behave as selective membranes
separate study by Tony Sheehan of Arup R&04-6 is Unknown Materials demonstrate self-healing and other biomimetic properties.
monitoring and reviewing the possible applications.
Other unknown materials have been discovered but we
Continuing our theme we can see these materials in our have less knowledge of their structures and properties and
current knowledge as unknown; unknown not because Smart materials:
are as yet uncertain how to use them. New carbon-based
we know nothing of their chemistry or microstructure, but - detecting I responsive materials not of the established allotropes, diamond or
because their characteristics and behaviour in any industrial graphite, have been identified, the better known being
application. construction or not, are still relatively unknown. fire-resisting steels
'buckyballs' (buckminsterfullerenes) and, more recently,
The p.ossibilities are enormous - but what? And where? controllable phase change 'nanotubes' - hollow tube microstructures with a diameter
They encompass a wide range of materials and definitions. of the order of a few nm7.
They can: shape-memory alloys
These materials appear to have incredibly high stiffness, and
detect and/or respond to their environment - biomimetic (eg self-healing) it is suggested that the normal chemical and physical
undergo controllable phase change, with consequent behaviour of other materials is radically changed when
change of shape or property placed within the tubes.
Beyond the unknown materials are the materials would quite probably reside References
unknowable - unknowable in the sense Unknowable Materials in different windows. their experience (1) BAILEY. P. The Western Morning News.
that with our available technologies, eg not detectable/analysable and use of them possibly being quite The Arup Journal, 28;4). pp8-11 , 4/1993.
analysing and understanding their with current techniques different (Fig 10).
composition and microstructure is (2) McCARTHY, C. The cast steel nodes for
Materials scientists in essentially Lee House. The Arup Journal, 2.l;1), pp 12-
difficult or impossible. Discoveries in
construction-oriented activities have 15. Spring 1988.
sub-molecular structures
In this class of materials are many of three broad tasks: (3) BROWN, M, et al. Ponds Forge
the natural and organic systems. The Biotechnical to maintain and extend their International Sports Centre. The Arup
processes in living organisms that fundamental understanding of the Journal, 2~2), pp3-9, Summer 1991 .
make them function and adapt to their Living organisms materials they find familiar
environment are intriguing and perhaps (4) SHEEHAN, T. Smart technology in
hold many new models for engineers to Symbiotic associated with to maintain a wider vision and construction: Dream or reality. The Arup
understanding of the materials visible Journal (for forthcoming publication)
follow. human behaviours
through the other 'windows', so as to (5) Advanced construction materials.
There is a challenge to develop the maximise their flexibility to achieve Architects' Journal, 13 July 1995. p37 (also
means of understanding these materials desired and optimum design published in Germany as 'Neue Baustoffe',
and systems. and the question of 'what solutions Baumeister, 8/1996, p62).
are the new materials?' might then be questioner and responder. We can see to scan constantly the potential of
taken to a new plane. (6) Smart materials in construction.
materials in a continuum of categories, materials, from the contemptible to Proceedings of the Third International
The perspective of the new, familiar, able to move from location to location the unknowable, to exploit their Conference on Intelligent Materials. Lyon.
unfamiliar, etc, explored here is - as in that continuum as knowledge and significant transitions across that June 1996.
was said at the beginning - dependent understanding of them changes . spectrum. (7) BALL. P. Through the nanotube. New
on the position and experience of Viewed from other industries, the same Scientist. pp28-31. 6 July 1996.
Illustrations:
1. Wavin Repox bv
10. Continuum of categories of materials. 2. Ben Johnson
3. Clare Hacker
4. Peter Ross
Aerospace
applications 5. Wind Energy Group Ltd
Automotive LIIIMlk ~ ~
6. Niki Photography
applications 7. Bob Cather
Construction 8. N Alford
sector (Developed Economies) 9. Peter Mackinven
Construction Graphics: Sean McDermott
sector (Less Developed Economies)
~ Continuum of Ma erials
Introduction data; to improve value/economy; to Select the quantities to be observed review stage. Here, the monitoring
From civil engineering's infancy, increase safety; to reduce design as construction proceeds, and results are compared with predicted
visual checks have been made on uncertainties; to strengthen links calculate their anticipated values on trigger criteria and planned modifica-
uncertainties in the ground and on between designers and constructors; the basis of the working hypothesis. tions if appropriate or emergency
structural performance. to clarify construction control/manage- Calculate values of the same plans if required can be introduced.
In the late 1940s an integrated process ment; and to motivate the project team. quantities under the most , If there is little uncertainty about the
for predicting, monitoring, reviewing, In September 1995 the Construction unfavourable conditions compatible ground, there will be no need to follow
and modifying designs evolved with Industry Research & Information with the available data on the the OM, as there is no pro-active
the development of modern soil Association asked Arup Geotechnics, subsurface conditions. monitoring and planned modification.
mechanics theories by Karl Terzaghi in collaboration with Balfour Beatty Select in advance a course of action But if there is great uncertainty, the
and Ralph B Peck. Civil Engineering Ltd, to investigate or modification of design for every predefined design method could lead
these potential advantages. The foreseeable significant deviation of to a possibly unsafe or maybe
They stated: 'Design on the basis of Funders Report CP/49 3 for this has the observational findings from those unnecessarily expensive solution. The
the most unfavourable assumptions is been completed and is now available OM can take account of the monitoring
predicted on the basis of the working
inevitably uneconomical but no other to all CIRIA members. It highlighted results and provide a safer and more
hypothesis.
procedure provides the designer in the conservatism of some geotechnical economic solution, if appropriate, on
advance of construction with the Measure quantities to be observed
design parameters and also developed and evaluate actual conditions certain types of projects.
assurance that the soil-supported a robust procedure for implementing
structure will not develop unanticipated Modify design to sutt actual condtions. Recent developments
the OM, compatible with current in using the OM
defects. However, if the project permits design codes and Health and Safety Traditionally a single robust and
modifications of the design during possibly over-conservative design is After Peck's 1969 Rankine Lecture, the
Regulations. This article describes OM gained world-wide recognition and
construction, important savings can be some recent developments in the OM fully developed before site work starts
made by designing on the basis of the was used in a wide range of ground
and examples of its application by on a particular phase. Instrumentation engineering operations. However, it
most probable rather than the most Arup Geotechnics. monitoring is sometimes used but
unfavourable possibilities. The gaps in passively, to confirm that design has not been referred to in British
the available information are filled by The traditional predefined design codes, although the final draft
predictions are not exceeded. There is of Eurocode 74 recognises it as a
observations during construction, and design method and the OM
no primary intention to vary the design
the design is modified in accordance Peck's definition of the OM embodies during construction. The CIRIA report design method and states the
with the findings.'1 the following eight 'ingredients': referred to this as the 'predefined requirements for using it. Similar
Explore sufficiently to establish at requirements have been adopted in
In his 1969 Rankine Lecture2 Peck design method'. the Hong Kong 'Guide to retaining wall
referred to this process as the least the general nature, pattern and The OM, on the other hand, requires
properties of the deposits - but not design's. One objective of the CIRIA
'Observational Method' (OM), and designers to consider the range of Report is to clarify OM concepts and
since then aspects of it have been necessarily in detail.
foreseeable conditions. Designs are to provide a clear framework. For the
used informally on UK civil engineering Assess the most probable conditions developed for this ran'ge and first time, it was officially defined, as
projects. Only recently, however, has and most unfavourable conceivable construction modification strategies follows: 'The Observational Method in
interest revived in the method per se - deviations from these conditions; in planned before work starts on any ground engineering is a continuous,
partly due to concern for more this assessment geology often plays particular element of work. Planning is managed, integrated, process of
economical use of resources and also a major role. important to ensure that modifications design, construction control, monitoring
because tighter health and safety Establish the design. based on can be implemented sufficiently quickly and review which enables previously
regulations require project participants a working hypothesis of behaviour to avoid the development of failure defined modifications to be incorporated
to assess risk. The OM has formidable anticipated under the most probable conditions. Monitoring is essential and during or after construction as appro-
potential: to provide benchmarking conditions. is used actively to provide data for the priate. All these aspects have to be
demonstrably robust. The objective is
to achieve greater overall economy
without compromising safety.
Table 1: Comparison of the predefined design method and the OM
The OM can be adopted from the
The OM outset or later if benefits are identified.
The predefined design method However. it should not be used where
there is insufficient time to implement
Normally one set of soil Rarameters: eg moderately conservative The range of foreseeable soil parameters are considered fully and safely complete the planned
or characteristic values (EC?) - but may do parametric study. eg most probable and most unfavourable. modification or emergency plans.
One design and one set of predictions based on limited Two or more design and construction methods are sutt1c1ently Technical considerations
construction method considerations. developed to include predictions for tngger criteria. The process of implementation
(Fig 1 overleaf) emphasises national
A construction method option may be outlined sufficiently for the A flexible construction method statement is developed which can and corporate policies, eg health and
design to be progressed. This is subsequently developed by the incorporate design changes and modification strategies often safety regulations, quality assurance,
contractor in his method statement. developed Jointly by the contractor and the designer conditions of contract, and design
Monitoring limited to checking that predictions are not exceeded. Comprehensive and robust monitoring. regularly reviewed. codes. Good corporate and project
as the basis for management and design decisions. team organisations are also essential.
Design and planning are concerned
Predictions unlikely to be exceeded. Therefore, construction The design, construcuon method and construction programme with data gathering, design, data
programme not constrained by monitoring results. If predictions may be changed depending on the rev,ew of monitonng results.
are exceeded then unforeseen conditions have developed and interpretation, risk assessment, and
the work may need to stop whilst problem is resolved. the allocation of resources to achieve
objectives and decide priorities.
Management o construction, monitoring, interpretation afld Design cases should cover all the likely
modification plan or emergency plan implementation are required scenarios. and design modifications
planned so that they can be introduced
The monitoring system must be sensitive enough to allow early in time to stop safety reducing
discovery of a rapidly deteriorating condition The mod1f1callon unacceptably. The construction control
plan must be rapidly implemented to ensure that the limiting
trigger cntena are not exceeded. plan, monitoring plan, and monitoring
specifications should be developed
Emergency plans are needed to control failure. Emergency plans must be introduced in accordance with the which set out agreed procedures and
~-~-
Construction (Health Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1996 frequency for monitoring instrumentation
This can be ac111eved as an extension of the OM mgger cn\ena and reporting results. Instrumentation
beyond the serviceab hty limit state to ensure ;rat failure does ric records and construction progress
. information should be reviewed
by competent people. The planned
The OM may be initiated at this stage in its 'best way out' format. 1t r,ay be that the best way out OM can be rtroduced to
overcome unforeseen ground conditions. modifications will be implemented if the
trigger criteria have been exceeded.
THE ARUP JOURNAL 3/1997 21
National&
Arup projects
Corporate Policy Arup Geotechnics has a long history of applying the OM to major proiects.
Three examples are given below.
6
Earth berm
Clear communication Contract
Reliable and timely inlorma&on gathering Risk-based control
excavation at
Retiab/8 and timely Information processmg Team building Batheaston/
Ref/able and r,mely information revlewfng Resource planning Swainswick
Auditing Bypass.
- OM procedures and ,equlremems Skllls
quality Knowledge
health and safety Expenence
Competence
The design was carried out using two 2. Review data, decide on further actions,
sets of soil design conditions - 'most and implement the following contin References Credits
probable' to calculate an 'amber gency measures where necessary: (1) TERZAGHI, Kand PECK, RB. Soil CIR/A Project
trigger' and 'most unfavourable' as excavate within bays mechanics in engineering practice. Client:
a 'red trigger'. counterfort drainage Wiley, 1967. Construction Industry Research and
The construction programme was behind the wall (2) PECK. RB. Advantages and limitations Information Association
based on 'most probable' conditions in use ground anchors of the observational method in applied soil Research contractor:
keeping with Peck's approach. excavate retained soil to mechanics. Geotechnique. 1~2), Ove Arup & Partners Duncan Nicholson,
If movements exceeded the amber reduce active earth pressure. pp171-187, 1969. Che-Ming Tse
trigger, the following procedure would The application of the OM in the A4/A46 (3) NICHOLSON, DP, TSE C-M, and Balfour Beatty Civil Engineering Ltd
be carried out: was successful. Using this alternative PENNY, C. The observational method in Minster Court
1. Increase the frequency of construction sequence, substantial savings ground engineering: principles and Client:
monitoring readings. were made in the temporary works. applications. Funders Report CP/49. Prudential Portfolio Managers Ltd
CIRIA. 1997.
Foundations sub-contractor:
(4) BRITISH STANDARDS INSTITUTION. Stent Soletanche Joint Venture
Identify next Eurocode 7. Geotechnical Design. Part 1:
excavation stage Consulting engineer:
General rules. BSI, 1995.
8. Ove Arup & Partners
Site control cycle. (5) GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
OFFICE. Guide to retaining wall design. A4/A46 Bypass
Identity neX1 stage
Hong Kong Government, 1993. Client:
(6) TSE, C-M and NICHOLSON, DP. Highways Agency
Monitor deflection Design construction and monitoring of the Consulting engineer:
and report basement diaphragm wall at Minster Sir Alexander Gibb and Partners
Court, London. In: Proceedings of the Contractor:
Conference on Retaining Structures, Amey Construction Ltd
Site interpretation Institution of Civil Engineers, Cambridge, Temporary works designer:
pp323-332. Ove Arup & Partners
(7) FRANCESCON, M and TWINE, D. The Castle Mall
treatment of solution features in upper Client:
Green Amber Red chalk by compaction grouting. In: Friends Provident and Estates and General
Proceedings of the Conference on
Grouting in the Ground, Institution of Civil Consulting engineer:
Engineers, pp327-348, 1992. Ove Arup and Partners
Extra readings Replace excavated
soil immediately (8) LATHAM, M. Constructing the team. Grouting sub-contractor:
HMSO, 1994. Keller Colcrete Ltd
Illustrations:
Reviewcontingency Inform engineer. 1, 2, 4, 5, 8: Jon Shillibeer/Sean McDermott
with engineer Implement additional 3, 7: Peter Mackinven
contingency plans
6: Amey Construction Ltd
THE ARUP JOURNAL 311997 23