Update from Brisbane
G’day all,
Just dropping a line to update on progress in Brisbane – not sure I can compete with invitations to teh Shard or pictures of enormous plant moving stuff…but I have been involved with a number of projects both online and offline.
1- Design of a portal frame structure has been an interesting experience…supposed to be a small task which ahs now groen arms and legs. Wind loadings aaaaghhhh blooming frustrating but fortunately not dissimilar to our PEW teachings or our own code. Definitely not the most fun job in the world but it seems to be progressing well. Next job – sizing columns!
2- Enoggera Army barracks…ironically working with 2CER (combat engineer regiment) on their new barracks facilities, checking the design, andwering RFI’s, following variations and generally watching JHG mess up the construction. Its been good working with the contractor first so as to have some knowledge about what is likely to be asked for next…it seems we have a lot of power!
3- Design of bridges – I’ve been looking at some pile design, and redesign because the original designs didn’t take into a water pipe and various vibration issues…so it’s nice to get into some geotech as well as grillage analysis on the bridges.
4 – Offline I have been ‘doing a bit on the side’…. 😉 I’ve been assisting a friend on an enormous wharf job where a 300t silo has to be transferred from a heavy lift ship onto a barge in the harbour…the lashings, vehicle specs, additional stiffeners on the barge deck, connections and logistics are complex….it may warrant an appearance on Megalifts!!!
Once it’s on the barge, a vehicle drives under it, jacks it up on hydraulics and drives off…on a specially designed ramp. I’ll be popping to Gladstone in May on some leave to see the operation….
Attached are some screenshots – the first is an example of one of the vehicles used- these can be joined up like trains as they’re modular…our one will have 200 wheels!! I love it that the wheels can go in different directions.
These are just some images of the silo – 11m CofG is not funny!
I’ll try to attach some better photos – computer has just said no.
Back to the portal frame..remembering to use a UB for a column….
Best wishes,
R
Holdfast Training Services Trial Blog 
Ros, I wouldn’t recommend taking your leave in Gladstone but if you want any tips on where to go I’ll point you in the right direction. Where is the delivery for? QCLNG, GLNG, APLNG or somewhere else? I have a little bit of interest in the wharves up there having been responsible for most of the marine concrete on GLNG!
Ros
It is good to see that you have dabbled with portal frames and grillages! Any photos would be much appreciated.
Life here is very quiet with only 2 E&M students…..Lots of squash time for John and Richard.
Kind Regards
Hi neil – no site visit for me on this job yet but I’ll post some to you if it gets built before I leave.
Hi Ros,
Fantastic to see you on the blog and great to learn a little about what you’re doing. Where is this mahusive silo bound for? Even at 200 wheels you’ve still got 1.5tons per wheel minimum! Equally love the mutiwheel steer thing. Hope you enjoy Brisbane and manage to see all you want and dodge the things you’d rather avoid.
Richard.
Mahusive silo bound for Gladstone – Wiggings Island MOF…so it is being offloaded at its final destination as it were. Yes it is a beast – even optimal tyre pressures must be calculated. I’ll be able to send you the game model of it – helps living with the company director – and will get some photos…I’m just hoping the CI isn’t arriving on the same day!!! There are lots of opportunities for spectacular failure – so I’m maintaining an interested eye from a distance. If you get my latest AER from John there is some info in there about the background of the thing, but as I’m looking at it ‘on the side’ I can’t spend too much time on it.
Did you read my precast TMR?
Ah TMRs, knew there was a fly in the ointment somewhere! I hadn’t seen that but will now download it and enjoy! JPM at the ICE last night so a few sore heads around this morning… (I had to drive home which has saved me!