Holdfast Training Services Trial Blog

Following on from Mark’s last blog, I thought I’d give a quick update on where I am and what I’ve experienced so far on Phase 3 in Melbourne. Firstly, Mark has now joined me out in here, working just 5 minutes away from my project office, so It’s good to have some more Sappers around after Auggy and Glynn finished up in June.
I am working for Aurecon, a global consultant operating in 26 countries, primarily across Australasia, Africa, South East Asia and the Middle East. It’s been an interesting move, as Aurecon were the designers (in a Joint Venture (JV) with Jacobs) for the West Gate Tunnel Project (WGTP) – where I was placed for Phase 2 – and have found myself working with some of the team employed on the WGTP, so it’s been interesting to hear their thoughts on the project delivery aspects.
I’ve managed to distance myself from the WGTP (I wanted to get away from it and expose myself to something different) and am working on stage 2 of the Monash Free Way Upgrade (MFU), where I am working in Aurecon’s South Australian and Victoria (SAVI) Bridge Team; the project is another JV so several of the team are from GHD. The MFU project, in very short terms, is a major freeway upgrade to south east Melbourne’s main traffic corridor (think the M2 to London). The route will see several traffic lanes increased to the existing freeway in both directions (some 36kms as part of stage 2 – stage 1 (now completed) saw 30kms widened). This 36kms includes several existing bridge structures that will be widened to accommodate the increased traffic lanes/loads.
My role is officially two parts: ‘Bridge Engineer’ and ‘lead package engineer’, effectively coordinating the design of three of these bridge structures. Each structure is formed of prestressed (post tensioned) precast Super-T girders composite with a RC deck slab. Each structure varies in length, with the shortest being simply supported across two spans of 25.7m and the longest being simply supported across 8 spans varying up to 39m each. All utilise RC piers and abutments except for one prestressed pier. Fortunately, all the bridges (except for the one bridge which will utilise existing substructures previously designed for future bridge widening works) will utilise 400mm square precast concrete driven piles – the exact same ones I got so much joy out of on the WGTP …
So far, I’ve been responsible for producing two preliminary design reports (with the third coming next week) along with ensuring drawing packages are ready for release to the client for comment/approval. This has been challenging as most of my design team are based out of South Africa … communication seems to be the real challenge.
I’ve found myself going back over Richard’s and Shardi’s lectures recently, trying to piece back together lessons on prestress, post tension losses and grillage analysis (looks like I’m that ‘traditionally 1 in 3 students will…’ student) whilst learning the software ‘Midas Civil’ to model my bridge decks and structures (the software of choice in my team).
Like Ash’s earlier post, it seems all the younger engineers rely on the software first to model their structures without doing ‘hand calcs’ – while the more experienced engineers are using the software after running numbers on paper first.
I’m now modelling some of my Super-T girders in Midas, as well as performing some grillage analysis (slowly I must add). Midas is interesting as you can model the entire structure, including the substructure and piles, and run static/moving load analyses on the entire structure – to me, this seems like there’s a lot that could go wrong while being very confident/relying on the input parameters/data to be correct John’s ‘Rubbish in = rubbish out’ keeps coming to mind).
Anyway, here’s some pretty pictures of what I’m modelling at the moment – hopefully it works …

Modelled Super-T’s I set up in MIDAS Civil

I am working for a multidisciplinary consultant called SMEC. Most of you won’t have heard of them because they don’t operate in Europe but SMEC’s Signgaporian parent company also owns Robert Bird Group so may move into Europe before too long.

SMEC was formed from the team that delivered the Snowy Mountains Hydroelectric Scheme 70 years ago for the Australian government. The scale of the project was insane (more details can be found here http://www.smec.com/70years/).

I am working as a structural engineer within the transport division which mainly focus on bridge design, retaining walls and gantries. Since December I’ve been involved in Proof Engineering for the Westgate Tunnel Project (WGTP) – effectively independent checking JV produced designs for code and project compliance. (Basically resolving all Dan’s phase 2 RFIs). So far I’ve looked at the structural impact of out of tolerance construction, pile and pile cap redesign, amendments to RC detailing and temporary works packages.

Away from the WGTP I’ve also assisted with load assessments of new cranes on existing structures. As the client required an answer in a short time-frame, we used existing models to conduct a comparative analysis between the maximum loading from existing load cases and the new vehicles loads to determine if the new vehicles could be trafficked. Initially the loads exceeded the capacity but manipulation of dynamic and combination lane use factors by more experienced engineers reduced the loading to under 80% of the maximum competitive load. Has anyone else come across any ‘tricks-of-the-trade’ that would be useful to military engineers?

Anyway Enough about what I’m up to. From recent blog posts the list below is where I think we’re spending Phase 3. Please feel free to fill in the blanks, I’d be interested to hear about what you’re working ok and how your finding Phase 2 compared to Phase 3.

• Dave – Arup Oz
• Gareth & Ali – USACE
• Rob – electrical design linked to EDF and Scottish windfarms?
• Jambo – Plymouth bases building services design
• Alex – ?
• Ben – BP?
• Gary – WSP?
• Jon – Arup uk?
• Al – SRM Temp Works
• Dan – Aurecon
• Ash – Bam Nuttal
• Tom – Wentworth House temp works design
• Colin – ?