Client: Severn Trent Water
Location: Cresswell, near Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire
Services: Structural Design | Geotechnical Assessment | Reinforced Concrete Design and Detailing
The Project
Severn Trent Water planned a programme of rehabilitation works at its Cresswell Borehole Pumping Station near Stoke-on-Trent. The site comprises three boreholes, two of which were out of use due to blockage and water quality issues. As part of the wider rehabilitation programme, new infrastructure was required to support the production pipework and enable workover operations to be undertaken on the boreholes.
Amrose Associates was engaged to provide the structural design and geotechnical assessment for reinforced concrete slabs supporting a new kiosk housing the production pipework. Importantly, the slab also needed to be capable of mounting a workover drilling rig, bringing an additional set of structural and geotechnical requirements into the design.
The Engineering Challenge
Working within an existing water infrastructure site meant the design needed to respond to established constraints rather than being developed in isolation. The existing boreholes and infrastructure, kiosk geometry, production pipework and requirements for the workover drilling rig all influenced the solution. Amrose also needed to ensure the design complied with Severn Trent Water’s requirements and coordinated effectively with the wider project.
A key consideration was the different demands placed on the reinforced concrete slab. In normal operation it would support the permanent kiosk and associated production pipework, while during workover operations it would also need to accommodate the loads associated with the specialist drilling rig. The supporting ground therefore had to be considered alongside the structural behaviour of the slab to ensure loads could be safely transferred through the structure and into the ground.
Amrose’s Approach
Amrose brought together structural design, geotechnical assessment and detailed coordination to develop a solution specific to the requirements of the site. Careful consideration was given to the kiosk and site layout geometry and its relationship with the existing boreholes and infrastructure. The team liaised with project stakeholders throughout the design process to understand the different interfaces and incorporate them into the developing design.
Finite element analysis was undertaken to assess the behaviour of the reinforced concrete slab under the relevant loading conditions. This enabled the engineering team to examine stress distribution across the slab and inform the structural design and reinforcement requirements. The design was then developed into general arrangement and detailed reinforcement drawings, providing the information required to translate the engineering analysis into a practical, buildable solution.
The Outcome
The completed design provides the structural support required for the new kiosk and production pipework while also accommodating the specialist workover drilling rig required as part of the borehole rehabilitation works. By considering the structural and geotechnical requirements together and coordinating the design closely with the existing site and wider project team Amrose developed a solution that responds to both the permanent operation of the pumping station and the practical requirements of maintaining and rehabilitating its boreholes.
The project demonstrates an important aspect of Amrose’s approach to engineering existing infrastructure: looking beyond the individual structural element to understand how it needs to perform within the wider asset. From existing site constraints and ground conditions to specialist plant loads, interfaces and detailed reinforcement design, each consideration formed part of an integrated engineering solution supporting the wider rehabilitation of this critical water infrastructure.
If you have a complex engineering project that would benefit from our expertise Ask Amrose. Email enquiries@amroseassociates.com or call 0113 391 9840
