Materials Technology

GHD’s Materials Technology group provides cost-effective, independent professional advice to a diverse client base. Our team of experienced consultants are industry leaders in delivering:

Design and specification of materials appropriate for their intended service life, environment and loads
Engineering management to achieve the design life of structures/plant and their construction materials
Engineering of remedial measures for deteriorated structures appropriate to their operating requirements and intended future service life

Access to materials testing and research enables our professionals to develop cost-effective and timely solutions for materials-related issues.

We are committed to assisting clients in achieving lowest life cycle cost asset life, minimising operations downtime and promoting long-term efficiency for ongoing processes.

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Services

Our network of materials technology consultants provides solutions for clients in:

Diagnosis investigation and remedial engineering
Durability assurance
Corrosion engineering
Construction materials technology
Materials testing and research
Facades

Diagnosis Investigation and Remedial Engineering

Our goal is to deliver the lowest life cycle cost repair and maintenance strategies to our clients.

GHD investigation, repair assessment,remedial inspection, project management and asset management auditing of thousands of structures/plant worldwide includes:

Most recent non-destructive testing techniques
Analysis using our own software to
predict future materials deterioration and remaining service life
Repair alternatives at the forefront of remedial solutions development, including cathodic protection
Audit of repaired structures/plant giving reassessment back into the
investigation and repair process

Durability Assurance

We advise owners, designers andcontractors to achieve durable structures. This commonly involves:

Assess materials deterioration mechanisms during service life
Identify critical elements with respect to durability
Determine how the selected design will achieve the durability objectives of identified critical elements
Review of construction methods and QA/QC of durability critical construction processes
Response on requests and audits during construction
Post construction asset management inspection audits and maintenance to achieve acceptable durability during service life
Durability plans to document findings during tender, preliminary design, detailed design, construction and completed project

Corrosion Engineering

We are a corrosion engineering consultant providing services including:

Materials selection and the development of corrosion protection strategies and specifications
Design and commissioning of cathodic protection, corrosion prevention, corrosion monitoring and stray current mitigation
Corrosion rate assessments and inhibitor/biocide evaluation in process systems Coatings evaluation, selection, and specification
Surveys of existing facilities including corrosion audits, stray current investigations, coating defect surveys, and monitoring/maintenance/audit of cathodic protection and corrosion monitoring systems

Construction Materials Technology

We have experience in materials selection including:

Product development and concept design
Raw materials evaluation and approval before use
Preparation of technical specifications or method statements
Practical installation assessment
Site trials design and evaluation
QA/QC relevant to achieve technical compliance
Trouble shooting materials problems, non-compliance and disputes
Collaborate with laboratories to develop test programs to evaluate performance of materials in specific applications.

Materials Testing and Research

GHD collaborates with laboratory facilities at the forefront of applied research in our materials fields.
Our clients benefit from a unique combination of state-of-the-art knowledge and practical engineering skills.

For further information, contact:

Rodney Paull
Tel: 61 8 6222 8222
Email: Rodney Paull

Burj Dubai - MTG

GHD provided Independent Verification, Testing and Audit (IVTA) durability assurance for concrete and structural steel for construction of a spectacular skyscraper in Dubai.

GHD was initially appointed in 2004 to design and review the installation of a cathodic protection system to protect the reinforced concrete piles and raft foundation, as well as to provide advice on securing the long-term durability of the foundations for Burj Dubai.

Calliope South Wharf Access Jetty

GHD has delivered Cathodic Protection (CP) repair services to the Calliope South Wharf Access Jetty in Devonport New Zealand. Owned by the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN), the Jetty is a pre-cast pre-stressed reinforced concrete structure built in 1982 that connects the outer wharf to the landside base..

The pre-stressing tendons of the main beams of the jetty structure were found to be suffering from corrosion, due to high concentration of chloride ions from the surrounding environment and low concrete covers. The RNZN sought a long-term solution to the deteriorating concrete elements to avoid repetitive repairs.The pre-stressing tendons of the main beams of the jetty structure were found to be suffering from corrosion, due to high concentration of chloride ions from the surrounding environment and low concrete covers. The RNZN sought a long-term solution to the deteriorating concrete elements to avoid repetitive repairs.

The Eleanor Schonell Bridge - Materials Technology

GHD provided Durability Assurance as part of design and construction support for the 100 year design life, with review to extend to 150 years. Opened on 17 December 2006, the Eleanor Schonell Bridge is Australia’s first bus, cycle and pedestrian-only bridge. It links Brisbane’s Southern suburbs and the St Lucia campus of the University of Queensland. GHD provided structural and civil design for the AUD55M project for Brisbane City Council.

The cable-stayed steel composite structure is only the third of its kind to be built in Australia and is an impressive 520 metres long, with a 185-metre main span. The harp configured support cables are suspended from two reinforced concrete towers rising 70 metres above the river. This landmark infrastructure project features a number of environmentally sustainable design elements, including bio-retention ponds to control the quality of water run-off, minimal use of refill from off-site sources and a bridge alignment that has saved a number of native trees.

Rodney Paull

Rodney is GHD’ Service Line Leader for Materials Technology, with responsibility for assisting construction materials development across GHD’s offices. Rodney has more than 30 years' experience in construction materials technology. He worked for Taywood Engineering Limited in Australia, eight years in Singapore and Malaysia establishing and managing the company's offices, and eight years in Hong Kong as a Manager. Prior to that, he was a design engineer with Water Corporation and a technical engineer with CEMEX responsible for concrete quality. Rodney is the author of over 40 technical papers on materials consultancy topics, with emphasis on durability assurance in design/construction and the investigation and repair of reinforced concrete structures.

Position: Service Line Leader, Materials Technology
Tel: 61 8 6222 8222

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