A look back at the implosion of the Newcastle Brown brewery in 2008 and the use of 3D modeling software from ASI to predict and control the implosion.

This contract took place just over a year ago. But with the recent passing of former England football manager Sir Bobby Robson, the man who “pressed the button”, we thought the time was right to look back at this fascinating use of 3D modeling software.

On June 22nd 2008, Sir Bobby Robson, pressed the button to detonate the explosive charges that brought down the old Newcastle Brown brewery building. The 1960s reinforced concrete brewery structure was 60 metres square by 40 metres high.

Controlled Group, the Yorkshire based Demolition Company collaborated with ASI for the first time in the UK and, the results were great. “The similarities between the predicted collapse and the actual collapse were impressive” said Controlled Structural Engineer, Rob Clarke.

The designed collapse mechanism focused around the columns in the centre of the building being destroyed first and then the floor slabs, with their vertical support gone, sagging like a heavy net and pulling the sides of the building into the centre.

Selected internal columns were detonated in a delayed sequence that forced one end of the roof to hinge at the external face and drop into the centre of the building footprint. This collapse mechanism was essential to avoid structural damage to the flats and offices that were built only 10 m away from the Brewery. It was also important to avoid any unexpected issues, such as rogue columns falling away from the building and potentially damaging the neighbors.

ASI created a 3D model of the whole structure after estimating the hidden design parameters, such as reinforcement details and joint stiffness. All the weakening details for joints and columns were added to the 3D model.

“It was comforting to see the results of the simulation were as we expected’, says Rob, ‘The software Extreme Loading developed by ASI calculated the freefall trajectory of each structural element and the interface forces between adjacent elements, both connected and separated, something which Finite Element Analysis is just not capable of.”

After the dust had cleared the debris spread was seen to be just as predicted by Controlled and ASI. Studying the videos afterwards showed that the collapse had worked just as planned although there were some subtle differences. The speed of the drop was a little faster than expected. This was probably due to the fact that there were no internal walls left in the building to slow the collapse.

Speaking about his future plans for cooperation with ASI Rob Clarke says: “We will definitely be using the Extreme Loading software again. It can provide a very useful check against collapse mechanism designs, although as with all design software, the results can only be as accurate as the data input. It is great to be able to show a client and interested parties what you expect to happen on the day of the blowdown. The next stage for us will be to use the software to refine the designed collapse mechanism by tweaking the model and trying out different delays and collapse scenarios.”

Demolition News will be reporting LIVE from this weekend’s NFDC Convention in Ireland.

This weekend, the elite of the UK’s demolition contractors will journey to the Europe Hotel in Killarney, Ireland for the 2009 Convention of the National Federation of Demolition Contractors.

And (technology allowing) Demolition News will be there, and reporting live.

The most regular updates will take place via our Twitter feed which you can follow at www.twitter.com/demolitionnews and which also appears on the left of this page. However, if we can obtain a decent and reliable Broadband connection, we will also be updating the website with news and views as they happen.

In addition, we’re hoping to return from Ireland with lots of new and exclusive audio and video so be sure to check back early next week for further updates.

In the meantime, we wil be monitoring our emails and Twitter accounts. So if you have any questions you’d like us to put to NFDC President David Darsey or any of the NFDC’s senior officers, please let us know.

Online magazine Sustainable Building follows our What Price Sustainability discussions.

It’s always nice to read your words or reference to your own work elsewhere, so it was particularly pleasing to hear that the online magazine Sustainable Building has picked up on our “What Price Sustainability” discussions from a few weeks back.

You can read their take on things by clicking here. We thanks them for the coverage.

A new range of demolition pulverisers unveiled by US manufacturer Steel Unlimited.

The equipment industry might be in the doldrums and demand for new machines might be down, but that hasn’t prevented the research and development guys at Steel Unlimited from introducing a new range of pulveriser attachments.

Designed for use on carriers in the 16 to 72 tonne operating weight range, the new attachments certainly look the part. But don’t take our word for it – Hit the link below to check out the company’s new product brochure too.

pulverizer

Demolition of landmark “Big E” hotel latest to become embroiled in low pricing saga.

No sooner do we publish our article on the incredibly wide spread of pricing on the contract to take down the Texas Stadium than another high profile US demolition contract becomes the latest to show what appears to be scarily low pricing.

The “Big E” Executive Inn Rivermont in Kentucky, which once hosted the likes of Frank Sinatra, is earmarked for demolition and the contract has attracted interest from across the US. But while some bids have come in close to the $3 million mark, at least one bid has valued the job at less than half that amount.

The contract has yet to be let (although a decision is expected soon), but at a time when President Obama’s stimulus package funding is starting to percolate down to the country’s demolition contractors, this latest round of low bidding shows that the trend shows no signs of abating.

For the full story, please click here and remember to leave us a comment below.

Seeking rock-bottom prices, clients entrust demolition to non-professional companies.

In the past few days, Demolition News has heard talk of demolition contracts, some of them major in nature, being let to building, construction and even landscaping companies. Setting aside the fact that this is stealing work and much-needed money from the pockets of legitimate demolition contractors who have rightly invested in the right equipment and the correct training, the fact that clients are willing to allow (even encourage) unqualified and unprofessional contractors to try their hand at highly demanding and complex, technical work simply beggars belief.

And we’re not the only ones that have noted this worrying trend. In an excellent post (in a highly readable blog) Terrence O’Rourke of US contractor Champion Environmental Services, Inc makes the following statement:

“…public bids are attracting many companies who express little credibility as a demolition contractor. Everything from landscape companies to remodeling firms and local residents who may possess a piece or two of equipment are bidding demolition work. The diversity of those who tender proposals reflects that business owners are attempting to diversify and/or make use of available equipment/personnel in order to keep business going. The downside is that local entities who fail to scrutinize the capabilities of contractors are placing unqualified workers in dangerous situations…”

Trade bodies such as the US’ National Demolition Association, the UK’s National Federation of Demolition Contractors, and the broader European Demolition Association have worked tirelessly over the years to encourage and cajole clients and developers to use only qualified, competent demolition companies to carry out this potentially dangerous work. But in the face of a global credit crunch, any such commitments from clients and developers have, in many cases, vanished faster than a teenager’s pocket money.

My question, therefore, is: What can be done to combat the influx of unqualified companies into this business?

I look forward to reading your thoughts in the Comments area (below).

It’ll be standing room only when Coleman and C&D implode two tower blocks on Sunday.

While the cream of the UK’s demolition companies will be in Ireland this weekend for the National Federation of Demolition Contractors’ 2009 Annual Convention, spare a thought for John Woodward of C&D Consultancy and the team from Coleman & Co. who will be making running through their final checks before “popping” a pair of tower blocks in Glasgow.

The explosive demolition of 124 & 142 Shawbridge Street, Pollockshaws, Glasgow, which will be achieved in a single controlled explosion, is scheduled for noon on Sunday 30 August. This blowdown is the second phase of the work being carried out by Coleman & Co for Glasgow Housing Authority and follows on from the successful explosive demolition of 2 tower blocks at Riverford Road last summer.

C&D’s John Woodward predicts that the implosion will be watched by a large crowd of local people, but says that anyone wishing to visit the site to witness the implosion for themselves can do so from the viewing area in Pleasance Street and Shawhill Road or from the Aldi car park in Riverbank Street.

And for those that can’t make it along on the day, we’re hoping to bring you the video footage from the very edge of the exclusion zone early next week.

Series of photos shows what can be done with the appliance of teamwork.

Do you remember those mathematics questions from your schooldays that went: “John can dig a two foot hole in 27 minutes using a six inch spade. How deep would the hole be if he dug for seven days?” Ever wondered how that might pan out in a demolition environment?

Well, apparently, the guys at Champion Environmental Services did their sums and decided that the demolition of a three-storey structure in Wisconsin required not one, not two but FOUR hydraulic excavators. And judging by the following photos, it’s a system that works really rather well:

CG Comley & Sons bucks the cost reduction trend, buying two new Doosan excavators.

There was a time, in the not too distant past, when we could have filled each page of Demolition News with stories of new equipment being bought and sold. Sadly, a combination of reduced workloads and lack of available credit has largely put paid to that.

So it’s somehow refreshing to note that Hampshire-based CG Comley & Sons has just dipped its toe back into the equipment procurement waters with the purchase of two new Doosan excavators from local dealer Promac Solutions Ltd.

The order comprises a 14.5 tonne DX140LC, and a 22.5 tonne DX225LC, both of which join a Comley equipment fleet that also has a 45 tonne Daewoo high reach unit.

We’re hoping to speak to Comley managing director Richard Comley about his latest purchase during this weekend’s National Federation fo Demolition Contractors’ 2009 Annual Convention in Killarney.

Leading quick hitch supplier Miller International publishes new coupler guide.

Still confused over the legality of semi-automatic quick hitches. Then worry no longer. Miller International, a supplier of quick couplers and a leading light in the battle against confusion over this highly contentious (and almost never-ending) semi-automatic quick hitch debate, has published a new guide to help ensure that you stay safe AND sty on the right side of the law.

A copy of the new guide can be downloaded by clicking here.