Ferrybridge
Location: Yorkshire
Client: Keltbray / SSE
Location: Yorkshire
Client: Keltbray / SSE
CapabilitiesCapabilities
- Demolition
- Strategic Decommissioning
- Structural Engineering
- Geotechnics
- Specialist Lifting & Jacking
- Construction Engineering
- Temporary Works
- Demolition
- Strategic Decommissioning
- Structural Engineering
- Geotechnics
- Specialist Lifting & Jacking
- Construction Engineering
- Temporary Works
SummarySummary
Ferrybridge C Power Station was located in West Yorkshire and was commissioned in 1966. However, due to new requirements and legislation, it was decided to close the plant.
Keltbray was hired as the principal contractor for the demolition works, with Wentworth providing design and engineering support.
Keltbray was hired as the principal contractor for the demolition works, with Wentworth providing design and engineering support.
Ferrybridge C Power Station was located in West Yorkshire and was commissioned in 1966. However, due to new requirements and legislation, it was decided to close the plant.
Keltbray was hired as the principal contractor for the demolition works, with Wentworth providing design and engineering support.
Keltbray was hired as the principal contractor for the demolition works, with Wentworth providing design and engineering support.
Delivering valueDelivering value
Wentworth provided designs and assessments for various structures, including the chimney blow-down, ash bridge, turbine houses blow-down, and boiler/bunker houses and the barge unloader which was located immediately adjacent to the River Aire.
As part of the wider plant demolition, the barge unloader structure was to be demolished to grade level. Typically, structures are demolished from the top down. However, due to the building's sensitive location near the river, there was a risk of contamination. To mitigate this, the client opted for a sequential 'jack-down' approach proposed by Wentworth. This involved supporting sections of the building using jacks, cutting them, lowering them, and repeating the process until most of the structure was demolished.
To determine the safest method for this, Wentworth conducted various assessments, including:
As part of the wider plant demolition, the barge unloader structure was to be demolished to grade level. Typically, structures are demolished from the top down. However, due to the building's sensitive location near the river, there was a risk of contamination. To mitigate this, the client opted for a sequential 'jack-down' approach proposed by Wentworth. This involved supporting sections of the building using jacks, cutting them, lowering them, and repeating the process until most of the structure was demolished.
To determine the safest method for this, Wentworth conducted various assessments, including:
- Centre of gravity (CoG) calculations to justify the position and capacity of the jacks.
- Applications of wind and notional loading in various directions to check the lateral stability during the demolition process.
- Finite element (FE) analysis to confirm the barge unloader's structural capacity at each stage of demolition and verify how the CoG changed in every cut.
- Further to the barge unloader, Wentworth undertook the 3D modelling and FE analysis of the large, suspended boiler and bunker house units which were demolished by detonating linear shaped explosive charges, after pre-weakening of critical steel members, to implement a controlled, pivoted collapse mechanism. The numerical analysis by Wentworth provided assurance for the temporary stability of the structure under vertical and lateral actions during the preparation phase for the spectacular, controlled blow-down which took place in August 2021.
- Wentworth’s innovative approach and collaborative efforts ensured the safe and efficient completion of this challenging project. Our expertise in de-Construction Engineering of very large and complex structures, combined with the development of out-of-the-box methods to suit any project requirements, was crucial to this success. This capability is underpinned by advanced numerical structural and geotechnical analysis, demonstrating our commitment to excellence in engineering.
Wentworth provided designs and assessments for various structures, including the chimney blow-down, ash bridge, turbine houses blow-down, and boiler/bunker houses and the barge unloader which was located immediately adjacent to the River Aire.
As part of the wider plant demolition, the barge unloader structure was to be demolished to grade level. Typically, structures are demolished from the top down. However, due to the building's sensitive location near the river, there was a risk of contamination. To mitigate this, the client opted for a sequential 'jack-down' approach proposed by Wentworth. This involved supporting sections of the building using jacks, cutting them, lowering them, and repeating the process until most of the structure was demolished.
To determine the safest method for this, Wentworth conducted various assessments, including:
As part of the wider plant demolition, the barge unloader structure was to be demolished to grade level. Typically, structures are demolished from the top down. However, due to the building's sensitive location near the river, there was a risk of contamination. To mitigate this, the client opted for a sequential 'jack-down' approach proposed by Wentworth. This involved supporting sections of the building using jacks, cutting them, lowering them, and repeating the process until most of the structure was demolished.
To determine the safest method for this, Wentworth conducted various assessments, including:
- Centre of gravity (CoG) calculations to justify the position and capacity of the jacks.
- Applications of wind and notional loading in various directions to check the lateral stability during the demolition process.
- Finite element (FE) analysis to confirm the barge unloader's structural capacity at each stage of demolition and verify how the CoG changed in every cut.
- Further to the barge unloader, Wentworth undertook the 3D modelling and FE analysis of the large, suspended boiler and bunker house units which were demolished by detonating linear shaped explosive charges, after pre-weakening of critical steel members, to implement a controlled, pivoted collapse mechanism. The numerical analysis by Wentworth provided assurance for the temporary stability of the structure under vertical and lateral actions during the preparation phase for the spectacular, controlled blow-down which took place in August 2021.
- Wentworth’s innovative approach and collaborative efforts ensured the safe and efficient completion of this challenging project. Our expertise in de-Construction Engineering of very large and complex structures, combined with the development of out-of-the-box methods to suit any project requirements, was crucial to this success. This capability is underpinned by advanced numerical structural and geotechnical analysis, demonstrating our commitment to excellence in engineering.
Key ScopeKey Scope
- Demolition methodology and design: Develop viable scheme and detailed design for the demolition of the barge unloader.
- Pre-weakening assessment: Assess the stability of chimneys and cooling towers ahead of controlled demolition. This involved determining the maximum extent and location of pre-weakening that would maintain stability and ensure collapse as planned following controlled demolition.
- Demolition methodology and design: Develop viable scheme and detailed design for the demolition of the barge unloader.
- Pre-weakening assessment: Assess the stability of chimneys and cooling towers ahead of controlled demolition. This involved determining the maximum extent and location of pre-weakening that would maintain stability and ensure collapse as planned following controlled demolition.
Key Challenges and SolutionsKey Challenges and Solutions
- Strict environmental and operational requirements led to the development of a bespoke ‘bottom-up’ demolition sequence for the barge unloader using a jacking scheme.
- A detailed finite element assessment of the boiler & bunker houses was required to verify the stability of the primary structure in the pre-weakened state, prior to the explosive demolition.
- Successful and efficient deconstruction of complex, large scale structures.
- Strict environmental and operational requirements led to the development of a bespoke ‘bottom-up’ demolition sequence for the barge unloader using a jacking scheme.
- A detailed finite element assessment of the boiler & bunker houses was required to verify the stability of the primary structure in the pre-weakened state, prior to the explosive demolition.
- Successful and efficient deconstruction of complex, large scale structures.