Infrastructure

Case Study: Geopolymer Injection for Track Transition Stabilisation Location: UBC4, Sarsfield Road, Dublin Client: Irish Rail Sector: Rail Infrastructure Service: Ground Improvement Background UBC4 is a single-span railway bridge on the busy Dublin–Cork line, carrying trains over Sarsfield Road in Dublin. The bridge deck sits on four longitudinal steel box girders and reinforced concrete shelves, […]

Case Study: West Bay Harbour Wall Stabilisation Background Dorset Council faced a critical engineering challenge at Bridport (West Bay) Harbour, specifically concerning Wall B and adjacent areas. The existing harbour wall, a structure with historical significance dating back to the 1824 design by Francis Giles, was exhibiting significant signs of distress. Ongoing monitoring revealed continued […]

Background The dual carriageway of a primary A road connecting London to the north experienced significant deterioration due to underlying soil instability. This resulted in extensive cracking and potholes, despite multiple resurfacing efforts. Investigations revealed that voids and subsidence beneath the rigid road compromised its structural integrity. Geobear was engaged to provide a targeted, efficient […]

Ultimate Client: Western Power Distribution Contractor: O’Connor Utilities Ltd Duration: 4 shifts Solution Provided: Structural Void Filling using Geopolymer 2640 Background & Challenge A 100-year-old culvert running beneath Sowter Road in Derby was identified as a potential risk due to uncertainties regarding its load-bearing capacity. The culvert’s structural integrity was of particular concern as a […]

Resolving Subsidence in a Car Park at Bupa Nairn House Care Home, Enfield Background Bupa Nairn House Care Home, located in Enfield, experienced significant subsidence in a section of its car park. This issue, primarily identified near the retaining wall and drainage chambers, had led to surface deformations, including cracks and void formations. The subsidence […]

Sewer pipe belly lifting on new build development Overview Client: UK New Build Contractor Location: North West Project Focus: Ground strengthening and pipe lifting for failing shallow sewers beneath a road network on a new-build housing estate. The Challenge: Structural Integrity in Soft Ground A sewer system constructed beneath a road on a new housing […]

Structural Void Filling Behind the Sea Wall at Dovercourt Background The sea defence at Dovercourt, spanning approximately 300 metres, is formed of concrete blocks that have experienced structural failures over time. Persistent water ingress and washout have led to the formation of voids behind the wall, undermining its stability. Despite regular patch repairs, these voids […]

Background A section of a busy dual carriageway, near a town in the south of England experienced ground instability, leading to subsidence and voids beneath the carriageway. The client required a comprehensive ground improvement plan to address these issues that were identified using Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and Dynamic Cone Penetration (DCP) tests. A solution […]

A section of track at Chorley Tunnel in the northwest of England was subject to line speed restrictions due to subsidence. The section in question was at the end of the slab track running through the Chorley Tunnel, a line notable for its electrification scheme in the previous decade. The subsidence was caused by a […]

Background The Glenn Douglas railway section, adjacent to a loch with a steep embankment, relied on a King Post retaining wall to hold the ballast in place. Over time, the wooden sleepers forming this wall deteriorated, leading to gaps that caused the ballast to erode down the embankment, jeopardizing track stability. Problem The primary issue […]

Case Study: Permeation Grouting for Flood Defence Scheme in Otley Project Overview Location: Otley, West Yorkshire Project: Flood Defence Scheme Client: Bam Nuttall Objective: To explore the incorporation of permeation grouting to effectively seal a 6m gap in the sheet piles, avoiding excavation and reducing risks to a historic bridge. Background The flood defence structure […]

Tunstall Reservoir Void Fill Case Study Project Overview The client had a requirement at Tunstall Reservoir to fill a disused adit tunnel to prevent potential structural issues and ensure the long-term stability of the reservoir infrastructure. Geobear was commissioned to design a geopolymer injection solution to fill the difficult to access void. Project Scope and […]

Tynybryn Bridge is one of the first Active Travel Bridges in South Wales to use a light-weight fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) deck solution with a localised ground improvement system of injected geopolymers to improve the ground bearing. Using Geobear geopolymer injection as a pre-construction activity rather than a post-remedial solution has not been used like […]

Bookham Road Underbridge Wingwall Ground Improvement Project Project Overview Client: Dyer & Butler Location: Bookham Road Underbridge, Surrey Challenge A bridge wingwall in Bookham, Surrey had experienced movement and the client needed a fast non-disruptive solution to stabilise the asset. The site comprises a single-span underbridge (Bookham Road under rail) and is located immediately to […]

Treatment of Suspected Softened Clays Below SW Wing Wall Project Overview The project involves the stabilisation of a bridge abutment wingwall and the treatment of suspected softened clays below the SW wing wall at the Boots Enterprise Zone in Nottingham. This intervention was necessary to ensure the structural integrity and longevity of the infrastructure. Scope […]

Ballasted Railway Level Crossing Ground Improvement Project Overview Location and Background The project focuses on a ballasted railway level crossing located on the South West Mainline. The crossing is part of a high-speed rail line with a line speed of 100 miles per hour and accommodates approximately ten EMGTP (Equivalent Million Gross Tons per annum) […]

Project Overview Location: Colt Crag Reservoir, Hexham, Northumberland Client: Esh Group – Stantec Main Contractor: Northumberland Water Project Duration: 1 week Introduction Geobear was contracted to provide a void-filling solution for an abandoned spillway tunnel at Colt Crag Reservoir. This project required the use of a specialist geopolymer design, delivery team and equipment to ensure […]

Geopolymer Injection at the Dock: Ground Improvement to Facilitate Loads Overview A prestigious yacht manufacturer faced significant challenges at their dockyard. Accustomed to handling the increasing size and weight of super yachts, their facility began experiencing uneven sinking of concrete slabs due to water ingress and the subsequent softening of soils. This issue threatened the […]

Ground improvement for railway arch renovation Background The project involved the ground improvement of four arches which were being converted into office storage spaces. The specific challenge at the site was addressing the inadequate foundation of walls that were initially constructed to block off the archways from neighbouring gardens. These walls, built directly on the […]

Background The canal towpath void filling and water sealing project, aimed to address a critical infrastructure issue identified by the local council. The canal towpath in Cromford, a historic structure, was experiencing significant water leakage into the adjacent field. This leakage was not only a structural concern but also a potential environmental hazard, threatening the […]