Research
In collaboration with international Ground Anchor expert Dr Devon Mothersille, Geotech researched and developed the GEGA permanent ground anchor system. The GEGA system provides clients with a double corrosion protection permanent ground anchor which meets international standards and codes of practice including BS8081, EN1537 and RTA requirements. Full scale gunbarrel tests over a wide rage of anchor capacities were successfully tested during research and development. The GEGA system is now being used within the road and dams industry within Australia.
Geotech’s active research programme includes the sponsoring of PhD research undertaken by Dr Matthew Sentry, which focuses on improving understanding of the use of carbon fibre tendons in ground anchor systems. Geotech’s ongoing commitment continues with the sponsoring of a direct use Geothermal Energy research project in conjunction with the University of Melbourne at Parkville, Victoria.
The direct-use geothermal system works by circulating fluid - water or refrigerant - down into pipes that are installed within building foundations or into purpose-drilled boreholes, and then back to the surface again. In winter, heat contained in the circulating fluid is extracted by a heat pump, and used to heat the building. In summer, the system is reversed, with the heat taken out of the building and transferred to the fluid which rejects it underground. The system is more reliable than wind and solar as it is able to operate continuously.
Geotech has presented many research findings to the international engineering community at conferences including the ICE 2007 in London, AMBS-V 2009 in Canada and the CICE 2010 in China as well as journals and presentations to national engineering societies.
Geotech are committed to maintain our presence as a Ground Anchoring market leader and to deliver ground anchor works to the highest standard. Geotech have also been granted a patented license to implement SBMA technology in Australasia.
Continual development is a core business objective and to meet this Geotech continues to invest through internal research and development of our specialist anchoring knowledge and skills. We retain an international ground anchor expert, Dr Devon Mothersille who works in collaboration with our experienced engineers to ensure we maintain anchoring activities that are state of the art and satisfy both Australian and European Codes.
- ACMBS-V 2008 (Winnipeg, Canada) SEM analysis of CFRP strand in ground anchors
- ANZGEO2007 (Brisbane, Australia) - Development in Ground Anchor Technology Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer (CFRP)
- ASEC 2008 (Melbourne, Australia) - Durability of Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) strand for use in high capacity permanent ground anchors
- Australian Geomechanics (Vol. 44; No. 03; September 2009) - Durability of CFRP strand in ground anchors
- CICE 2010 (Beijing, China) - Bond Type Anchorage Systems for Permanent High Strength CFRP Ground Anchors
- FRPRCS-9 2009 (Sydney, Australia) - Tensile Capacity of Stressed CFRP Strand Exposed to Extreme Agressive Groundwater Environments
- ICCS14 2007 (Melbourne, Australia) - Durability of CFRP strand in ground anchors
- ICE 2007 (London, England) - Advancements in Ground Anchors CFRP Strands
- IMS4 2010 (Sharjah, UAE) - Gun Barrel Assessment of a Permanent CFRP Ground Anchor System
- Two Unusual Cofferdams