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Utilising instrumentation to monitor the construction of a large underground shaft in Ireland
Date
2024
Abstract
This paper presents a case study of the construction of a 28 m diameter caisson as part of the €114 million Athlone Main Drainage Scheme in County Westmeath, Ireland. The caisson was built at ground level and sunk 15 m through soft clay, sands and gravel, and rock to formation. Three instrumentation systems were utilised to guide the installation and to record the performance of the shaft during and after construction: 1) a levelling system for guiding the sinking phase, 2) a novel automated lubrication system and 3) strain gauges to monitor hoop strain in the wall of the structure (utilising Fiber Bragg Grating, and vibrating wire, strain gauges). These three systems were successfully installed, operated, and monitored throughout the construction process. The data collected were processed and made available to onsite personnel via an online platform in real time, allowing engineers to make informed decisions in response to varying ground conditions. This case study provides insight into the instrumentation systems deployed and offers guidance for future projects with similar construction methodologies.
Supervisor
Description
Publisher
University of Limerick
Citation
20th Sensors and Their Applications Conference, 2024, Paper No: 44
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Files
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Paper_44_R1.pdf
Adobe PDF, 1.17 MB
Funding code
Funding Information
Ward & Burke Construction Ltd.