Abstract:
Globally, temporary working platforms are an underrated element of almost every construction site. Recently organisations such Deep Foundation Institute (DFI) or European Federation of Foundation Contractors (EFFC) have been actively engaged in increasing awareness and understanding of the challenges relating to the temporary working platforms design methods and site verification of the proposed designs. However, still little has been done to advance designs utilising geogrids. Geogrids have been installed in the temporary working platforms for decades now, as they offer contractors large cost, time and carbon savings compared to alternative solutions. The use of hexagonal, multiaxial stabilisation geogrids and square, biaxial geogrids is by far the most common method for the cost-effective solution.
However, designing temporary working platforms using geogrids constitutes a challenge, as broadly available methods (e.g., BR470) present a conservative approach for incorporating geogrids in the designs that results in non-cost-effective design. Then, Geosynthetics manufacturers methods are validated only for specific manufacturers products (e.g., 45° load spread or T-value method).
This work discusses the importance of temporary working platforms design methods full scale validation and lists ideal site conditions for full scale validation tests. There is a long list of factors that affect temporary working platform performance and that would affect the success of temporary working platforms bearing capacity experiments. This work aimed to list the most important factors affecting temporary working platforms experimental studies. Also, it reviews recently undertaken site tests that aimed at testing temporary working platforms full bearing capacity and examining the design methods. In addition, it provides a modification of Hugo et al (1991) chart which can be used in decision making process for development of temporary working platforms broader verification studies.