Contract
After a devastating collapse of a quarry’s conveyor bridge structure, FIELD Engineers was retained to assess the cause of the failure and cost of rectification.
Further investigation included estimation of the cost to rectify the incurred damage, under various scenarios.
Conveyor bridge collapse
Forensic investigation
Finite element analysis
Design interrogation included safety factors
All mechanical elements inspected
Cost estimation
Client needs and considerations
- Field Engineers was engaged to inspect and analyse the root cause of the failure by identifying from a number of potential issues
- A potential cause was spillage, due to overloading the conveyor trays as a reason for the collapse
- The conveyor system design required interrogation to ensure all applicable safety factors were managed
- Remediation was also contentious in the matter and Field Engineers was asked to determine the cost to repair.
Approach
FIELD Engineers forensic investigators considered the appropriateness of the design and if it was fit for the purpose of transporting crushed rock.
A complete recreation of the structure was conducted in Space Gass analysis software from the OEM’s design drawings.
FIELD Engineers analysed the overall structure and performed detailed hand calculations and finite element analysis (FEA) on the connection points.
FIELD team’s site experience provided valuable information regarding the best and most cost-effective repair strategy.
Cost savings
FIELD Engineer’s competence in conducting FEA analysis and experience in conveyor system collapses facilitated an expert report to be prepared efficiently.
Cost estimates provided feedback to the damages awarded in the legal matter
SUCCESS:
A detailed report was prepared for the insurer which outlined the design deficiencies. Further work included a cost estimation for in-situ repair prior to the catastrophic failure.
Outcomes
The work FIELD conducted provided an avenue for recouping costs in the dispute between the structural designers and the quarry owners.
The insurance company benefited from the comprehensive engineering investigation report prepared by FIELD Engineers
Alternate settlement proposals were able to be drafted with the sage input from FIELD Engineers.
Recent case studies
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