Regional groups: Wellington Structural Group

Date: 31 August 2009

Speaker: Graham Owens, IStructE President

After a brief biographical introduction this reprise of Dr Owens' inaugural address initially summarises the transition of the Institution into an outward facing, international organisation. However, its principal theme is to argue that all professions need to evolve to meet society’s and clients’ current needs. For structural engineers, this means improving existing technical skills and developing new competencies. As a profession we are surrounded by such opportunities. The Institution should lead their development, to the benefit of both society and our membership

Date: 10 September 2009

Project West Wind is Meridian's wind farm currently under construction on Terawhiti Station and Makara Farm west of Wellington.

Construction began onsite in October 2007 and will be completed by late December 2009.

When fully operational at the end of 2009, the 62-turbine development will have a capacity of 143 megawatts and will power the equivalent of 70,000 average New Zealand homes: that’s all the homes within the territorial boundaries of Wellington City

The project team has had to overcome many challenges including the steep and rugged terrain, and difficult access to the site. To help resolve this, a temporary wharf has been built at nearby Oteranga Bay so the turbines could be transported by sea. Meridian has also had to create 33 kilometres of access roads on the 53 square kilometre site.

Date: 13 October 2009

Speakers: Tor Ole Olsen, (Dr.techn.Olav Olsen), Managing Director of the Norwegian Consultancy

Tor Ole Olsen gave a presentation on the design and construction of offshore concrete structures. Experience has shown that these structures to behave well, when properly designed and properly built. The strong interaction between weight, construction methods, soil conditions, and marine operations put extra emphasis on the design. The importance of the early design phases is significant. This is when the competitiveness is established, and also when the robustness of the structure to meet changes at later stages is established.

The latest offshore concrete projects being realized are: the two Sakhalin platforms (installed), and the Adriatic LNG Terminal (also installed, in 2008). Very different structures with very different specifications, what influenced their designs? They will hopefully do an excellent job fulfilling the needs of their owners and the society.

Offshore structures are subjected to very severe loadings, and increasingly more so as arctic frontiers are developed. Plans for further oil and gas exploitation in ever increasing harsh environments have accelerated the focus and interest for the efficiency of offshore concrete structures.

The most important design considerations are discussed, as well as the design process.