Card Geotechnics was formed to initiate and promote innovative engineering design, applications and research bringing value-added engineering to the industry. We have sponsored research and produced industry guidance on various aspects of ground contamination.
An example of research sponsorship is testing at the Department of Civil Engineering of the University of Portsmouth into the effects of creosote and fuel oil on the strength of 30N/mm2 concrete. The work was carried out under the supervision of Mr Phil Walden in the Materials and Geotechnics Research Group. The results showed there to be a marked reduction over 28 days and 96 days in the strength achieved by concrete exposed to creosote.
Examples of publications are:
Assessing risks posed by hazardous ground gases to buildings
S Wilson, S Oliver, H Mallett, H Hutchings and G Card
CIRIA Report 2006
This report consolidates good practice in investigation, the collection of relevant data and monitoring programmes in a risk based approach to gas contaminated land.
Reliability and risk in gas protection design
SA Wilson and GB Card
Ground Engineering, February 1999
This paper offers a holistic approach to the characterisation of gassing sites based on gas concentrations and borehole flow rates. It considers the published guidance from CIRIA, DoE and Transport and the Regions.
Innovative structural backfills to integral bridge abutments
D R Carder and GB Card
TRL Report 290 1997
This report identifies various compressible materials, for example polymeric and geocomposite materials, which may be suitable for use as innovative structural backfill behind integral bridge abutments.
Protecting development from methane
GB Card
CIRIA Report 149 1995
This document has become a very important practice guide for the industry and sets out the need for buildings to be protected from the hazards of methane.
