Editorial: Geomechanics and Tunnelling 3/2011

Wulf Schubert

Tunnelling in weak ground and with high overburden is a particular challenge. The problems start with the investigation, as it is definitely no easy task to establish a realistic geological model from the scarce information available.

Experience of tunnel construction in weak ground

Download the article from Geomechanics and Tunnelling 03/2011.

Wulf Schubert

A whole range of problems are generally associated with the construction of tunnels in weak ground and under high overburden. Among those are large displacements, wide variation of stresses and strains, and sudden water ingress, to name just a few.

External doubleleaf masonry walls - Effects of the thermal insulation on fire protection

Download the article from Mauerwerk 03/2011.

Christiane Hahn

The thickness of the insulation in cavities increases due to thermal requirements. Combustible insulation materials are widely used. Information about the fire behavior of that type of construction (especially flame transfer through the cavity) was not available.

DIN 4102-4 - Eurocodes: The future of fire protection

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Christiane Hahn

So far, DIN 4102-4 was the practice manual for fire protection for the assessment of building materials and products in Germany. Because of the Eurocodes for structural components, the policy is that in each Part -1-2 the design in case of fire will be done, there is some parallel schemes and new design procedures. DIN 4102-4 had to be revised.

Geotechnical performance of a novel gravity base type shallow foundation for offshore wind turbines

Download the article from geotechnik 02/2011.

Hendrik Sturm

This paper presents a novel foundation solution specially developed for offshore wind turbines installed on sandy or stiff soils. It is a pre-fabricated cross-shaped structure which rests on the seabed through four skirted plates.

Major order for North Sea windpark: Bilfinger Berger benefits from renewable energy trend

Bilfinger Berger has recorded another success in the market for offshore windparks in the North Sea: the Group has won an order, together with its Danish partner Per Aarsleff, to build the foundations for 80 offshore turbines at the new DanTysk windpark.

geotechnik - Sample Copy

geotechnik is the professional journal for soil mechanics, earthworks, foundations, rock mechanics, engineering geology, plastics in geotechnics and environmental geotechnics.

Mosque in Cologne: elaborate in situ concrete dome construction

The Turkish-Islamic Union (Diyanet Isleri Türk Islam Birligi, DITIB) is drawing attention to itself by building the largest Islamic community centre and mosque in Germany. By the end of 2011, Cologne will have a new centre with a floor area exceeding 20 000 m² plus a mosque with two minarets each 55 m high.

The Reißeck II pumped storage power station

Download the article from Geomechanics and Tunnelling 02/2011.

Manfred Freitag, Markus Larcher, Andreas Blauhut

The Reißeck II pumped storage power station under construction for the Verbund Hydro Power AG is part of their current extension project in southern Austria. Features of the new system are the advantages of the rapidly available and easily controllable power output of a pumped storage scheme in generation operation and the possibility of storing hydropower water at times of low energy demand.

German Bridge Construction Prize 2012

The Bundesingenieurkammer and the Verband Beratender Ingenieure VBI announced on 8 March 2011 that the German Bridge Construction Prize will again be awarded in 2012.