Sloy Valvehouse
A telecommunication mast located on the edge of Loch Lomond north of Glasgow required its concrete base to be strengthened. We proposed that four anchors be installed, one in each corner of the base which would then be secured in place via a steel top plate. This top plate was then modified by drilling eight equ-distant holes around the centre hole which would have resin dowels fixed through, thus pinning the plate down more securely.
The concrete base firstly had to be diamond drilled due to the base having steel rebar running through it. It was found that the concrete base was comprised of two separate slabs with a 300mm gap of loose aggregate and mud which proved a difficult challenge to drill through.
Once the slab had been diamond drilled, the team had to continue the drilling using rock drills until the desired depth had been reached. A specialist resin was then injected into the four holes and the DCP anchor bar slotted into the hole to bond with the resin.
The anchor holes were then topped up with OPC grout which in turn filled the 300mm gap in the slabs ensuring a grout socket between the concrete blocks giving a much stronger bond between the two slabs.
The first mast strengthening project of the summer season was a resounding success.
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