CRANE MOVEMENT & PULL DOWN DEMOLITION – HS2 WILLESDEN

This project is part of a series of three demolition, dismantling and enabling packages on the southern section of the high profile HS2 transport project.

The 22-metre high gantry cranes – each weighing up to 290 tonnes – each had to be lifted and moved up to 100 metres, so they could be safely dismantled away from the neighbouring rail track.

HS2 Ltd says that the removal of the three cranes was one of the most complex engineering challenges the project has faced so far, requiring thousands of hours of planning and preparation.

Crane Movement

Due to the location of the cranes in close proximity to the West Coast Main Line it was necessary to move the cranes away from the live rail environment.

HS2’s enabling works contractor, a Costain Skanska joint venture (CSjv), working with demolition specialist John F Hunt Limited and ALE Heavy Lift, used a 550-tonne class mobile crane supplied by Sarens to move the first two container cranes last year.

To move the cranes a number of SPMT’s were used. The SPMT’s had to run on specially prepared slabs, which Andun designed.

The area required, and the loadings were analysed and concrete infill panels were designed to facilitate the move.

The first two cranes were demolished by dismantling as far as possible, using cranes and cutting gear. The remaining frame of the crane was then lifted with a large crawler crane and the crane was cut into sections using burning gear in a controlled sequence. Andun were responsible for weight assessments, calculating COG’s and confirming cutting sequence.

Pull down for John F Hunt Limited

The remaining crane was pulled down. The structure was first pre weakened by making cuts to the structure in a controlled designed sequence.

An analysis was undertaken to confirm the maximum permitted wind speed in which the structure would remain stable. Before works commenced a review of expected weather conditions was undertaken. The final cuts were made on the day of the pull down, when there was certainty of the expected wind speeds on the day.

Before the pull-down was enacted, rubble was put down to absorb the impact and dissipate energy onto the hard-standing concrete.

Andun also provided on-site support to supervise the cutting process and mark up the cuts onsite. We were present on the lead-up and day of the pull-down to provide technical support and mark out cut positions.

A key element of the design process was modeling the structure to demonstrate that the structure would not fall down after the cuts had been made, but before the pull-down commenced.

This attracted a great deal of attention from Stakeholders.  A CAT III check was undertaken by Moreland Consulting Engineers and an additional check by CSJV.

The scope of work completed by Andun was

• Assess scope for moving and design temporary foundations
• Sequence for moving crane
• Submit Form 2 and 3
• Assess and design pre weakening to crane legs
• On-site supervising and marking up of pre-weakening process
• Wind load analysis during demolition and pre weakening process

As shown in the video the pull down was successfully completed by the John F Hunt team as planned within agreed timescales.