Aquacrete® Engineering & Support Services
With you all the way
When you work with Aquacrete® Engineering and Support Services, you’ve got the best in the business on your team. With 30 years of experience, we know what it takes to get the job done right. From our manufacturing operations to your application support, we’ve got your safety ventilation control and geology consolidation solutions covered.
Technical Support & Training
In line with our customer partnership approach, Aquacrete® provides product training and skills development in the design and installation of Aquacrete® structural devices. This ensures that our products are designed to specification and achieve the strength and performance ratings required for each individual site.
Our product training program includes:
- Tools to determine structural strength and thickness requirements
- Product selection criteria
- On-site product demonstrations
- Equipment set-up procedures
- Equipment maintenance
- Product handling and maintenance
The Aquacrete® Thickness Gauge
The Aquacrete® in-situ testing technology – known as the Aquacrete® Thickness Gauge – allows underground operators to non-destructively verify the thickness, and where necessary the overpressure rating compliance of structural devices.
While sample coring and analysis of installed seals have provided assurance to mines, it is difficult, time-consuming and costly to carry out physical sampling and testing of every installed device. As a result, Aquacrete® has developed a method for in-situ, non-destructive testing that addresses these issues. Although a new approach to testing underground structural devices, the method employs recognised testing equipment in a new application.
How it works
The Aquacrete® Thickness Gauge uses sound waves to test a material for integrity and strength properties. It works by striking a surface with a hammer built into the testing device and then measuring the elapsed time for the sound waves to reflect off the far surface.
If there are any defects within the material, such as voids, the sound waves will not transmit through and the instrument will record the sound waves bouncing off an apparently thinner section.
Mine operations can take multiple readings across the surface of the installed structure, providing further reassurance that the seal has been installed to the required standards.
Having conducted a range of tests in the laboratory, above ground, at trial underground sites and in active mine operations, our technical service team is increasingly using the equipment at mine sites throughout Australia.
Structural Design Systems
Over a decade ago, Aquacrete® selected an underground mine in Western Australia to conduct high-blast pressure explosive testing. A wide range of tests were completed and the data obtained was analysed by independent engineers. Subsequently, the engineers developed a 3-dimensional finite-element computer model of a structure subjected to blast loading.
The results from the computer model were used to develop a design system that assesses the required thickness of a device. Using any combination of height, width, overpressure, head of water and factor of safety for individual site locations.
How it works
Our structural design system is used to determine the design and installation specifications of Aquacrete® structural devices. The system predicts how the device will perform based on the dimensions and geotechnical conditions of the mine site. This information provides engineering specifications that are used to select the right product thickness and strength for each installation site.
Engineering Certification
We invest in mining innovation and provide tailor-made engineering solutions for our customers. Our industry-leading engineering models are designed for our systems to meet site-specific requirements.
With data obtained from the live underground testing of Aquacrete® structural devices, our technical team is well-equipped to provide detailed recommendations on product selection, installation specifications and strength requirements to achieve industry compliance.
Our 3D computer model enables mine sites to obtain precise structural device and engineering specifications. If an installation conforms to the specifications, many approved independent structural engineers can provide engineering certification.