Technical Seminar on Advancements in Soil Nails and Ground Anchors using Glass-fibre Reinforced Polymer (GRP) Tendons for permanent 100-year design life applications

Organizer: Hong Kong Concrete Institute

Co-organizer: HK PolyU, HKIE Materials Division, HKIE Geotechnical Division

Date, Time & Venue

Date: 26 April 2025

Time: 10:00am to 12:00nn

Venue: Z205, HK PolyU

Speaker: Ir Gregory Sieders, Technical Advisor of ARDEX

Speaker Introduction

Greg Sieders is currently the Technical Advisor on Civil Engineering Solutions for ARDEX Group, Germany. Since completing his education, Greg has had a work history spanning more than 20 years in large civil engineering and building projects.  Through his employment by major technology suppliers including BASF, EWS and Bluey, Greg has gained a wide range of product development and site application experience.  His knowledge includes cement and resin-based systems, corrosion protection and various types of ground support.  He was instrumental in the development of new cable rock bolt designs for tunnels and the increasingly prevalent use of GRP systems for permanent ground support applications.

Programme Highlights

The use of steel tendons in soil nailing and ground anchoring has been commonplace for both permanent and temporary applications. Double corrosion protection (DCP) is required to ensure a serviceable design life, and these have evolved to become complicated assemblies comprising numerous components.  This complexity is mainly associated with durability considerations including potential exposure to aggressive ground conditions and ensuring separation of dissimilar metals within the anchorage assembly itself. Advancements in the construction of GRP tendons have provided a viable alternative to conventional steel DCP soil nails and ground anchors in civil geotechnical applications. The durability of the material results in a much simpler nail/anchor detail to achieve the same 100-year design life.

This presentation will cover the latest technology in GRP manufacturing techniques, along with the relevant international and local standards which now recognise the use of GRP elements for permanent geotechnical applications. Other issues which are relevant to the design of temporary and permanent soil nails and anchors used in ground support, long-term performance, real applications of GRP for permanent geotechnical applications and relevant international standards will be introduced.

Registration and Enquiries

This seminar is free of charge and is held in physical mode only.  Prior registration is required.  For registration, please fill the online registration form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfJjT1iKqKYpGMnzwNifFNk77H0K7sO3jX8z95_PbtdSqGd-g/viewform?usp=pp_url on or before 14 April 2025.  Electronic CPD certificate will be issued to participants after the seminar.  For enquiries, please contact Ir Casey Chan at 9878 4435.