Overview
A Strainstall collaboration with Taziker and Stantec for a Network Rail project
Taziker were contracted by Network Rail to lead refurbishment works on the engine shed gable roof at Bristol Temple Meads Station, with Stantec appointed as the technical advisor and engineering consultant.
- Sector Rail
- Location Bristol Temple Meads Station, UK
- Services Structural Health Monitoring System (SHMS)
The Challenge
Understanding structural performance
180-year age of the grade-1 listed roof truss, the technical advisor Stantec required data inputs for their validation model, including strains in each element, to observe the overall behaviour of the structure.
Factors such as the large surface area of the gable roof, both wind loading and thermal expansion impacted the structure greatly, so the changes caused by this required measurement.
The Solution
Bespoke structural health monitoring system
Strainstall installed a monitoring system during the design phase of the Temple Meads roof refurbishment. The dynamic monitoring by the system was triggered by wind speed and direction from weather stations on the roof. The monitoring system was used to measure strain in tie rods and truss elements, including the temperature measurements to quantify thermal effects.
The performance of each roof truss frame was monitored to help analyse and quantify loading within tie rods and truss elements within the arrangements. After further structural examinations were conducted, additional defects were independently identified with monitoring, such as cracking and tilting of adjacent columns.
These monitored parameters allowed the client to identify if any supports required restrengthening or replacement, and ultimately helped to drive the construction phase through data-informed decision making.
Project Gallery
The Impact
Overall, this innovative system allowed dynamic monitoring of the structure’s response during weather events so that performance of the rood truss could be analysed under multi-directional wind loading.
In addition to this, a wireless tilt and displacement monitoring system was deployed to monitor longitudinal expansion of the station gable roof under loading and temperature effects. BES Group Asset Reliability also provided support and technical input with system operation, maintenance, and data analysis throughout the project lifecycle to ensure optimised outcomes.
A comprehensive monitoring system consisting of these elements provided detailed data to the client and their technical advisors for analysis. This data fed into the 2D model developed by Stantec and ultimately assisted decision making on what level of remedial works were required during construction.
Monitoring concluded in March 2025 and enabled Taziker to initiate the construction phase and carry out necessary works on the roof truss.
“The flexibility of the system, originally designed for a different objective, was pivotal to the success of Bristol Temple Meads Station roof refurbishment project. With BES Group’s exceptional support in repurposing the hardware and system to align with our revised objectives, we achieved our goals efficiently while significantly reducing capital costs’’.
