{"id":35,"date":"2025-12-09T13:50:52","date_gmt":"2025-12-09T13:50:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/atconsulting.com.au\/_staging\/?post_type=strength&p=35"},"modified":"2026-01-12T02:23:54","modified_gmt":"2026-01-12T02:23:54","slug":"design-for-durability","status":"publish","type":"strength","link":"https:\/\/atconsulting.com.au\/_staging\/strength\/design-for-durability\/","title":{"rendered":"Design For Durability"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Design for durability is a key focus for Airey Taylor Consulting.<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Leading the Nation in Corrosion-Resistant Design and Remediation<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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We have an established history in the survey and remediation of corrosion damaged structures, and in the design of life extension remedial measures and new structures for longevity. As a nation with a largely coastal population, material selection, detailing of exposed steel and careful selection of corrosion treatments can be paramount to project success.<\/p>

ATC durability innovations include research, design and use of Glass Fibre Reinforced Polymers<\/a> as reinforcement in concrete in coastal and quasi-marine (riverside) environments. This material completely solves the global problem of rusting of steel reinforcement within concrete due to the presence of salts (\u201cconcrete cancer\u201d). This breakthrough supersedes the use of cathodic protection and other anti-corrosion measures and has been used in jetties,\u00a0boardwalks<\/a>, balconies and external facing of accommodation buildings, poolside and aquatic centres, and in\u00a0iconic beachside art that will last for generations.<\/a><\/p>

A key feature of the State Theatre Centre<\/a>\u00a0in Northbridge was the requirement for structural durability for 100 years; the first time such a requirement was given in Western Australia for a government building. The resulting building achieved the 100 year to first maintenance requirement and was celebrated by Engineers Australia as best Engineering (of any type) nationally in the year of completion.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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The Northbridge site of the project is on reclaimed swampland between the river and what is now Lake Monger. The lower half of this structure was designed to be permanently submerged in this aquatic environment \u2013 sometimes up to 8 metres below the water table. During the course of the geotechnical testing it became clear that there were also pockets of acid sulphate soils in these clays at a 3.5m depth.<\/p>

Sulfate ions accumulate in coastal clays whenever ocean waters flood into an estuary. Such soils can react to form sulphuric acid if exposed to air, causing not only acidity and leaching of metals, but also a potential corrosion threat to building materials. Disturbing the soils results in corrosion in surrounding buildings in addition to the environmental impact.<\/p>

To contain all dewatering activities to within the site boundary, diaphragm walls were erected to a designed depth to form a box, inside which, the water table levels could be controlled. The use of\u00a0top-down construction<\/a>\u00a0and diaphragm walls eliminated the need for corrosion-susceptible permanent ground anchors to support the soil retention structure for the deep excavation. An skin of intrinsic waterproofing was used on the outer layer of the diaphragm walls and lower slab to provide further corrosion protection.<\/p>

Further projects utilising Airey Taylor\u2019s expertise with longevity extension for corrosive forces include the $31 million\u00a0Claremont Football Club Development<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 both of which required careful engineering and materials selection due to exposed steel sections being subject to coastal corrosion. The\u00a0award winning aluminium canopies at Mends Street jetty entrance in South Perth<\/a>\u00a0further demonstrate Airey Taylor Consulting\u2019s abilities to design avant-garde solutions that will endure.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Design For Durability Projects<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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