This project involved the comprehensive redesign and structural upgrade of the Bay Avenue Wastewater Pump Station, a critical facility with a 300 L/s capacity. Executed within a tightly constrained site, the project presented unique challenges, including steep excavations and the necessity for temporary shoring. Key structural components included the design and construction of a new valve chamber and a second wet well, integrated with the existing concrete wet well. Furthermore, I engineered significant strengthening details to ensure the existing wet well meets current seismic and operational code requirements. The scope also encompassed the structural detailing for a guide track system to support a material conveyance cart.

My Role: Structural Designer

As the Structural Designer, I was entrusted with significant responsibilities encompassing the detailed structural analysis, design, and preparation of construction documentation for major components of the upgraded pump station. This included the new concrete wet well structures and an adjacent Motor Control Center (MCC) building. My focus was on delivering robust and code-compliant structural solutions through meticulous analysis and design.

Key Responsibilities and Achievements

My involvement centered on providing impactful structural engineering solutions:

  • Detailed Structural Design:

    • I engineered a new, partially buried concrete wet well and a new valve chamber, ensuring seamless integration with existing infrastructure.
    • I developed strengthening and retrofitting schemes for the existing wet well to comply with the latest building codes and standards, thereby extending its operational life.
    • I executed the complete structural design for a new one-storey concrete MCC building, featuring a metal deck roof supported by steel beams.
    • I performed structural detailing for a guide track system for a material conveyance cart.

  • Advanced Structural Analysis & Modelling:

    • I conducted comprehensive load takedowns, meticulously calculating dead loads, superimposed dead loads, live loads, snow loads, wind pressures, and seismic forces in accordance with BCBC Part 4 provisions and NBCC Structural Commentaries.
    • I proactively collaborated with the geotechnical engineer to incorporate site-specific soil parameters, including site coefficients, lateral soil pressures, and modulus of subgrade reactions, into the structural models.
    • I liaised effectively with process mechanical teams to accurately define design water levels and critical hydrostatic loading conditions for the wet well structures.
    • I calculated hydrodynamic forces within the wet well using the guidelines of ACI-350.3 (Seismic Design of Liquid-Containing Concrete Structures).
    • I utilized Dlubal RFEM, an advanced finite element analysis (FEA) software, to model the wet well structure, identifying critical stress and strain concentrations to optimize the design.
    • I rigorously verified FEA model results against manual hand calculations at critical locations to ensure the accuracy and validity of the analysis.
    • Existing Structure Verification and Analysis: I spearheaded the structural verification of an existing underground concrete valve chamber where original design loads were undocumented. My analysis involved integrating operational loads (from Process Engineers) and BCBC requirements into a structural model. I meticulously validated model accuracy against hand calculations and calculated base slab capacities from record drawings, confirming the chamber’s adequacy for new design demands and ensuring its continued structural integrity.

  • Code-Compliant Component Design:

    • I designed all reinforced concrete components, including the wet well and MCC building walls, in strict adherence to CSA A23.3 (Design of Concrete Structures) and the specialized provisions of ACI-350.3 for environmental engineering concrete structures.
    • I engineered the MCC building’s steel roof support beams using Tedds software, ensuring compliance with CSA S16 (Design of Steel Structures) and incorporating construction best practices.
    • I utilized S-Concrete software for the detailed design of the MCC building’s concrete walls, meeting all CSA A23.3 requirements.

  • Documentation, Communication, and Project Progression:

    • I translated the completed structural designs into precise sketches and detailed engineering drawings.
    • I conducted thorough reviews of the final drawings and specifications to ensure accuracy, completeness, and adherence to design intent.
    • Key Technical Communication: I authored a comprehensive technical memo detailing the analysis methodology, assumptions, support conditions, and results for the existing valve chamber. The findings were presented in an easy-to-reference table format. This memo, after rigorous review by my supervisor and the Project Manager, was successfully submitted to the client. This documentation confirmed the chamber’s structural adequacy, enabling the client to continue operating the valve chamber without requiring costly reinforcement or modifications.
    • I successfully prepared and issued the structural package for Building Permit submission.

Project Outcome

The meticulously prepared structural drawings and specifications were successfully issued for tender, leading to the award of the construction contract. The Bay Avenue Wastewater Pump Station redesign project is currently under construction, with a projected completion in 2023. This project showcases my strong capability in applying Canadian engineering codes and standards to solve complex infrastructure challenges and highlights my proficiency in detailed structural analysis, design, and effective technical communication.