The day started by a talk and slideshow from the Horizon Nuclear Power Site Manager, Daron Hodges. Daron gave a project overview, the setting, what stage the project is currently at, the construction issues and likely completion times for the proposed development.
Adrian Barby-Moule, Structural Soils Southern Operations Director then presented a slide show and talked about the investigation techniques that Structural Soils have used over the last 8 years on site at Wylfa followed by a question and answer session.
After a short break the students then donned their PPE and were escorted around site to view the current site activity. They were able to view Structural Soils site packer testing and high pressure dilatometer testing set up and received a talk on its use. There was a talk on grouting of boreholes before the students were given a rotary coring demonstration at one of the boreholes currently being drilled on site.
Mike Thomas the course leader on the day commented “We found the day very informative and it certainly provided a more realistic glimpse into the world of ground engineering to the students than we can provide in the classroom. Please pass on our sincerest gratitude to all involved. From eavesdropping on some of the conversations on the coach on the way home yesterday the trip certainly raised some discussion and I get the impression the students found the whole thing very interesting.”