french institute of science and technology for transport ... - Ifsttar

3_APPLICATION OF RESEARCH FINDINGS, TIES WITH INDUSTRY AND EXPERT APPRAISALS
The new LOU rugby club stadium
An expert appraisal before approval
76
The figures for the “Matmut Stadium” are impressive:
60,000 spectators, a cost of €12M and only 3 months
to build it.
This major facility, which consists of dismountable metal
structures, was built between July and September 2011 and
since 9 November 2011 has hosted the matches of one of
France’s top 14 rugby teams, Lyon Olympique Universitaire
(LOU).
Before permission to open to the public was given, the Prefect
of the Rhône-Alpes Region asked for an independent assessment
of the safety of the structures (terraces, stands, lighting
poles, etc.).
IFSTTAR managed this geotechnical and structural expert
appraisal with SÉTRA (Technical Centre for Transport, Road
and Bridge Engineering and Road Safety) and the Lyon CETE
(Public Works Design and Research Centre). The appraisal
was conducted in September and was based on documents
and an inspection of the finished construction, and did not set
out to take the place of continuous monitoring of the design
and construction work by technical inspection agencies. This
type of expert appraisal provides a comprehensive view and
can potentially identify shortcomings due to the fragmentation
of occupations and tasks. The principal observations related
to the traceability of steel used in the superstructure, the wind
stress requirements in the Eurocodes, geotechnical surveys of
the anthropized site, the overturning stability of the foundations
and the need to monitor the structure over time.
The stand consists of a metal gantry-shaped structure with a
cantilevered roof to facilitate media coverage of the matches.
As the design life of the structure is between 5 and 18 years,
the terraces are a demountable tubular structure. The base of
the terraces rests on a slab while the top is fixed to the structure
to provide space for rooms and access beneath it.
@ CONTACTS
bruno.godart@ifsttar.fr
jean-pierre.rajot@ifsttar.fr
The Eastern stand at the Matmut Stadium
(September 2011).
Assessing the safety
of electric HGVs
UNEX plays a pioneering role
The wider use of electric and hybrid vehicles giving rise
to a fresh crop of passive safety studies.
UNEX, which is specialized in crash tests and analyzing
injury risk has successfully adapted to this situation and
now takes account of the four new types of risk inherent in
these vehicles:
Electrical hazards (more than 600V), risk of electrocution for
passengers and emergency services.
Chemical hazards: leaks of electrolyte, discharge of toxic
gases.
Fire hazards: heating, electrolytic reaction, short circuiting
in the cells.
Influence of the battery on the distribution of masses.
Side impact with a mobile deformable barrier.
ifsttar French Institute of Science and Technology for Transport, Development and Networks