ABN 57 410 620 309

MINE SUBSIDENCE TECHNOLOGICAL SOCIETY

Reprint

from the

Proceedings of the
Conference on Buildings and Structures subject to
Mine Subsidence
Maitland, 28th to 30th August 1988

Sponsored by the Newcastle Division of the Institution of Engineers, Australia (now

Engineers Australia) and the Mine Subsidence Board.
This document is available to members of the society at
www.mstsociety.org

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www.mstsociety.org

h. P e t e r FAWCETT,
MSC M I E A U S ~ MIStructE, Department of A r c h i t e c t u r a l Science, University of

Sydney
Successful Design f o r Mine Subsidence: t h e

CLASP

Experience

Successful Design for Mine Subsidence: the CLASP Experience

SUMMARY The b u i l d i n g system known a s CLASP was devised i n 1956 i n response t o t h e need f o r economical
school and o t h e r b u i l d i n g s which, amongst o t h e r c r i t e r i a , would function s a t i s f a c t o r i l y on s i t e s i n t h e
c o a l f i e l d s of England. Since t h a t time thousands of CLASP buildings have been e r e c t e d and well over a
thousand of these have undergone mine subsidence. In no case has t h e r e been s i g n i f i c a n t d i s r u p t i o n of t h e
building and t h e c o s t of r e p a i r s has been remarkably s l i g h t . I n t h i s paper t h e development of t h e system
and t h e means adopted f o r dealing with subsidence e f f e c t s a r e reviewed. Three main f e a t u r e s of t h e
s t r a t e g y a r e i ) provision of a smooth i n t e r f a c e and s l i p plane a t t h e ground s u r f a c e , t o i s o l a t e t h e
s t r u c t u r e from h o r i z o n t a l ground s t r a i n ; ii) provision of an a r t i c u l a t e d s u p e r s t r u c t u r e , a b l e t o conform
t o t h e d i f f e r e n t i a l v e r t i c a l displacement of t h e ground; and iii) provision of adequate movement capacity
i n a l l elements of t h e f a b r i c and f i t t i n g s of t h e building, c o n s i s t e n t with t h e a r t i c u l a t i o n . The design
c r i t e r i a f o r t h e system a r e presented and appraised i n t h e l i g h t of t h e recorded surveys of performance
i n subsidence conditions. F i n a l l y , t h e wider a p p l i c a b i l i t y of t h e CLASP s t r a t e g y , a s i n poor ground o r
seismic zones, i s noted.
Keywords:

b u i l d i n g s , s t r u c t u r e s , c o n s t r u c t i o n , mine subsidence, movement, design, performance.

Introduction:
D e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e CLASP s y s t e m commenced
i n t h e o f f i c e o f t h e County A r c h i t e c t ,
Nottinghamshire, England i n 1956 a n d t h e r e
h a s been c o n t i n u o u s development a n d
p r o d u c t i o n o f t h e system up t o t h e p r e s e n t
t i m e . The word CLASP i s a n a c r o n y m f o r
"Consortium o f Local A u t h o r i t i e s S p e c i a l
Programme", f o r N o t t i n g h a m s h i r e was s o o n
j o i n e d by o t h e r s i n s e t t i n g up a n
o r g a n i s a t i o n f o r t h e promotion and
development of a s y s t e m o f b u i l d i n g t o meet
t h e n e e d f o r a m a s s i v e programme o f new
s c h o o l s . The s y s t e m was n e c e s s a r y b e c a u s e
o f s e v e r a l f a c t o r s which were p r e v e n t i n g
p r o v i s i o n o f schools, and o t h e r p u b l i c
b u i l d i n g s , a t t h e r a t e t h e y were r e q u i r e d .
The p r o b l e m s i n N o t t i n g h a m s h i r e a t t h a t
t i m e were t h e o c c u r r e n c e and f u t u r e
i n c r e a s e o f mining subsidence over a l a r g e
p a r t of t h e county and a l s o t h e g e n e r a l
h i g h demand o n t h e b u i l d i n g i n d u s t r y ; t h e r e
was a s h o r t a g e o f m a t e r i a l s a n d ,
especially, of c r a f t labour. Previously a
normal masonry o r c o n c r e t e s t r u c t u r e would
have been designed w i t h a s p e c i a l
s u b s t r u c t u r e , such a s a 1-metre deep
c e l l u l a r reinforced concrete slab, with
p r o v i s i o n o f movement j o i n t s a t 1 8 - 20
metre intervals.
S u c h s u b s t r u c t u r e work
was s l o w a n d e x p e n s i v e , a d d i n g a b o u t 1 0 % t o
t h e c o s t o f t h e b u i l d i n g a n d s o m e t i m e s much
more. Moreover, s u b s i d e n c e performance h a d
n o t been p a r t i c u l a r l y s a t i s f a c t o r y . I n a
s u r v e y conducted by t h e County A r c h i t e c t ' s
d e p a r t m e n t o f b u i l d i n g s where p r e c a u t i o n s
had b e e n t a k e n t o a v o i d movement t h e y h a d
found a school h a l l with a heavy p r e c a s t
c o n c r e t e r o o f w i t h o n l y a b o u t 20mm t o g o
b e f o r e c o l l a p s i n g on t o t h e c h i l d r e n ;
windows w h i c h h a d h a d t o b e s t r a p p e d u p
d u r i n g s u b s i d e n c e movement; a n d r e p a i r o f
s u c h a n o r d e r t h a t it was b e t t e r t o p u l l
down t h e w h o l e b u i l d i n g a n d b e g i n a g a i n .

The r e s e a r c h t e a m i n t h e C o u n t y A r c h i t e c t ' s
o f f i c e adopted a s t h e i r t a s k t h e
development o f c o n s t r u c t i o n which would n o t
i n v o l v e e x t r a c o s t a n d y e t would meet a l l
t h e other requirements of school building
o n s i t e s s u b j e c t t o s u b s i d e n c e movement.
There should be no r e s t r i c t i o n o f b u i l d i n g
s h a p e , i n t e r n a l p l a n n i n g o r u s u a l number o f
storeys and t h e construction should
accommodate n o r m a l l y - a n t i c i p a t e d
subsidence.
I n t h e e v e n t o f abnormal o r
u n p r e d i c t a b l e g r o u n d movement a n y damage
s h o u l d b e e a s i l y made g o o d a n d a t a l l t i m e s
t h e structure should b e safe. Finally, t o
a v o i d d e l a y s and l o s s of f a c i l i t y , t h e
s c h o o l s s h o u l d b e b u i l d a b l e and u s a b l e
w h i l s t s u b s i d e n c e was a c t u a l l y o c c u r r i n g .
T h e r e a r e many i n t e r e s t i n g a s p e c t s o f t h i s
r e s e a r c h a n d development p r o c e s s , n o t l e a s t
b e i n g t h e method o f g e t t i n g t h e s y s t e m u p
and running w i t h i n a p u b l i c s e c t o r
o r g a n i s a t i o n and t h e n extending t h i s a s a
cooperative venture with, i n i t i a l l y , s i x
o t h e r a u t h o r i t i e s . What c o n c e r n s u s h e r e i s
t h e r a t i o n a l e o f ' d e s i g n f o r mining
subsidence and t h e performance record of
CLASP i n t h i s r e s p e c t . The f u n c t i o n a l
c r i t e r i a which were a d o p t e d and t h e
r e c o r d e d r e s p o n s e s o f some b u i l d i n g s a r e
d e s c r i b e d a n d d i s c u s s e d f u l l y b e l o w . To
c o n c l u d e t h i s i n t r o d u c t i o n h o w e v e r it i s
worth n o t i n g t h e g e n e r a l design p o l i c y o f
t h e team, f o r t h e y s o u g h t a s o l u t i o n b a s e d
on t h e m o d i f i c a t i o n o f a "normal b u t
appropriate structure" without s p e c i a l
p r o t e c t i v e f o o t i n g s o r jacking equipment.
The b e n e f i t s o f t h i s p o l i c y h a v e b e e n
enormous, f o r n o t o n l y c o u l d s u b s i d e n c e
sites b e b u i l t o v e r a t no e x t r a c o s t - a n d
t h e r e are now m o r e t h a n 1200 b u i l d i n g s i n
u s e on s u c h sites, f o r which t h e r e p a i r
b i l l s h a v e b e e n n e g l i g i b l e - b u t CLASP
became a n e c o n o m i c a l a n d a d a p t a b l e g e n e r a l
system f o r c o n s t r u c t i o n under t h e c o n t r o l
of i t s sponsoring c l i e n t a u t h o r i t i e s ; and

Conference on buildings and structures subject to mine subsidence 28th-30th August 1988. Proceedings page:
www.mstsociety.org

A.

Peter

FAWCETT

Successful Design for Mine Subsidence: the

CLASP

Experience

c o n t i n u e s t o be used by them, by o t h e r s
under l i c e n c e , and i n t h e open market by
CLASP I n t e r n a t i o n a l ( B u i l d i n g S e r v i c e s )
Ltd. and i n j o i n t v e n t u r e with Tarmac
Overseas L t d . A continuous programme of
development and improvement through s i x
"marks" and t h e l a r g e r - s c a l e JDP v a r i a n t
has kept CLASP i n l i n e with s t r u c t u r a l ,
t h e r m a l , a c o u s t i c , f i r e p r o t e c t i o n and
o t h e r f u n c t i o n a l s t a n d a r d s , with low
maintenance c o s t s and with v a r i e t y of
a p p l i c a t i o n . Over 3000 b u i l d i n g s of many
t y p e s , b o t h l a r g e and small, with a p r e s e n t
day v a l u e of some AS5000m. have now been
b u i l t i n t h e system i n t h e UK and o v e r s e a s .

D e s c r i ~ t i o nof t h e CLASP svstem of

construction:
The c o n s t r u c t i o n a s a whole was i n f l u e n c e d
by t h e a r c h i t e c t s ' e x p e r i e n c e with
p r e f a b r i c a t e d b u i l d i n g methods i n t h e e a r l y
post-war p e r i o d . The CLASP s t r u c t u r a l
s y s t e m was developed from a l i g h t s t e e l
b r a c e d p i n - j o i n t e d frame system a l r e a d y
marketed by J . Brockhouse & Co., who
cooDerated in t h e development. s t a b i l i t v is
probided by t h e f l o o r an2 roof s t r u c t u r e s
a c t i n g a s diaphragms and t r a n s m i t t i n g
h o r i z o n t a l f o r c e s down t o t h e qround s l a b
through v e r t i c a l b r a c e d bays which a r e
s p e c i a l l y adapted f o r subsidence
c o n d i t i o n s . There a r e no s e p a r a t e column
f o o t i n g s . A l l frame elements a r e p l a c e d on
an 1800mm x 1800mm g r i d (900 x 900 i n
e a r l i e r Marks) and w a l l s and p a r t i t i o n s a r e
d i m e n s i o n a l l y r e l a t e d t o t h i s . Standard
room h e i g h t s a r e 2400mm and 2700mm i n
m u l t i s t o r e y c o n s t r u c t i o n , with h e i g h t s from
3000mm i n 600mm increments t o 6000mm a l s o
a v a i l a b l e f o r s i n g l e s t o r e y s p a c e s . The
s t a n d a r d f l o o r o r roof zone i s 600mm but
900mm f l o o r zones and 900mm o r 1200mm roof
zones a r e used f o r i n t e n s i v e s e r v i c i n g
requirements o r long span c o n d i t i o n s .
There i s a two-storey p i t c h e d roof o r
t h r e e - s t o r e y f l a t roof c a p a b i l i t y i n
subsidence c o n d i t i o n s , and a f o u r - s t o r e y
f l a t roof c a p a b i l i t y on non-subsidence
s i t e s . (The JDP v a r i a n t extended t h i s t o
s i x s t o r e y s . ) Maximum spacing of roof
beams i s 3600mm with f l a t ( s l i g h t l y
cambered) spans up t o 18m i n 1.8m
increments, o r up t o 12.6m f o r p i t c h e d
r o o f s . F l o o r beam s p a c i n g i s 1800mm with
spans up t o 9m i n 1.8m increments. Roof
and f l o o r beams span on t o columns o r on t o
main beams of up t o 5.4m span. F l a t r o o f s
a r e based on 65mm deep g a l v a n i s e d p r o f i l e d
s t e e l decking f i x e d w i t h s e l f - d r i l l i n g
screws and a c t i n g a s a diaphragm.
( S t i f f e n e d plywood p a n e l s were used i n
e a r l i e r Marks.) R o o f l i g h t a p e r t u r e s a r e
allowed f o r . P i t c h e d r o o f s can be of
v a r i o u s t i l e o r s h e e t coverings on t i m b e r
r a f t e r s supported by cold-formed g a l v a n i s e d
s t e e l p u r l i n s on s t e e l t r u s s e s , and i n t h i s
c a s e h o r i z o n t a l b r a c i n g i s normally
provided a t c e i l i n g l e v e l . Upper f l o o r s
a r e of 1800mm x 900mm p r e c a s t c o n c r e t e
p a n e l s ( s t i f f e n e d plywood, e a r l i e r Marks)
with s h e a r c o n n e c t o r s t o t h e beams and
g r o u t e d j o i n t s t o form a diaphragm.
Knock-outs f o r s e r v i c e s a r e provided a t
300mm c e n t r e s . A v a r i e t y of e x t e r n a l
c l a d d i n g s i s t i e d back t o t h e s t r u c t u r e a t
roof o r upper f l o o r l e v e l s . Masonry veneer

i s r e s t r i c t e d t o one s t o r e y on subsidence
s i t e s o r two s t o r e y s o t h e r w i s e . Door and
window openings can occur a t any 300mm
increment h o r i z o n t a l l y , except where
b r a c i n g o r columns would be exposed.
P a r t i t i o n s , c e i l i n g s , s t a i r c a s e s and
s e r v i c e s a r e a l l t o s t a n d a r d d e t a i l s and
t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n i s a r t i c u l a t e d throughout
t o t h e d e s i g n c r i t e r i a f o r mine subsidence
a s d e s c r i b e d below.
The system i s
i l l u s t r a t e d i n Figures 1 - 5 i n t h e
Appendix.
I t s h o u l d be emphasised t h a t t h e CLASP
o r g a n i s a t i o n i t s e l f does no manufacturing
and has no commercial i n t e r e s t i n t h e
manufacturers who supply m a t e r i a l s and
components. This independence has allowed
t h e consortium t o s e t and maintain
performance s t a n d a r d s w h i l s t b e n e f i t t i n g
from t h e economies of bulk purchase and
firm cost control.

D e f i n i t i o n of performance c r i t e r i a :
As longwall mine working moves forward t h e
ground above s u b s i d e s , causing d i f f e r e n t i a l
v e r t i c a l movement and h o r i z o n t a l s t r a i n
which i s f i r s t t e n s i l e and t h e n
compressive, F i g u r e 6.

completion of subridcnce
total
sdtsideoce

pit r ps r i t ~ ~
as m
coa face adnnsss

commencement ywnd
of w b r i d ~ s / knl

umorW coal

,totalsubsidence

u&orhed coal

Fig 6

unworhed coal

Nature of subsidence

Conference on buildings and structures subject to mine subsidence 28th-30th August 1988. Proceedings page:
www.mstsociety.org

A.

Peter

FAWCETT

Successful Design f o r Mine Subsidence:

t h e CLASP Experience

The n a t u r e o f t h e movement i s i n f l u e n c e d b y
t h e t h i c k n e s s o f seam e x t r a c t e d , d e p t h
below t h e s u r f a c e and r a t e o f advance, a s
w e l l a s t h e general geological conditions,
p r e s e n c e o f f a u l t s , e t c . T h i s movement i s
now w e l l documented i n t h e u . K . ~b u t i n t h e
1 9 5 0 ' s new i n f o r m a t i o n was j u s t becoming
a v a i l a b l e f o l l o w i n g n a t i o n a l i s a t i o n of t h e
c o a l i n d u s t r y , a n d it became p o s s i b l e t o
make some q u a n t i t a t i v e e s t i m a t e o f t h e
s u b s i d e n c e movements. W a r d e l l ' s work1 was
a d o p t e d , g i v i n g a s it d i d some
straightforward curves f o r subsidence
against t i m e a s functions of thickness,
d e p t h , r a t e of e x t r a c t i o n and a n g l e o f
d r a w . On t h e b a s i s o f t h i s t h e s u r f a c e
s l o p e and c u r v a t u r e c o u l d be found and
hence a c r i t e r i o n e s t a b l i s h e d f o r
d i f f e r e n t i a l settlement. Horizontal s t r a i n
was l e s s e a s i l y q u a n t i f i e d a t t h e t i m e , b u t
was t h o u g h t t o b e a b o u t _+ 0 . 0 0 2 .
Taking i n t o account regiona.1 mining
c o n d i t i o n s , a " c r i t i c a l c a s e " was a s s u m e d
a s follows:
S u b s i d e n c e ( 8 0 % o f l m seam) 800mm
D e p t h o f w o r k i n g 230m
Rate o f advance
1.5m p e r d a y
A n g l e o f draw
20 O
T h i s would g i v e t h e g r e a t e s t d i s t o r t i o n
l i k e l y t o o c c u r under normal g e o l o g i c a l
c o n d i t i o n s . Worse c o u l d o c c u r , o f c o u r s e ,
i n t h e event of f a u l t s o r with c e s s a t i o n of
w o r k i n g f o r w h a t e v e r r e a s o n . The c r i t e r i o n
was a d o p t e d o f i ) f u l l s e r v i c e a b i l i t y u n d e r
t h e c r i t i c a l c a s e a n d ii) r o b u s t n e s s t o
e n s u r e s a f e t y u n d e r more e x t r e m e
c o n d i t i o n s . The c r i t i c a l c a s e was a p p l i e d
t o t h e a p p r o p r i a t e time-subsidence curve,
a s shown i n F i g u r e 7,

g i v i n g a f a m i l y o f c u r v e s a t half-month
i n t e r v a l s . From t h e s e a maximum c u r v a t u r e
c o n d i t i o n was i d e n t i f i e d f o r a 60m
building, with t h e following parameters:
Maximum s l o p e
0 4 6 '
Maximum d i f f e r e n c e o f s l o p e i n 60m
0 3 1 '
With a s e t o f t w e n t y 3m x 3m b a y s a s a
p i n - j o i n t e d s t r u c t u r e and t h e c e n t r a l
columns r e m a i n i n g p e r p e n d i c u l a r t o t h e
ground s u r f a c e (Fig.8) :
Maximum a n g u l a r d i s t o r t i o n o f b a y
0 1 5 . 5 '
Allowing f o r non-symmetrical displacement
of t h e s t r u c t u r e , t h e r e q u i r e d c r i t e r i a
became :
Angular d i s t o r t i o n of bay
0'22'
(20mmin3m)
D i f f e r e n c e of s l o p e f o r a d j a c e n t bays
O0 4 '
( 3mm i n 3m)
S i m i l a r c r i t e r i a would, o f c o u r s e , a p p l y
f o r a n y number o f s t o r e y s . A s n o t e d a b o v e ,
h o r i z o n t a l s t r a i n s i n t h e g r o u n d were
u n c e r t a i n . The t e a m s o u g h t t o accommodate
t h i s d e g r e e o f r e l a t i v e movement r a t h e r
t h a n t o o p p o s e i t . Hence t h e s t r a t e g y
emerged o f a r t i c u l a t i o n t o f o l l o w t h e
angular d i s t o r t i o n and i s o l a t i o n of t h e
h o r i z o n t a l s t r a i n by means o f a s l i p l a y e r .
Articulation:
A l l w a l l s , windows, p a r t i t i o n s , r o o f s ,
f l o o r s and t h e ground s l a b i t s e l f , i n
a d d i t i o n t o t h e frame, m u s t b e c a p a b l e o f
f o l l o w i n g t h e d i s t o r t i o n . However,
a r t i c u l a t i o n of a frame a s i n d i c a t e d i n
Figure 8

Fig 8

Fig 7

Time-subsidence c u r v e s

Maximum c u r v a t u r e c o n d i t i o n

is n o t c o n s i s t e n t with t h e need f o r b r a c i n g
o f a p i n - j o i n t e d f r a m e a g a i n s t .wind f o r c e s .
The e f f e c t o f j u s t o n e r i g i d b r a c e d b a y i n
t h e set i s e f f e c t i v e b u t it c o n c e n t r a t e s
t h e a n g u l a r d i s t o r t i o n i n t h e bay f u r t h e s t
removed f r o m i t . When two o r more b r a c e d
bays a r e implemented i n t h e s e t i n l i n e
w i t h e a c h o t h e r t h e n t h e whole c o n s t r u c t i o n
becomes e f f e c t i v e l y r i g i d , a s F i g u r e 9

Conference on buildings and structures subject to mine subsidence 28th-30th August 1988. Proceedings page:
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A. Peter FAWCETT
Successful Design for Mine Subsidence: the CLASP Experience

Fig 9

Rigid Brace solution

shows, with cantilevering of the structure

as a result. The ingenious solution,
patented by F. W. L. Heathcote of J.
Brockhouse & Co., is illustrated in Figure
10.
The bracing is sprung in such a way that it
is rigid under its share of the wind shear
but will yield under differential
settlement of the ground as the dead weight
of the superstructure takes effect, without
influencing to a significant degree any
other similar bracing in the system. -Hence
bracings can be located in the best
positions from the wind force and planning
points of view. Subsidence can, of course,
approach from any direction or from various
directions as successive seams are worked.
The distorted bracings seek a return to
their normal length and thus tend to
realign the frame when the subsidence is
complete. The bracings consist of opposing
pairs of springs designed to remain in
compression under the distortion of the
critical case outlined above, see Figure
11.

Fig 11

Fig 10

Sprung Brace solution

Another aspect of the frame articulation

was that the beam-to-column connections
should accommodate the specified angular
distortion, and the face-bolted connections
were tested to establish this capacity. The
hollow section columns sit on dowels.
Vertical panels of the building envelope
were designed to eliminate stiffening of
the frame as far as possible. Small units
and non-shear-resistant assemblies were
generally adopted. Glazing is done in
relatively small sheets with double the
usual tolerances and, whilst techniques
have improved through the "marks" so that

Typical sprung bracing

Conference on buildings and structures subject to mine subsidence 28th-30th August 1988. Proceedings page:
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A. Peter FAWCETT
Successful Design for Mine Subsidence: the CLASP Experience

g a s k e t s a r e now used i n s t e a d of b e a d s , t h e
p r i n c i p l e of l o o s e f i t h a s been m a i n t a i n e d .
Opening l i g h t s and d o o r s a r e mounted i n
l a r g e r e b a t e s t o p r e v e n t jamming. Window
frame j o i n t s a r e e f f e c t i v e l y p i n n e d and, t o
t a k e i n t o account t h e s a f e t y requirement,
t h e window a s s e m b l i e s were d e s i g n e d and
t e s t e d t o four times t h e c r i t i c a l case
d i s t o r t i o n . Where l a r g e p r e c a s t c l a d d i n g
p a n e l s a r e u s e d t h e s e a r e hung by t h e i r t o p
c o r n e r s on t h e columns and hence a r e f r e e
t o sway, w i t h t h e d r y j o i n t s c a u s i n g l i t t l e
frictional resistance.
Internal partitions
a r e t r e a t e d s i m i l a r l y . A s t o t h e ground
s l a b , i n t h e e a r l y days of t h e system t h i s
was a r t i c u l a t e d t o some e x t e n t by c a s t i n g
i n daywork p a n e l s of a b o u t 20m2 and
e n c o u r a g i n g c r a c k s a t t h e j o i n t s by
p a i n t i n g w i t h bitumen; though t e s t s l a t e r
showed t h a t t h i s measure was l a r g e l y
ineffective.
I n f a c t t h e bending s t r a i n
of a 125mm c o n c r e t e s l a b under t h e c r i t i c a l
c a s e i s v e r y s l i g h t b e i n g o n l y +0.00001 o r
t h e r e a b o u t s , which i s w e l l below t h e normal
c r a c k i n g s t r a i n f o r c o n c r e t e o f about
0.0002.
The upper f l o o r s and r o o f d e c k i n g
l i k e w i s e e a s i l y accommodate t h e d e s i g n
curvature.
T h i s approach c o u l d b e adopted f o r any
o t h e r v a l u e s of a " c r i t i c a l c a s e " , b u t t h e
CLASP e x p e r i e n c e h a s been t h a t t h e chosen
c r i t e r i a were s e n s i b l e , a t l e a s t f o r U.K.
conditions, a s t h e case studies l a t e r i n
t h e paper demonstrate.
Isolation:
To a l l o w h o r i z o n t a l s l i p p i n g a t t h e ground
i n t e r f a c e t h e building should be a s l i g h t
a s p o s s i b l e and t h e r e s h o u l d b e no f o o t i n g s
o r o t h e r p r o j e c t i o n s s t i c k i n g down i n t o t h e
ground.
I t was e s t a b l i s h e d t h a t a l l
s t r u c t u r e s up t o t h r e e s t o r e y s meeting t h e
r a n g e o f u s e r r e q u i r e m e n t s c o u l d be b a s e d
on a 125mm t h i c k c o n c r e t e s l a b p l a c e d on a
150mm bed o f s a n d o r o t h e r f i n e g r a n u l a r
m a t e r i a l , t h e bed b e i n g l e v e l l e d and
c o n s o l i d a t e d and t h e c o n c r e t e p l a c e d on t o
b u i l d i n g p a p e r (now p o l y t h e n e s h e e t i n g ) .
With l o c a l r e i n f o r c e m e n t t o t h e under s i d e
o f t h e s l a b t h e maximum c~olumn l o a d o f
a b o u t 1 6 t o n n e s ( t h r e e - s t o r e y ) can b e
d i s p e r s e d without unacceptable deformation.
The i n t e r f a c e between s l a b and g r a n u l a r bed
h a s an i d e n t i f i a b l e c o e f f i c i e n t of
f r i c t i o n , t a k e n a s 0.66 and shown by t e s t s
t o b e p o s s i b l y less, and hence t h e maximum
f o r c e capable of generation t o e i t h e r s i d e
of any v e r t i c a l p l a n e t h r o u g h t h e b a s e can
b e q u a n t i f i e d , t h i s b e i n g t h e p r o d u c t of
t h e l e s s e r t o t a l b u i l d i n g weight ( t a k e n a s
DL + 0.33LL) t o one s i d e of t h e p l a n e and
t h e c o e f f i c i e n t of f r i c t i o n . Under t e n s i l e
s t r a i n of t h e ground t h i s i s a t e n s i l e
f o r c e on t h e s l a b , which i s r e s i s t e d by
p l a c i n g r e i n f o r c e m e n t a t t h e c e n t r e of t h e
125mm d e p t h , such r e i n f o r c e m e n t h a v i n g a
n e g l i b l e e f f e c t on t h e f l e x u r a l s t i f f n e s s
of t h e s l a b . Regarding compressive s t r a i n
c o n d i t i o n s it was r e c o g n i s e d t h a t t h e t h i n
s l a b could possibly buckle, p a r t i c u l a r l y
w i t h t h e i n t r o d u c t i o n of t h e r e l e a s e d
daywork j o i n t s ; b u t t h i s was c o n s i d e r e d t o
be most u n l i k e l y i n view o f t h e
s i m u l t a n e o u s c u r v a t u r e , concave upwards,
and t h e r e s t r a i n i n g e f f e c t t h i s would
g e n e r a t e . I n o r d e r t o minimise t h e t e n s i l e
r e i n f o r c e m e n t an upper l i m i t i s p l a c e d on
t h e dimension of t h e s l a b i n e i t h e r
d i r e c t i o n , t h i s l i m i t varying with t h e

number o f s t o r e y s and b e i n g a b o u t 40m f o r

three-storey construction.
I f planning
r e q u i r e s a b u i l d i n g dimension i n e x c e s s of
t h i s t h e n a 50mm wide b r e a k j o i n t i s
introduced through t h e e n t i r e c o n s t r u c t i o n .
Such a j o i n t i s a l s o i n t r o d u c e d a t any
change o f ground f l o o r l e v e l , t h e h i g h e r
and lower s l a b s b e i n g a b l e t o s l i p
independently.
Adoption of t h i s t h i n ,
s h a l l o w s l a b w i t h o u t edge beams a s t h e
substructure f o r a three-storey building
went a g a i n s t a l l u s u a l p r a c t i c e and was
c e r t a i n l y n o t i n accordance w i t h t h e
B u i l d i n g R e g u l a t i o n s of t h e t i m e . On
a d v i c e from t h e B r i t i s h B u i l d i n g R e s e a r c h
S t a t i o n it was d e c i d e d t h a t f r o s t heave
would be n e g l i g i b l e , and i n any c a s e t h e
s u b s i d e n c e c a p a c i t y of t h e system would
cope w i t h any normal ground movement c a u s e .
An a p r o n i s p r o v i d e d around t h e p e r i m e t e r
of t h e b u i l d i n g t o p r e v e n t wash o u t of t h e
s a n d b e d and t o i n h i b i t c l a y s u b s o i l
movements.
Some doubt was f e l t a s t o
whether t h e assumption of a u n i f o r m l y
d i s t r i b u t e d f r i c t i o n a l f o r c e between t h e
s l a b and t h e ground was j u s t i f i e d , a s it
seemed l i k e l y t h a t t h e p o i n t l o a d s from
h e a v i e r columns would n o t b e c o m p l e t e l y
d i s t r i b u t e d by t h e t h i n s l a b , i t s e l f
b e n d i n g somewhat. T h i s , t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e
e f f e c t s o f asymmetrical b u i l d i n g p l a n forms
and p o s s i b l y v a r y i n g l i m i t v a l u e f o r t h e
c o e f f i c i e n t of f r i c t i o n , c o u l d l e a d t o
s l e w i n g o f t h e s t r u c t u r e under t h e s h e a r
c e n t r e e f f e c t and t h i s would show i t s e l f
p a r t i c u l a r l y a t t h e 50mm movement j o i n t s .
I n most c o a l f i e l d s a s u c c e s s i o n of seams i s
worked, and t h i s l e d t o s p e c u l a t i o n a s t o
whether t h e r e c o u l d b e c i r c u m s t a n c e s i n
which c u m u l a t i v e s t r a i n of t h e s l a b and
d i s p l a c e m e n t of t h e s t r u c t u r e might o c c u r ,
p a r t i c u l a r l y where t h e b u i l d i n g happened t o
be s i t e d above t h e edge o r end of workings.
Again, t h i s would show p a r t i c u l a r l y a t t h e
movement j o i n t s .
Because of t h e e x i g e n c e
of t h e a u t h o r i t i e s ' programmes it was n o t
p o s s i b l e t o i n v e s t i g a t e t h e s e and o t h e r
m a t t e r s b e f o r e u s e of t h e system commenced.
Development of t h e system s t a r t e d i n
J a n u a r y 1956, t h e 1957/58 N o t t i n g h a m s h i r e
programme of e l e v e n s c h o o l s was committed
t o i t , t h e f i r s t b u i l d i n g was on s i t e i n
J a n u a r y 1957 and it opened f o r u s e i n
September 1957. For r e s o u r c e r e a s o n s , it
was n o t u n t i l 1963 t h a t t h e f i r s t
undermining of CLASP b u i l d i n g s o c c u r r e d and
by t h e n t h e system was b i g b u s i n e s s w i t h
o v e r 200 j o b s completed ! A s was s a i d o f
him by one of t h e a r c h i t e c t s most c l o s e l y
i n v o l v e d , Donald ( l a t e r S i r Donald) Gibson,
County A r c h i t e c t a t t h e t i m e , had s t r o n g
nerves.

S u b s i d e n c e ~ e r f o r m a n c eof CLASP b u i l d i n a g :
The f i r s t CLASP s c h o o l had been b u i l t on a
s u b s i d e n c e s i t e and an e x t e n s i v e measuring
programme was i n t e n d e d , b u t t h e n t h e
workings were d i s c o n t i n u e d . Another
m e a s u r i n g programme was c a r r i e d t h r o u g h a t
Gateshead, County Durham, w i t h t h e
c o o p e r a t i o n of t h e N a t i o n a l Coal Board,
Brockhouse S t e e l S t r u c t u r e s L t d . and t h e
U n i v e r s i t y of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. T h i s
s c h o o l i n c l u d e d two t h r e e - s t o r e y b l o c k s and
was m o n i t o r e d from 1962 t o 1964 d u r i n g
s u b s i d e n c e from workings a t 320m, w i t h a

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Peter

FAWCETT

Successful Design for Mine Subsidence: the CLASP Experience

f i n a l s u b s i d e n c e o f 0.6m and measured

ground s t r a i n s of f0.0012.
Damage was of a
t r i v i a l n a t u r e , whereas a c o n v e n t i o n a l
masonry b u i l d i n g n e a r b y was q u i t e b a d l y
damaged. A n o p p o r t u n i t y t o o b s e r v e t h e
system a t t h e l i m i t s of t h e design
c r i t e r i o n came q u i t e s u d d e n l y i n 1963
d u r i n g t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n of a s c h o o l a t
Heanor, D e r b y s h i r e , which i n c l u d e d a
t h r e e - s t o r e y block d i v i d e d by a subsidence
j o i n t a n d which, owing t o a change i n r a t e
o f mine working, came u n d e r s u b s i d e n c e
b e f o r e t h e end o f t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n
programme. T h i s was m o n i t o r e d by F . W . L .
H e a t h c o t e o f Brockhouse S t e e l S t r u c t u r e s .
H i s methods a n d r e s u l t s were communicated
t o t h e I n s t i t u t i o n of C i v i l Engineers
(u.K. )
a n d a r e reviewed h e r e . Time and
r e s o u r c e s d i d n o t a l l o w comprehensive
preplanning o r instrumentation, with t h e
c o n t r a c t o r i n o c c u p a t i o n a n d c o n d i t i o n s of
a c c e s s v a r y i n g , hence a l i m i t e d measurement
programme was p u t i n hand.
The p o s i t i o n of t h e b u i l d i n g r e l a t i v e t o
t h e workings i s shown i n F i g u r e 12

and a s c a n b e s e e n was o v e r t h e l e d g e o f
P a n e l 3 of t h e P i p e r Seam a t 215m w i t h
maximum s u b s i d e n c e a p p r o a c h i n g l m .
The
r e l a t i v e v e r t i c a l d i s p l a c e m e n t of t h e
g r o u n d s l a b i s shown i n F i g u r e 13

Three- store M d , Hemor

Rehlive verJal dispaocmeaf- [MW)

Pone1 3

F i g 13 Heanor - r e l a t i v e v e r t i c a l
displacements, Panel 3
a n d a s c a n b e s e e n t h e r e was c o n s i d e r a b l e
t w i s t i n t h e s l a b a s well a s longitudinal
and t r a n s v e r s e s l o p e , a s t h e o r i e n t a t i o n of
t h e b u i l d i n g would i m p l y . The maximum
slope, diagonally across the shorter slab,
was a b o u t lo. Approximate maximum
l o n g i t u d i n a l c u r v a t u r e was 01' /m and
t w i s t a l s o OO1'/m
H o r i z o n t a l s t r a i n was
measured a t t h r e e l o c a t i o n s
on t h e
l o n g i t u d i n a l c e n t r e l i n e of t h e s l a b s , i . e .
a c r o s s t h e b r e a k j o i n t ; a c r o s s a daywork
j o i n t a t t h e middle of t h e l a r g e r p o r t i o n ;
a n d w i t h i n a daywork p a n e l a t t h e m i d d l e o f
t h e l a r g e r p o r t i o n . R e l a t i v e movements o f
t h e two p o r t i o n s o f b u i l d i n g a t t h e b r e a k
j o i n t were a l s o measured. The r e s u l t s a r e
shown i n F i g u r e 14
The maximum t e n s i l e s l a b s t r a i n of 0.00017
c a n b e compared w i t h t h e a p p r o x i m a t e
t e n s i l e g r o u n d s t r a i n o f 0.0025 a t t h e s i t e
c o r r e c t e d t o 0 . 0 0 1 8 f o r t h e 4S0
o r i e n t a t i o n , showing t h e e f f e c t i v e n e s s o f
t h e s l i p l a y e r , whereas t h e o p e n i n g o f t h e
b r e a k j o i n t ( a b o u t 23mm a t s l a b l e v e l ) i s
r a t h e r l e s s t h a n r e s u l t s from s t r a i n
d i f f e r e n c e c a l c u l a t i o n s would s u g g e s t .
However, t h e r e was a l s o some s i d e s l i p a n d
r o t a t i o n between t h e s l a b p o r t i o n s , F i g u r e s
14 & 15, s o t h a t o v e r a l l t h e h o r i z o n t a l
e f f e c t s a r e compatible. A s t o t h e
a r t i c u l a t i o n of t h e s u p e r s t r u c t u r e ,
measurements i n t h e Heanor s t u d y were
r e s t r i c t e d t o d i s p l a c e m e n t s e i t h e r s i d e of
t h e s u b s i d e n c e j o i n t a t t h e t o p of t h e
f i r s t and t h i r d s t o r e y s , s e e F i g u r e 1 5 .

Plan wiIh subsidence [MU)

F i g 12 Heanor

- subsidence, Panel 3
extraction

Conference on buildings and structures subject to mine subsidence 28th-30th August 1988. Proceedings page:
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A. Peter FAWCETT
Successful Design for Mine Subsidence: the CLASP Experience

.....

1 MAY I

1963
.....

-.
,

JUNE

.,

.........

I JULY 1 U U S T ISEplLMEfR 1
I
I

. . . . . .
.

....

,. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Slob

"

SIDE SLIP

AWNC BREAKPIN7 AT g&M,

F i g 1 4 Heanor - r e l a t i v e h o r i z o n t a l
d i s p l a c e m e n t s , Panel 3

The r a t e a t which t h e s e displacements

o c c u r r e d a s compared with t h e r a t e of t h e
subsidence movement suggested t h a t t h e
s m a l l e r cube-shaped p o r t i o n of t h e
s u p e r s t r u c t u r e might be t i l t i n g over more
a s a r i g i d t h a n a f l e x i b l e body. The
response was complicated, though, by t h e
unexpectedly h i g h s h e a r s t i f f n e s s of t h e
copper roof cover along t h e subsidence
j o i n t , which had been designed t o 50mrn
movement a c r o s s t h e j o i n t b u t was not
r e l e a s e d f o r s i d e s l i p . As a r e s u l t t h e r e

F i g 15

Heanor - r e l a t i v e movements a t
j o i n t , Panel 3

was a d i f f e r e n c e of r o t a t i o n about t h e
v e r t i c a l a x i s between roof and base of
a b o u t 08', which would cause lozenging of
t h e v e r t i c a l planes i n addition t o t h a t
caused by d i f f e r e n t i a l s l o p e i n t h e s l a b .
The deduced a n g u l a r d i s t o r t i o n i n t h e
l o n g i t u d i n a l frames of t h e s m a l l e r p o r t i o n
was about 010', j u s t l e s s than h a l f t h e
design c r i t e r i o n .
With t h e school complete and i n use, it
came under subsidence a second time about a
y e a r l a t e r , s e e F i g u r e 16,

Conference on buildings and structures subject to mine subsidence 28th-30th August 1988. Proceedings page:
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10

A. P e t y FAWCETT
Successful Design for Mine Subsidence: the CLASP Experience

Three - stmy b l x k , H a n o r
Kebt~ve vertical displocemolt h m )

F i g 17

Heanor - r e l a t i v e v e r t i c a l
displacements, Panel 4

, ",

APRIL

F i g 16

Heanor - s u b s i d e n c e , P a n e l 4
extraction

with t h e building i n t h i s case over t h e

l e d g e and end o f t h e P i p e r Seam P a n e l 4
and w i t h maximum s u b s i d e n c e a g a i n about l m .
Monitoring o f t h e t h r e e - s t o r e y b u i l d i n g was
resumed and Second Phase v e r t i c a l
d i s ~ l a c e m e n t sof t h e s l a b a r e shown
supkrimposed on t h e F i r s t Phase i n F i g u r e
17.
Maximum s u b s i d e n c e o c c u r r e d n e a r t h e c e n t r e
of t h e b u i l d i n g i n t h e Second Phase s o t h a t
t h e e f f e c t was t o draw t h e ends o f t h e
b u i l d i n g t o g e t h e r and c l o s e t h e s u b s i d e n c e
joint, Figure 18.
The roof r e t u r n e d t o i t s i n i t i a l p o s i t i o n
w i t h v e r y l i t t l e d i f f e r e n c e between t h e two
sides; the f i r s t floor twisted s l i g h t l y
a b o u t t h e v e r t i c a l a x i s ; t h e ground s l a b
c l o s e d i n t o h a l f of t h e j o i n t w i d t h . These
r e v e r s a l s t o o k p l a c e w i t h o u t c a u s i n g any
d i s t r e s s t o t h e roof covering o r wall
c l a d d i n g , minor r e p a i r s were n e c e s s a r y t o
t h e f l o o r s c r e e d s and p a r t i t i o n s n e a r t h e
j o i n t b u t n o t h i n g i n t e r r u p t e d t h e normal
f u n c t i o n i n g of t h e s c h o o l . The a d j a c e n t
two-storey block a l s o f u n c t i o n e d
s a t i s f a c t o r i l y under a maximum s l o p e o f
about 035', i n e x c e s s of t h e c r i t e r i o n .

~-

-:

F i g 18

- Panel 4

. .

MAY

1.

.-

.. .~ . -

I JUNE
I.

'

... ..
.

. .-

..*-.~-- - ~
I

Heanor - r e l a t i v e h o r i z o n t a l
displacements, Panel 4

Conference on buildings and structures subject to mine subsidence 28th-30th August 1988. Proceedings page:
www.mstsociety.org

11

A.

Peter FAWCETT

Successful Design f o r Mine Subsidence: t h e CLASP Experience

The e x p e r i e n c e a t Heanor c e r t a i n l y l e d t o
t h e q u e s t i o n a s t o whether s u b d i v i s i o n o f
l o n g e r s l a b s was b e n e f i c i a l o r d e t r i m e n t a l ,
l e a d i n g a s it d i d t o m a g n i f i e d d i f f e r e n t i a l
movements a r o u n d t h e j o i n t a n d w i t h t h e
a r t i c u l a t i o n system apparently
u n d e r a c t i v a t e d . The s u b s i d e n c e b r e a k j o i n t
was r e t a i n e d , however, f o r r e a s o n s o f
economy i n s l a b r e i n f o r c e m e n t . I n g e n e r a l
it was f e l t t h a t a s a t i s f a c t o r y b a l a n c e h a d
been found between r i g i d i t y and f l e x i b i l i t y
in t h e superstructure.
The o b v i o u s s l e w i n g
o f t h e s l a b a t Heanor e m p h a s i s e d t h e
n e c e s s i t y o f a l l o w i n g f o r non-uniform
h o r i z o n t a l f o r c e s and p a r t i c u l a r l y t h e
stress c o n c e n t r a t i o n e f f e c t a t r e - e n t r a n t
angles i n t h e plan.
A p a r t from t h e G a t e s h e a d a n d Heanor c a s e s a
f u r t h e r t h r e e CLASP b u i l d i n g s u n d e r w e n t
s u b s i d e n c e o f t h e same o r d e r a t a b o u t t h e
same t i m e , a n d i n no c a s e was t h e r e
a n y t h i n g b u t s u p e r f i c i a l damage. Whatever
t h e p a r t i c u l a r a n t i c s of t h e b u i l d i n g
r e s p o n s e u n d e r s u b s i d e n c e ( a n d it h a s t o b e
remembered t h a t t h e t i m e / s u b s i d e n c e c u r v e s
a r e smoothed f r o m s c a t t e r e d d a t a ) t h e
a p p r o a c h a n d t h e s y s t e m c r i t e r i a were
j u s t i f i e d i n u s e . It i s worth n o t i n g t h a t
t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n system adopted i s i t s e l f a
s m o o t h i n g i n f l u e n c e , a s compared w i t h
s e p a r a t e p a d f o o t i n g s f o r example.
Apart
from e l i m i n a t i o n o f e x t r a p r e c a u t i o n a r y
c o s t s t h e re-examination of s t r u c t u r a l
p r i n c i p l e s n e c e s s i t a t e d by t h e s t u d y of
s u b s i d e n c e movement seemed i n i t s e l f t o
have l e d t o economies, f o r t h e l i g h t

a r t i c u l a t e d framework w i t h h o r i z o n t a l
d i a p h r a g m s a n d a t h i n , f l a t g r o u n d s l a b was
i n h e r e n t l y c h e a p . The s y s t e m was
implementable a s s t a n d a r d c o n s t r u c t i o n by
r e l a t i v e l y junior a r c h i t e c t s a c t i n g without
engineering advice.
Henry Swain, who
s u c c e e d e d Donald Gibson a s N o t t i n g h a m s h i r e
County A r c h i t e c t , was a b l e t o s a y t h a t h i s
department r e a l l y no longer took n o t e
w h e t h e r o r n o t p r o j e c t s would b e s u b j e c t e d
t o subsidence.
I n t h e e a r l y 1 9 7 0 ' s Swain was u r g e d b y D r
W . H . Ward o f t h e B r i t i s h B u i l d i n g R e s e a r c h
S t a t i o n , who h a d h i m s e l f b e e n i n v o l v e d i n
t h e CLASP d e v e l o p m e n t , t o s u r v e y a n d r e p o r t
on t h e f i r s t f i f t e e n y e a r s o r s o w i t h t h e
s y s t e m . A s u r v e y a n d r e v i e w was made o f a l l
CLASP b u i l d i n g s i n N o t t i n g h a m s h i r e a l o n e ,
b y t h e n numbering 269, i n c o o p e r a t i o n w i t h
t h e N a t i o n a l C o a l B o a r d . The f o l l o w i n g
i n f o r m a t i o n was a s s e m b l e d :
d a t e of e x t r a c t i o n
d e p t h o f seam
t h i c k n e s s o f seam
l e n g t h of f a c e
proximity t o building
d e s c r i p t i o n o f damage
c o s t of r e p a i r s
Of t h e 269 b u i l d i n g s , 83 were b u i l t on
p r e v i o u s l y worked s i t e s a n d 70 w e r e
undermined d u r i n g o r a f t e r c o n s t r u c t i o n .
Some o f t h e s e 70 h a d b e e n u n d e r m i n e d
s e v e r a l t i m e s . The r e s u l t s o f t h e s u r v e y
were :

ntular distance from building (degrees)

a)

t h i n seams

b)
Fig.19

medium seams

N o t t i n g h a m s h i r e S u r v e y 1957

1971:

Conference on buildings and structures subject to mine subsidence 28th-30th August 1988. Proceedings page:
www.mstsociety.org

12

A. Peter FAWCETT
Successful Design for Mine Subsidence: the CLASP Experience

Depth o f seams:
225 - 450m
500 - 700m
800 - 950m
Angular d i s t a n c e :
underneath
oO - 20
40
20
Seam t h i c k n e s s :
500 - 1OOOmm
1000 - 1500mm
1500 - 2000mm

number o f s u b s i d e n c e i n s t a n c e s
128
number o f CLASP b u i l d i n g s d i s r u p t e d
nil
number o f s u b s t a n t i a t e d damage c l a i m s
3 3 ( i n 1 9 b l d g s .)
t o t a l v a l u e of claims
63288 ( 1 9 7 4 )
T h a t i s , s u b s i d e n c e o c c u r r e d 128 t i m e s
u n d e r 70 b u i l d i n g s a n d t h e t o t a l c o s t o f
r e p a i r a t c u r r e n t (1988) v a l u e s was a b o u t
AS40000, which i s a r e m a r k a b l y s m a l l
f i g u r e . G e n e r a l w e a r - a n d - t e a r damage
r e p a i r s t o 70 s c h o o l b u i l d i n g s would
p r o b a b l y c o s t many t i m e s t h a t p e r annum.
The s e v e r i t y o f s u b s i d e n c e v a r i e d , o f
c o u r s e , from c a s e t o c a s e . R e l a t i o n s h i p s
between d e p t h o f working a n d a n g u l a r
d i s t a n c e f o r t h e 128 c a s e s a r e p l o t t e d f o r
d i f f e r e n t seam t h i c k n e s s r a n g e s i n F i g u r e s
1 9 a , 19b & 1 9 c a n d f o r a l l t h i c k n e s s e s i n
Figure 19d.
No c l e a r t r e n d emerges from t h e s e c h a r t s ,
a s t h e summary below shows:

c)

t h i c k seams

The s u r v e y d i d c o n f i r m t h a t e x t r a c t i o n
c o n s i d e r a b l y beyond t h e assumed 20 a n g l e
o f draw c a n c a u s e damage, a s h a d b y t h e n
b e e n r e c o g n i s e d by s u b s i d e n c e e n g i n e e r s 6 .
Most o f t h e damage was a s s o c i a t e d w i t h
conditions a t t h e subsidence break j o i n t s .
About 4 1 % o f t h e r e p a i r c o s t s were f o r
c r a c k e d f l o o r f i n i s h e s and m i n o r s l a b
damage i n t h e j o i n t zone, a b o u t 1 3 % f o r
e x t e r n a l a n d i n t e r n a l w a l l s i n t h i s zone,
a n d a b o u t 11%f o r c e i l i n g p a n e l s .
S u b s e q u e n t improvements t o some o f t h e
component d e s i g n s r e d u c e d t h e s e i n c i d e n c e s
o f damage. Minor e a s i n g o f d o o r s , windows
e t c . accounted f o r a f u r t h e r 17% and i n
f a c t t h e r e m a i n i n g 18% o f t h e c o s t s were
n o t f o r s y s t e m component f a i l i n g s a t a l l ,
b u t were f o r e x t e r n a l p a v i n g a n d
l a n d s c a p i n g e l e m e n t s where t h e b a s i c
p r i n c i p l e s o f movement a l l o w a n c e t e n d e d t o
be f o r g o t t e n .

d)
Fig.19

Claims :
3 6%
23%
33%

a l l seams

N o t t i n g h a m s h i r e S u r v e y 1957

1971:

Conference on buildings and structures subject to mine subsidence 28th-30th August 1988. Proceedings page:
www.mstsociety.org

13

A.

Peter FAWCETT

Successful Design f o r Mine Subsidence: t h e CLASP Experience

t h e s e u n c e r t a i n t i e s and is a valuable a s s e t
i n a n y c i r c u m s t a n c e where t h e d e s i g n
environment i s p r o b l e m a t i c a l , such a s w i t h
s o f t o r made g r o u n d , o r i n s e i s m i c z o n e s .
Sydney B e l l , f o r m e r CLASP d e v e l o p m e n t
a r c h i t e c t , s u g g e s t s t h a t " i f you c a n walk
on it you c a n b u i l d on i t " . I t i s a l s o
v a l u a b l e where a d e q u a t e knowledge a n d
e x p e r i e n c e i n t h e d e s i g n team i s h a r d t o
come by, a s c a n b e t h e c a s e n o t o n l y i n t h e
" T h i r d " World, b u t t h e "Second" a n d
" F i r s t " W o r 1 d s t o o ( w h a t e v e r t h e y may b e ) .
ell^ s ' u g g e s t s t h a t many o f t h e e x c e l l e n t
c o n s t r u c t i o n i n d u s t r y p r o d u c t s on t h e
m a r k e t t o d a y owe a l o t t o t h e d e t a i l e d
a n a l y s e s which s y s t e m d e s i g n e r s u n d e r t o o k ,
and r e g r e t s t h a t t h e t e r m "system b u i l d i n g "
i s o f t e n u s e d nowadays a s a t e r m o f a b u s e .
T h e r e would seem t o b e s c o p e f o r f u r t h e r
e x p l o r a t i o n a n d d e v e l o p m e n t of t h e g e n e r a l
p r i n c i p l e s of a r t i c u l a t i o n and i s o l a t i o n ,
f o r example b y u s i n g e v e n l i g h t e r
s u p e r s t r u c t u r e s and by reducing t h e ground
friction coefficient.
The p a r a l l e l s b e t w e e n s u c c e s s f u l d e s i g n f o r
mining subsidence and f o r s e i s m i c
c o n d i t i o n s was n o t e d a t a n e a r l y s t a g e , a n d
t h i s a s p e c t has been pursued.
The
Consortium, i n c o o p e r a t i o n w i t h t h e B r i t i s h
B u i l d i n g R e s e a r c h E s t a b l i s h m e n t (BRE) a n d
B r i s t o l University, investigated t h e
s e i s m i c c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f CLASP s t r u c t u r e s
a b o u t s i x y e a r s a g o . T e s t s were c a r r i e d o u t
on two b u i l d i n g s i n N o t t i n g h a m s h i r e u s i n g
t h e BRE p o r t a b l e dynamic l o a d i n g e q u i p m e n t .
One b u i l d i n g was o f t h r e e s t o r e y s w i t h
r i g i d b r a c i n g ( b e i n g on a non-subsidence
s i t e ) a n d t h e o t h e r was of two s t o r e y s w i t h
sprung bracing.
I n e a c h c a s e t h e dynamic
response, though d i f f e r e n t , incorporated
desirable antiseismic characteristics,
h a v i n g h i g h damping l e v e l s which i n c r e a s e d
w i t h a m p l i t u d e o f v i b r a t i o n . F u r t h e r work
was done a t B r i s t o l U n i v e r s i t y w i t h t e s t s
on s c a l e m o d e l s .
P a r t l y because of t h e s e
d e s i r a b l e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s CLASP was
r e c e n t l y s e l e c t e d f o r f o u r 250-bed
h o s p i t a l s f o r an e a r t h q u a k e zone i n
Algeria .

A t l e a s t o n e b u i l d i n g u n d e r w e n t more

e x t r e m e g r o u n d movement b e c a u s e o f t h e
p r e s e n c e o f a f a u l t a t t h e s i t e . Holy
Cross J u n i o r School a t Hucknall,
N o t t i n g h a m s h i r e , was b u i l t i n 1967 a n d was
u n d e r m i n e d i n 1 9 7 8 . The b u i l d i n g i s l o c a t e d
r i g h t o v e r a f a u l t and one classroom
m e a s u r i n g 7.2m x 6.3m h a d d i f f e r e n t i a l
s e t t l e m e n t o f a b o u t 600mm. I n t h i s
c o n d i t i o n t h e b u i l d i n g f r a m e a s a whole
showed n o d i s t r e s s , e x c e p t where t h e s c h o o l
h a l l was a d j o i n e d b y a l o w e r zone a n d t h e
h a l l columns were bowed i n w a r d s ; b u t t h e s e
r e c o v e r e d e l a s t i c a l l y l a t e r . The s e t t l e m e n t
i s shown i n F i g u r e 2 0 .
Two s e c t i o n s o f t h i s b u i l d i n g t o one s i d e
o f t h e f a u l t w e r e l a t e r t a k e n down a n d
r e p l a c e d b e c a u s e of b e i n g r a t h e r
e x c e s s i v e l y o u t o f plumb a n d h e n c e
u n s a t i s f a c t o r y from t h e s e r v i c e a b i l i t y
aspect.
Wider a ~ ~ l i c a b i l i o
tv
f CLASP s v s t e m
princi~leg:
An i m p o r t a n t f a c t o r i n c o n s i d e r i n g t h e

p o s s i b l e a p p l i c a t i o n o f CLASP p r i n c i p l e s
elsewhere i s t h e relevance, o r otherwise,
of t h e design c r i t e r i o n . I n t y p i c a l U.K.
c o a l f i e l d s t h e c o a l measures a r e g e n e r a l l y
o v e r l a i n b y r e l a t i v e l y weak s h a l e s which
w i l l c o l l a p s e i n t o t h e void, e s p e c i a l l y a s
t h e y may a l r e a d y h a v e b e e n weakened by
p r e v i o u s e x t r a c t i o n a t t h e same s i t e u n d e r
multi-seam workings. It h a s been
e s t a b l i s h e d 7 t h a t f o r s i m i l a r circumstances
o f w o r k i n g t h e maximum s u b s i d e n c e t o b e
e x p e c t e d i n t h e NSW c o a l f i e l d s would b e
o n l y two-thirds o r s o of t h a t i n t h e U.K.,
w i t h maximum s l o p e , c u r v a t u r e a n d s t r a i n
about one-half.
This is t o t h e d e s i g n e r ' s
a d v a n t a g e , o f c o u r s e , b u t it s h o u l d a l w a y s
b e remembered t h a t a n y movement c r i t e r i a o f
t h i s s o r t a r e approximate and l i a b l e t o
irregularities.
The g e n e r a l l y " f o r g i v i n g " a n d r o b u s t
n a t u r e o f t h e CLASP a p p r o a c h accommodates

vertical scale x 20

F i g 20

Hucknall
relative vertical
displacements

Conference on buildings and structures subject to mine subsidence 28th-30th August 1988. Proceedings page:
www.mstsociety.org

14

A.

Peter FAWCETT

Successful Design f o r Mine Subsidence: the CLASP Experience

Conclusions:

References:

The CLASP e x p e r i e n c e o f d e s i g n i n g f o r
m i n i n g s u b s i d e n c e i s a r g u a b l y u n i q u e . The
d e s i g n e r s began by q u a n t i f y i n g t h e
s t r u c t u r a l performance requirements a s f a r
a s p o s s i b l e a t a t i m e (mid 1 9 5 0 ' s ) when t h e
n a t u r e of mining s u b s i d e n c e i n t h e UK
c o a l f i e l d s was becoming more c l e a r l y
u n d e r s t o o d . No one e l s e had t a c k l e d t h e
p r o b l e m t h a t way, t h e c o n v e n t i o n a l wisdom
being t o produce massive s u b s t r u c t u r e s
h o p e f u l l y w i t h t h e s t r e n g t h and s t i f f n e s s
t o w i t h s t a n d u n q u a n t i f i e d f o r c e s , though
o f t e n t o l i t t l e e f f e c t ; and w i t h t h e
e x c e p t i o n o f a few i m a g i n a t i v e s u p p o r t e r s
t h e development team s e n s e d d e e p
e n g i n e e r i n g s c e p t i c i s m . They f o l l o w e d t h e
r a t i o n a l e of t h e p e r f o r m a n c e r e q u i r e m e n t s
through t o t h e s m a l l e s t elements of
c o n s t r u c t i o n , c o u p l i n g t h i s w i t h a method
of procuring buildings appropriate t o t h e
r e s o u r c e s and demands of t h e t i m e . They
adapted e x i s t i n g technology and
m a n u f a c t u r i n g s k i l l f o r t h i s p u r p o s e and
undertook p r o t o t y p e t e s t i n g s u f f i c i e n t t o
launch t h e system with confidence. T h i r t y
y e a r s ' experience with t h e system has
e n t i r e l y j u s t i f i e d t h e a p p r o a c h , t h e main
f e a t u r e s o f which a r e a r t i c u l a t i o n o f t h e
e n t i r e c o n s t r u c t i o n a n d i s o l a t i o n from
ground s t r a i n s .
Q u i t e i n d e p e n t l y from t h e b e n e f i t s o f mine
s u b s i d e n c e r e s i s t a n c e which have b e e n
described, t h e approach t o c o n s t r u c t i o n
embodied i n CLASP and t h e way o f p r o c u r i n g
b u i l d i n g s t h r o u g h t h e Consortium
o r g a n i s a t i o n h a v e been enormously
s u c c e s s f u l . CLASP b u i l d i n g s were
c r i t i c i s e d f o r "not b e i n g a r c h i t e c t u r e " , o r
a t l e a s t of being very marginal i n t h e
a e s t h e t i c s t a k e s , b u t t h a t was a m a t t e r o f
o p i n i o n . Although u s i n g p r e f a b r i c a t i o n
t e c h n i q u e s t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n i s i n no s e n s e
t e m p o r a r y and t h e m a i n t e n a n c e r e c o r d f o r
CLASP b u i l d i n g s i s v e r y f a v o u r a b l e . The
construction i s adaptable, being e a s i l y
e x t e n d e d , r e m o d e l l e d and c o n v e r t e d . The
t e r m i n a l b u i l d i n g f o r t h e E a s t Midlands
A i r p o r t UK i s now a t P h a s e 10, b e i n g f i v e
t i m e s i t s o r i g i n a l s i z e . The s y s t e m h a s
been mocked f o r r e f u s i n g t o d i e when many
o t h e r c o n s t r u c t i o n s y s t e m s h a v e blown up i n
t h e i r commercial s p o n s o r s ' f a c e s , o r b e e n
blown up whether a c c i d e n t a l l y ( a s a t Ronan
P o i n t , London) o r i n t e n t i o n a l l y ! On t h e
c o n t r a r y it h a s s u r v i v e d , improved and
e x t e n d e d i t s r e p e r t o i r e a s some o f t h e more
r e c e n t b u i l d i n g s show.

1. W a r d e l l , K . (1954) Some o b s e r v a t i o n s on
t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p between t i m e and mining
. .
s u b s i d e n c e . n0of
( U K ) , Vo1.113, P a r t 5, p p . 471-482
2 . Lacey, W . D . and Swain, H.T. (1957) Design
f o r Mining S u b s i d e n c e . T h e i t e c t s '
( U K ) , Vo1.126,lOth Oct ., pp
557-570.
3 . H e a t h c o t e , F.W.L. (1965) Movement of
A r t i c u l a t e d B u i l d i n g s on S u b s i d e n c e S i t e s .

. .c
P
r
a
.
(UK),

Vo1.30, F e b . , p p . 347-368.
4 . Swain, H.T. ( 1 9 7 4 ) S u c c e s s f u l d e s i g n f o r
mining s u b s i d e n c e . T h e A r c t s ' J o d
( U K ) , Vol. 160, 8 t h May, pp 1047-1054
5 . B e l l , S . (1984) The CLASP e x p e r i e n c e , i n
,
m
i
a
n
a
s
: an I . C . E L
Thomas T e l f o r d , London, pp
35-40.
6. N a t i o n a l C o a l Board o f t h e UK (1975)
e e r ' s Handbook, N a t i o n a l
Coal Board, London.
7 . Frankham, B. S . a n d Mould, G . R . '(1980)
Mining S u b s i d e n c e i n N.S.W. - Recent
Developments, -tute
of
Minina and M e t a l l u r a v Conference, Mav 1980,
p p . 167-179.

APPENDIX
CLASP

Construction

T h i s p a p e r draws on m a t e r i a l from e a r l i e r
p a p e r s by Lacey & s w a i n 2 , ~ e a t h c o t e ~ ,
s w a i n 4 and f ell'; who i n t u r n acknowledged
t h e a s s i s t a n c e o f D r W . H . Ward, M r R . J .
Orchard, Prof R. C . Coates and c o l l e a g u e s
o f t h e Consortium a u t h o r i t i e s . The a u t h o r
i s g r a t e f u l t o t h e s e , and t o t h e p r e s e n t
s t a f f o f t h e N o t t i n g h a m s h i r e County C o u n c i l
A r c h i t e c t ' s Department, t h e CLASP
Development Group a n d CLASP INTERNATIONAL
( B u i l d i n g S e r v i c e s ) L t d . f o r making s o u r c e
material available.
Fig.1

General view of system

Conference on buildings and structures subject to mine subsidence 28th-30th August 1988. Proceedings page:
www.mstsociety.org

15

A. Peter FAWCETT
Successful Design for Mine Subsidence: the CLASP Experience

Fig.2

Fig.4

Ground slab

Pitched roof

Fig.3

Fig.5

Steel frame

Upper floor

Conference on buildings and structures subject to mine subsidence 28th-30th August 1988. Proceedings page:
www.mstsociety.org

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