Demolition - Gove 710 Stack

On October 19th, 2025, the successful controlled demolition of the 710 Stack at the Alcan Gove Site in Nhulunbuy, NT, Australia, marked a milestone that highlights the carefully planned and well-executed engineering effort. The project was carried out for Liberty Industrial, with Applied Science International (ASI) providing detailed simulation support to analyze and verify the planned demolition scenario. Using its proprietary Extreme Loading for Structures (ELS) software, ASI modeled the complete structural response during the demolition sequence, ensuring the collapse occurred safely and in the intended fall direction.

The structure is an 86 m high reinforced concrete stack, characterized by a cylindrical shell with an internal diameter of 9.5 m and a variable wall thickness ranging from 0.5 m at the base to 0.25 m at the uppersection. Internally, the stack includes four steel flue ducts, three measuring 2.6 m in diameter and one measuring 1.5 m, integrated with a system of internal platforms at multiple elevations and a roof structure. These elements are interconnected through flue connectors and supported by both lateral and vertical systems, creating a highly interdependent structural assembly. The presence of multiple access doors, large breach openings, and platform levels introduced significant geometric and structural complexities.

ASI developed a detailed 3D numerical model using ELS for the reinforced concrete shell, embedded steel components, internal platforms, and foundation system. The analysis focused on simulating a controlled demolition scenario involving structural pre-weakening, strategic material removal, and explosive-induced collapse. This was supplemented by the installation of temporary steel props in the door opening at the back of the stack to guarantee that the stack drops in the intended fall direction. Through a series of nonlinear dynamic simulations, ASI evaluated critical parameters including base compression failure, directional stability, and the structure’s sensitivity to material uncertainties.

The results demonstrated a highly controlled and predictable collapse mechanism. The stack was predicted to fall in the intended direction within approximately 11 seconds, with a minimal deviation angle ranging between 2° and 6° under varying assumptions. Early-stage behavior included a vertical drop of approximately 1.3 to 1.7 m within the first 2 seconds, after which rotational motion governed the collapse trajectory. Importantly, the introduction of the steel props was proven highly effective in ensuring that the stack drops in the intended fall direction.

Overall, this project highlights ASI’s capability to deliver precision-driven demolition engineering solutions through advanced simulation. By combining numerical modeling with practical engineering insight, the team successfully validated a complex demolition approach, ensuring safety, predictability, and operational excellence in a highly challenging structural scenario.

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