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By Bengt H. Fetlenius

The "Pile Prediction Event" at the ASCE GeoInstitute's Deep Foundation Conference in February 2002 involved prediction of drivability and capacity of three 14m long, 324mm diameter, closed-toe pipe piles driven into loose to compact fine sand to slightly silty sand. Predictors were provided the results of two soil borings and three cone penetrometer tests, as well as type and model of hammer to be used for the pile driving. A total of 33 persons submitted predictions. As to penetration resistance distribution, many predictions were far below actually observed values. As to capacity in compression, the predicted values ranged from 270KN through 2,340KN with a mean of 1,070KN. As to capacity in tension, the predicted values ranged from 100KN through 1,650KN. The maximum load applied to the compression pile in the static loading test was 1,25OKN, at which no more reaction load was available. The reaction system for the tension test failed early in the test. CAPWAP analysis on End-of-Driving blows showed capacities at the end of the driving for the push and pull piles of 670KN, and 710KN, respectively. No restrike tests were made. Additional CPT soundings indicate that the pile driving had densified the soil. Static analysis and calculations from the CPT indicated that capacities ranged from 1,000KN through 2,000KN. The paper presents the data and discusses the various methods of determining pile capacity and addresses influence of set-up Lessons useful for future similar events are indicated.

Jan 1, 2004

By John P. Briand III, Douglas J. Aghjayan, Robert E. Fosse

This paper highlights the successful pile load testing program for the redevelopment of Pier One in East Boston, Massachusetts. Pier One is a 5.4-acre parcel on a dormant waterfront site used in the 1950s as a warehouse and distribution facility. The developer plans to re-use the existing 14-inch-diameter concrete-filled steel pipe piles to support four 5- to 7-story apartment buildings above a 2-story parking garage. A pile load testing program was developed to establish if the existing piles could support design loads of 240 kips for project financial feasibility and up to 300 kips for a significant reduction in future foundation costs. The Phase 1 program consisted of statnamic and dynamic load testing on two piles with two loading intervals (200 and 240 kips). Based upon the favorable results of the Phase 1 program, the Phase 2 program involved statnamic load testing on two piles and dynamic load testing on ten piles with three loading intervals (200, 240, and 300 kips). The Phase 2 program confirmed the favorable results which were applied across varying strata thicknesses and pile embedment depths. The average allowable capacity for the piles tested was greater than 300 kips with pile movement up to 0.3 inches.

By Lance Rasband, Richard Hanke, John Starcevich

"The 17.4 meter (57 ft) diameter tunnel boring machine (TBM), the world’s largest at the time of her launch in 2012, locally referred to as “Bertha,” is stuck. Incapacitated due to mechanical failure approximately 36 meters (120 ft) beneath downtown Seattle, situated precariously between the deteriorating Alaskan Way Viaduct and the failing Seattle Seawall. Accessing Bertha with a vertical shaft provides the best approach to address all facets needed for repairs and will allow the full removal of Bertha’s cutter head and related inner workings. Limited area above the tunnel alignment and the physical restrictions of existing infrastructure, create significant challenges for the design of an otherwise symmetrical shaft, requiring special attention to design and layout. Consequently, the access/recovery shaft design required a combination of 3m, 2.5m, 2.2m, 1.5m and 1m diameter unreinforced drilled secant piles coupled with various ground improvement techniques and dewatering, to fully satisfy the shoring design requirements. This paper will describe the shaft installation procedures, equipment used and pitfalls encountered while undertaking access shaft construction of this magnitude.INTRODUCTIONTunneling on Seattle’s SR99 tunnel project began in July of 2013. After slowly mining through a 4.5 m (14.76 ft) thick fiber-reinforced concrete headwall and the first of three stabilized “safe havens,” Bertha would proceed along the proposed alignment through 122 meters (400 ft) of jet grout improved soil at a rate of slightly over 1.6 m (5.25 ft) per day. Once past the improved area, it was planned that “Bertha” – would be moving at a rate of about 11 m (36 ft) per day. By the end of October 2013, Bertha had mined roughly 131 m, (430 ft) averaging 1.4 m (4.6 ft) per day and had begun mining within native soils. By December 2013, tunneling had reached the 244 m mark and Bertha was averaging 3.6 m (11.8 ft) per day, achieving as much as 12.8 m (42 ft) of progress on given days. Unfortunately, on December 6th, 2013, Bertha began to stumble and all progress quickly came to a halt.It was initially reported that an obstruction had stopped Bertha in her tracks. The preliminary investigation involved installation of 10 deep dewatering wells to reduce the hydrostatic pressure around the TBM, and allow visual inspection of the cutter head from within the TBM, and also to investigate for the presence of obstructions at the face of the cutter head. During this inspection, fragments of steel pipe were discovered entangled in the cutter head. The fragments were apparently from an abandoned 254 mm (10 in.) diameter monitoring well casing, previously installed by WSDOT to monitor ground water conditions for the design and planning of this tunnel project. After the steel was removed from the cutter head and cleared from Bertha’s path, tunneling resumed. It was then discovered that Bertha was only able to generate a slow crawl."

Jan 1, 2016

By Paikowsky, Samuel G.

"Due to the way drilled deep foundations are being constructed, their structural integrity and geotechnical capacity are highly variable. Drop weight systems are increasingly being used to dynamically test the capacity and integrity of drilled deep foundations. Conventional pile driving hammers are often either inadequate or not economical to test these foundations and drop weight systems have therefore been developed to allow for dynamic testing.The advantages of the tests include high mobility, short testing time, low cost relative to static load tests (allowing multiple tests at a single site), and integrity/construction quality evaluation concurrent with capacity determination. The dynamic testing method for drilled deep foundations encounter several difficulties including: the need for a pre-testing analysis for matching pile, soil and testing system, adequate mass and drop height to reflect the mobilized capacity without structural damage, test interpretations for irregularly shaped and/or non-uniform piles, need for reliable dynamic measurements depending on the impact and the distance between the impact and the measuring point, and limited knowledge about the accuracy of the predictions.The principles of the tests are presented using simplified models and demonstrated via a case history. Drop weight systems are reviewed. Dynamic measurement principles are explained and the construction and testing quality effects are outlined and demonstrated via numerical modeling and case histories. A comparison of dynamic and static tests is presented via a database, case histories and finally a short review of relevant codes is provided.1 IntroductionTraditional static axial load test is performed by a slow application of a force produced against independent reaction, imitating structural loading. It is the most reliable method to determine the pile’s performance as commonly required under typical service conditions. The major limitations of this testing are: (i) high cost associated with set-up, test duration, interpretation and construction delays, and (ii) inability to obtain information about the pile-soil interaction along the pile without additional testing means (e.g. tell tales, strain gauges, etc.). These limitations are acute when high capacity foundations are involved."

Jan 1, 2015

By Bernard B. Vannoy, Howard W. Gault, Ramesh Bobba

"Treviicos-Soletanche Joint Venture (JV) and the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) have installed a 3800-foot long, 275-foot deep and minimum 2-foot wide secant pile barrier wall at Wolf Creek Dam in Jamestown, KY. This paper describes the methodology employed by the JV and USACE to evaluate the overlap, thickness, and position of the barrier wall. It addresses the contractual requirements, positional uncertainty, and evaluation procedures.These procedures evolved over the course of the project as various issues were identified and procedures developed to evaluate these issues. During the project, it became clear that the JV and USACE could ascertain that the wall thickness and overlap requirements could be met if the overlap based upon Koden data was at least 0.7’ in the left-right direction. For a small number of piles with overlaps between 0.5’ and 0.7’, the piles are contractually compliant yet contain a minor degree of uncertainty in the overlap. Initially, the USACE assumption was that the amount of uncertainty of verticality measurements would require more than a 1-foot measured overlap in the left-right direction to confirm an actual, contractual 6-inch overlap. With time and experience, the limit of measured overlap was reduced in accordance with greater understanding of the equipment capabilities and tolerances. Other lessons learned include the need for Quality Control/Assurance personnel to collect data at the same starting point for every pile.For every pile the JV and USACE compared analog and digital data to provide confidence that the correct digital data was used for overlap calculations. Perhaps the most important lesson learned was the importance of the JV and USACE working together and sharing all data. Overlap analysis was performed by the JV’s Barrier Wall Specialist and a small number of USACE personnel. This resulted in a high level of experience and expertise within a small group.IntroductionThe Treviicos-Soletanche Joint Venture (JV) and the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) have installed a 3800-foot long, 275-foot deep, and minimum 2-foot wide secant pile barrier wall at Wolf Creek Dam in Jamestown, KY. The wall was installed through a 6-foot wide Protective Concrete Embankment Wall (PCEW) which was installed two feet into rock. The PCEW protects the embankment from erosion of drilling fluids during subsequent operations. Below the PCEW the piles were installed to a specified elevation (staggered at 475’ and 473’ below the 748.2’ work platform). The Ordovician limestone and shale bedrock is flat lying with few vertical fractures. These conditions facilitate the advancement of pilot holes with very low deviations (with considerable credit to the JV’s drillers and steering engineers). The pilot holes were spaced on 31.5-inch and 35-inch spacing. Subsequent enlargement of the pilot holes to 50’ resulted in a continuous wall. This paper addresses the requirements and procedures to assure that the wall was as wide, deep and continuous as specified."

Jan 1, 2015

By Donald Bruce

The three types of specifications which are used for micropile work are: ? Performance Specifications: The contractor is permitted control over certain design and/or construction procedures but must demonstrate to the owner through testing and/or certification that the final product meets the specified performance criteria. This method allows and encourages the contractor to provide a competitive and/or innovative micropile design within the framework of the overall design requirements. The responsibilities for the work are shared between the owner and the contractor. ? Open Specifications: These leave the scope and design of the installation up to the micropile contractor. This method is the most common for securing bids on temporary micropile work. The responsibility for design and performance is clearly placed on the contractor. Open specifications are not recommended for permanent applications. This method allows the contractor to select the most economical micropile system. ? Prescriptive Specification: The Owner describes specific procedures that must be followed, but which may not necessarily describe the objective of the work. When prescriptive specifications are used, the owner is responsible for the proper performance of the system. The contractor is responsible for satisfying the details of the specifications. Performance specifications are the most common and best reflect the challenges and interests of micropile technology and applications.

Jan 1, 2004

By Joint Micropiles Committee

"The three types of specifications which are used for micropile work are: • Performance Specifications: The contractor is permitted control over certain design and/or construction procedures but must demonstrate to the owner through testing and/or certification that the final product meets the specified performance criteria. This method allows and encourages the contractor to provide a competitive and/or innovative micropile design within the framework of the overall design requirements. The responsibilities for the work are shared between the owner and the contractor. • Open Specifications: These leave the scope and design of the installation up to the micropile contractor. This method is the most common for securing bids on temporary micropile work. The responsibility for design and performance is clearly placed on the contractor. Open specifications are not recommended for permanent applications. This method allows the contractor to select the most economical micropile system. • Prescriptive Specification: The Owner describes specific procedures that must be followed, but which may not necessarily describe the objective of the work. When prescriptive specifications are used, the owner is responsible for the proper performance of the system. The contractor is responsible for satisfying the details of the specifications.Performance specifications are the most common and best reflect the challenges and interests of micropile technology and applications.The owner, designer and contractor will together be responsible for the tasks associated with the design, installation, acceptance, and performance of the micropiles. The installation of micropiles requires specialized equipment, techniques, and appropriate workmanship. Not every detail of the work can be specified, and not every potential problem can be anticipated. Therefore, a contractor who has demonstrated experience in micropiles must be selected to execute the work required."

Jan 1, 2004

By Francisco A. Flores, José L. Aguirre, Héctor A. de la Fuente, Erika Bernal, Jorge Arroyo-Esquedla

This paper presents the analysis, design, and construction of soil improvement for storage tanks foundation support at a site in Tabasco, Mexico. A total of 980 Rammed Aggregate Piers of 12.5 m in length and 0.5 m in diameter were designed and constructed to support four storage tanks. The soil conditions at the site generally consist of loose to medium dense silty/clayey sand to about 8m depth, underlain by very loose to medium dense silty/clayey sand with seams of very soft clay. The use of Rammed Aggregate Piers induced densification of the soil to increase its stiffness and reduce the liquefaction potential to control both static and dynamic induced settlements. Standard Penetration Test (SPT) and Cone Penetration Test (CPTu) explorations were performed prior to and post soil improvement to compare the liquefaction potential and the Factors of Safety associated with the two conditions. Finally, the soil improvement installation rate is presented. Soil improvement using Rammed Aggregate Piers represented a suitable alternative to support storage tanks foundation in potentially liquefiable areas.

Oct 1, 2022

By Patrick J. Hannigan, Seth Robertson, Rozbeh B. Moghaddam

The Top-Loaded Bi-Directional Test (―TLBT‖) and the conventional Bi-Directional Load Test (―BDLT‖) are full-scale static load test methods. In both methods, the test loads are applied bi-directionally to the deep foundation. The advantages of the conventional BDLT have been well established for cost efficient static load testing of deep foundations, particularly for large diameter, high-capacity drilled foundations. A conventional BDLT applies the bi-directional test loads using an embedded jack and bearing plates. The TLBT method also applies the bi-directional test load to embedded bearing plates but does so using reusable high-strength threaded bars attached to an above-grade hydraulic jack and load transfer assembly. The new TLBT method is well suited for load testing shafts of a moderate diameter, length, and nominal resistance or ultimate load. TLBT advantages include economic considerations resulting from the method’s reusable load application components and constructability considerations as it readily accommodates a center concrete tremie pipe or pump line location. This paper presents comparison results from full-scale load tests performed using both bi-directional load testing methods. Adjacent 3-foot diameter by 30-foot long BDLT and TLBT shafts were tested. Details regarding subsurface conditions and test shaft construction are included for the comparison of the TLBT and BDLT results. Corresponding test data and analyses for both test shafts are presented and discussed in detail. The BDLT shaft had a maximum uni-directional load of 240 kips at upper and lower bearing plate displacements of 0.5 and -3.8 inches, respectively. The TLBT had a maximum uni-directional load of 300 kips at upper and lower bearing plate displacements of 1.0 and -5.9 inches, respectively. These results as well as the load-transfer behavior and equivalent top loading curve results from the adjacent BDLT and TLBT drilled shafts are discussed. The paper also discusses the strain gage instrumentation on the TLBT load application bars and on the embedded bearing plates.

Oct 1, 2022

Jan 1, 2003

By Patrick K. Wong, Richard Kelly

"The variability in strength and compressibility of in situ deep soil mixing products can be greater than the variability of the natural soil. However, satisfactory performance can be achieved by careful construction and an appropriate QA/QC program. This paper presents a case study on the use of deep dry soil mixing columns to support several embankments over soft clay along a highway project. Post-construction settlement monitoring indicated that good performance is achieved where the acceptance criteria are met, except in an area with high organic content. Embankments with contrasting performance are compared to the quality control test results which comprised laboratory testing of core samples as well as in situ test results such as pull-out and push-in vanes and conventional cone penetration tests. Drawing on the performance results and quality control testing, discussions and guidelines are given on quality assurance acceptance criteria and construction control testing regime for future projects.INTRODUCTIONBetween 2008 and 2012, the largest deep dry soil mixing (DSM) contract during that time in the southern hemisphere was carried out for the Ballina Bypass project. The project, comprising 12 km upgrade of the Pacific Highway located in northern New South Wales close to the border of Queensland, was commissioned by the Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) of NSW. The ground improvement contractor was Keller Ground Engineering (KGE) Australia. Seven different types of ground improvement techniques were employed for the project, ranging from low embankment strategy with nominal preloading, to surcharge with wick drains, light weight bottom ash fill, DSM, vibro-replacement stone columns, dynamic replacement, and vacuum consolidation (installed by Menard Bachy Pty Ltd). Different techniques were chosen depending on time program, cost, and performance requirements relative to proximity to piled structures (e.g. bridge abutments) and post-construction settlement and differential settlement for either rigid or flexible pavements at different locations.DSM was the most utilized ground improvement technique employed on the project, comprising a total of about 285 km of 0.8 m diameter columns to depths up to 18 m for the purpose of supporting bridge approach embankments and culverts with embankment heights up to 6 m. DSM was chosen due to the very soft nature of the clay soil with moisture content practically at liquid limit, and the relative speed and economy of the system. Dry cement powder at rates of 160 kg/m3 to 200 kg/m3 were pneumatically discharged via the hollow stem of the mixing tool, and mixed with the soil (using multiple horizontally mounted paddles on a single vertical stem) at high speed as the mixing tool is withdrawn."

Jan 1, 2015

By Rendon Rieth, John Bryant, Kourosh Tamizdoust, Amr Helal

Expansive soils are widespread in the Southern, Western, and Rocky Mountain areas of the United States. Expansive natural clays and bedrock can expand upon wetting and shrink upon drying. These soils can cause damage to structures, roadways, and pipelines. Accurate estimation of volumetric deformation of expansive soils is critical to minimizing damage to the nation’s infrastructure. Free-field heave is the amount of movement the ground subsurface experiences due to wetting/drying of the soils within the active zone, with no surface surcharge load (e.g., foundation load) applied. Active zone is the depth below the ground where the soil volume deformation can still occur due to moisture/energy changes in unsaturated soils. Several methods for free-field heave estimation have been developed over the years including empirical methods and using oedometer swell test results and soil suction values. Further, in the past decade, most numerical studies have been performed to determine the free-field heave by incorporating hydro-mechanical framework which disregards the temperature effect and usually considers one-way coupling between the moisture flow and swelling/shrinkage deformation. The main objective of the current study is utilizing a strongly coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) model for the estimation of active zone depth and free-field heave when the soil is subjected to real-time climate conditions. The THM model, input thermal, and hydraulic/mechanical data are implemented in COMSOL Multiphysics software. The results are compared with experimental data from a case study in the Colorado Front Range area. The Soil-Water Characteristic Curve (SWCC) and Hydraulic Conductivity Function (HCF) are based on the Van Genuchten (VG) model and the mechanical constitutive model, which governs swelling deformation, is based on the Extended Barcelona Model. The THM model predicts the active zone reasonably well. Moreover, the simulation of free-field heave is compared with the analytical calculation produced by VOLFLO software.

Oct 31, 2023

By Joe Smith, Roberto Rodriguez, Francisco Ciruela-Ochoa

Drilled-In Displacement Piles (DDPs) present some advantages over other deep foundation solutions making them suitable for challenging conditions encountered at John F. Kennedy (JFK) International Airport Headhouse Expansion Project. For one, elevated railway tracks required the installation to occur with as little as 12 ft of clearance. Secondly, their ease of installation and overall material requirements deemed them more efficient than traditional micropiles from a schedule and cost point of view. Lastly, the low vibrations induced by DDPs to the surrounding sensitive structures were crucial for an operational airport. All combined contributed to the final decision of recommending this foundation system for the Project. This paper documents the use of DDPs for the Project and documents the design and specification process along with load testing program results and observations made during the construction of production elements from a case history perspective.

Oct 31, 2023

By Renee Fippin

Several projects are underway in Nassau County, New York, to improve water quality in the Western Bays of Long Island. A major piece in accomp­lishing this is the Bay Park Conveyance Project. When completed, it will divert most of the treated effluent away from the Western Bays to an existing ocean outfall at the Cedar Creek Water Pol­lution Control Plant. The ongoing works include 3.6 mi (5.8 km) of micro­tunneling, 7 mi (11.3 km) of sliplining, 14 shafts and a 75 million gal (284 mil­lion L) per day pump station. In February 2021; Western Bays Constructors (WBC) - a joint venture of John P. Picone and Northeast Remsco Construction - was awarded the design-build contract. For final design, WBC retained Delve Underground to lead the design team for the project. Delve Underground worked in concert with WBC and its subcontractor, Keller, to determine optimal shaft construction methodologies, and during tender, evaluated options that would limit groundwater inflows to the allowable limits. This article focuses on how support of excavation {SOE) was selected for the 14 primary shafts for the microtunneling efforts as well as key design components to address shaft performance needs.

Feb 1, 2024

By Martin Walker, Joseph Ang, Jongwon Lee, Alvin Bayudanto, Lilian Lorincz, Morteza Khorshidi, Wenyong Rong

This paper presents a case history of liquefaction susceptibility evaluation study for a major infrastructure project in the San José area. The subsurface material of the study area consists of Holocene alluvial deposits composed of interbedded and crosscut clays and silts, sands and gravels. The simplified approach for liquefaction triggering evaluation was carried out using both CPT data and SPT data representing site’s seismic capacity and the peak ground acceleration associated with a return period of 975 years at ground surface representing seismic demands. Site-specific cyclic stress ratio (CSR) profiles as seismic demand are also estimated from one-dimensional site response analysis. The simplified approach uses empirical depth stress reduction factors (rd) based on generic shear wave velocity profiles to account for the non-rigid response of the soil profile in estimating CSR. The CSR profiles of the simplified procedure were examined by completing site response analyses using site-specific soil profiles to represent site-specific seismic demands in the liquefaction triggering evaluation. The paper concludes with a comparison and discussion of the liquefaction evaluation examining results from CPT versus SPT data, and the comparison of CSR profiles from the simplified procedure versus site-specific response analysis.

Sep 8, 2021

By Atta B. Yiadom, A. David Miller, Robert C. Kirby, Sean M. Todaro

"San Pablo Dam is a 170-foot (52-meter)-high earthfill embankment, located approximately 10 miles (16 kilometers) north of downtown Oakland, California, that impounds a 38,600 acre-feet (47.6 million m3) reservoir for customers in the East Bay Municipal Utility District's (EBMUD's) service area. Seismic upgrades were designed and constructed in 2008 through 2010. Work included removal of an existing 140,000 cubic-yard (107,000 m3) downstream buttress, which was replaced with an enlarged 300,000 cubic-yard (230,000 m3) buttress founded on alluvium and colluvium that were improved in-place using Cement Deep Soil Mixing (CDSM) technology. The site characterization for the project, design of CDSM, reuse of CDSM spoils as construction materials, and environmental permitting have been described in five previously published professional papers.This paper provides a brief summary of the design of the seismic upgrades and presents the results of measurements made during and/or after construction including the variation of CDSM strengths with time, piezometric levels within the dam and foundation soils, and seepage flow rates. These measured values are compared to the values estimated during design of the seismic upgrades.INTRODUCTIONSan Pablo Reservoir is located approximately 10 miles (16 kilometers) north of downtown Oakland, California, as shown in Fig 1. As many as 50 million gallons (200,000 m3) per day pass through the reservoir for treatment and distribution to a portion of the 1.3 million customers served by EBMUD. The dam is founded mainly on alluvium and was originally built in 1920 using materials excavated from the left and right abutments consisting of siltstone, claystone, fine-grained sandstone, mudstone, and shale that were excavated and placed using hydraulic fill methods. The dam is located within two miles (three kilometers) of the Hayward Fault which is capable of a moment magnitude 7.25 earthquake.Because of the foundation materials, construction method, and proximity to the Hayward Fault, the dam has undergone a series of seismic improvements, including the placement of a downstream compacted earth buttress in 1967 and an upstream compacted earth buttress in 1979. In 2002, the State of California Division of Safety of Dams (DSOD) requested that EBMUD evaluate the seismic stability of San Pablo Dam, following the results of a study that same year that indicated a 62 percent chance of a greater than 6.7 magnitude earthquake striking the San Francisco Bay region between 2003 and 2032. The dam was evaluated and it was concluded that portions of the underlying foundation soils may liquefy during the maximum credible earthquake which could cause the dam to become unstable."

Jan 1, 2015

By Andrew Lees, Chris Iereidis, Mark Wayne

The design of working platforms typically involves the calculation of a two-layer bearing capacity to ensure that tracked piling plant can operate with an adequate safety margin against rig toppling due to ground failure. A number of guidance documents on the design and management of working platforms have been published in recent years, as summarised in this article. None of these provide definitive guidance regarding design for very soft subgrade soils or on platform edge stability. Among the calculation methods available for working platform punching shear capacity, the T-value method is a practical but accurate method that has been used in working platform design for over four years. A correction to the T value is proposed for very low subgrade shear strengths to take into account the greater sensitivity to subgrade shear strength and the difficulty of constructing and compacting an aggregate over such soft ground. Furthermore, a simple equation was derived by finite element analysis (FEA) parametric study to calculate a safe edge distance for working platform operation taking into account the width and aspect ratio of loaded areas, platform thickness and subgrade soil strength. These findings are being applied in the design of working platforms to include very soft subgrade soils and to help avoid rig toppling near platform edges.

Oct 7, 2024

By Maurice Guillaud

The most striking innovations on diaphragm-wall construction plant are those associated with continuous real-time trajectory monitoring of the excavating tool (either a grab or a hydro-cutter). The recent equipments are fitted with clinometers and gyrometers to control deflection, rotation or deviation from the vertical, thus allowing to install diaphragm-walls with a verticality accuracy of less than 0.3%. One of the greatest advantages of extensive use of on-board IT systems on the Hydrocutters and hydraulic grab machines is that it aids quality control by automatically producing complete real-time reports of all excavating data (verticality, depth, type of ground, rate of progress, stoppages, etc.). These reports are available to the Engineer, providing the total transparency required for Works Supervision and the Quality Assurance Plan. They also provide the Contractor with input data for databases used for optimising efficiency and progress criteria on future jobs.

Jan 1, 2002

By Seth H. Hamblin, John E. Regan, Dimitrios Palantzas

"Through reliability-based calibration of larger pile load test databases, recent developments of the Load Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) methods, which include geotechnical load and resistance factors for deep foundations design, have advanced the state of practice for geotechnical engineering. These load test databases upon which the current geotechnical load and resistance factors have been developed are limited, however, and do not provide sufficient data to support the development of resistance factors for uplift (tension) pile capacity. As such, some recommended resistance factors for uplift capacity estimation methods are simply derived by reducing the recommended resistance factors for piles in compression by a factor of 0.10.The results of three (3) tension loading tests performed to failure on 508 mm (20- in) square precast, prestressed concrete piles, driven though granular soil in southeastern Massachusetts, are presented and compared to static pile capacity calculations and dynamic analyses performed using the Pile Driving Analyzer (PDA) during installation. These results are presented along with current recommended LRFD resistance factors for driven piles under uplift (tension) loading conditions. These comparisons offer an assessment of the applicability and limitations of current resistance factors methods for piles under uplift loading and may be useful additions to the existing database for future calibrations of LRFD resistance factors for driven prestressed concrete piles in sand.IntroductionIn 2010, two (2) natural draft cooling towers were constructed by Kiewit (Kiewit) Construction Company of Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey at the Brayton Point Power Station in Somerset, Massachusetts. These massive 500 foot tall, 400 foot diameter cooling towers were designed to convert the existing “open loop” system into a “closed loop system” thereby dramatically reducing the thermal impact to Mt. Hope Bay.Based on design guidance from the German VBG Design Code and the Massachusetts State Building Code (MSBC), tension (i.e. uplift) and lateral loads due to wind loads and design seismic events represented the critical loading conditions.Weighing approximately 190,000 kips upon completion, the cooling tower loads are transferred to 44 foundation nodes (i.e. pile caps) evenly spaced along ring beams which run the circular perimeter of each tower base. Each pile cap node was designed to resist a 2,000 ton compression load, 200 tons in tension (i.e. uplift), and 600 tons in the lateral direction."

Jan 1, 2015

By M Muzammil, S. Mukerjee, S. Saran, M. Bharathi

"This paper presents the results of in-situ tests conducted on a set of under-reamed piles in a silty sand deposit. Three piles (i.e. vertical, vertical with one bulb and vertical with two bulbs) of diameter 0.2 m were cast upto a depth of 5 m. The pile cap had four foundation bolts cast into it so that a mechanical oscillatormotor assembly could be mounted centrally on it. The oscillator-motor assembly was used to generate purely sinusoidal dynamic forces, in either horizontal or vertical directions. For both horizontal and vertical vibration cases, it was observed that (i) the natural frequencies decreased with an increase in the excitation force level, (ii) for the same excitation level, the natural frequencies as well as the maximum amplitude of vibration are almost the same irrespective of the pile geometry i.e. number of bulbs in the pile, indicating that the full pile length is not being excited. For the vertical vibration case, the soil-pile stiffness at frequencies, before resonance, were observed to be higher than those at frequencies after resonance. In the horizontal vibration case, the stiffness of the soil-pile system was found to be decreasing with an increase in the excitation force level. The damping ratio was found to be increasing with an increase in the excitation force level.INTRODUCTIONUnder-reamed piles are piles, normally upto a depth of 6 m, with one or more bulbs along the pile stem. These have been used for structures like transmission towers, structures on expansive soils etc. for a very long time, however it is only in the last 30 years that dynamic response of a pile has been studied. Evaluation of dynamic soil-pile interaction is a very complex problem as the conditions and properties of soil are highly variable and unpredictable. Various models and approaches have been suggested by various investigators for evaluating the dynamic soil-pile interaction problem, but most of them are based on the assumptions that the behaviour of soil is linear and the soil surrounding the pile is strongly adhered to it. But in practice, it is not so. The soil surrounding the pile is always somewhat loosened and undergoes some deformation when a sinusoidal load is applied. This causes the soil-pile system to behave nonlinearly.In earlier studies by Novak, (1974), Novak and Aboul-Ella, (1978) etc. a linear elastic behaviour of soil was assumed. This approach was very useful in understanding the mechanism of soil-pile interaction to a large extent. Subsequently various models were suggested like the lumped mass models with nonlinear discrete springs, dashpots and friction elements Matlock et al. (1978), weak cylindrical zone around the pile model Novak and Sheta, (1980), ideal boundary zone model with non-reflective interface, Han and Sabin, (1995) etc. These approximate solutions give an idea about the mechanism of dynamic pile-soil interaction to a large extent. However, in reality both separation and slippage can occur due to the formation of a weak bond at the contact surface between the soil and the pile when a dynamic load is applied. In addition, the soil column adjacent to the pile experiences large deformations under dynamic loads and thus behaves nonlinearly.Some computer aided model studies on the dynamic response of under-reamed piles have been reported, however, very few insitu dynamic tests on under-reamed piles are reported. Dynamic tests on piles were carried out by Novak and Grigg (1976) on small scale single piles and pile groups in the field. Similar field tests on small scale piles were conducted to study the nonlinear behaviour of a single pile and a pile group under strong harmonic excitation by Han and Novak (1988), Han and Vaziri (1992), Burr et al. (1997), Manna and Baidya (2010) etc. The majority of these experimental studies were focussed on the response of the specific pile groups and compared with the results of a single pile. Hence there was a need to study the influence of pile g"

Jan 1, 2015