Search Documents

By Frank J. Purcell

“Down The Hole” (DTH) hammer drilling is often necessary to advance the casing during pile construction where the test bores have determined difficult drilling conditions with obstructions such as boulders, cobble and glacial till. The use of compressed air to operate DTH hammers in foundation drilling has been a contentious point in many regions of the world due to its potential to disturb the ground around the pile being constructed. There are many examples of damage to adjacent building foundations where compressed air exiting the pile being drilled disturbed the subsurface around the building’s existing piles. This paper looks at the use of compressed air in DTH hammer foundation drilling and the move towards controlling the exhausted air to avoid over drilling the pile, causing potential damage to nearby piles. Simulated models of air flow penetration into the soil of different configurations of drill bits are discussed to highlight design changes employed to better control the air during the drilling process. A case study of the construction of a water-tight pipe pile wall for a building’s underground parking structure is studied to demonstrate the potential of DTH hammer foundation drilling where the air is fully controlled.

Nov 1, 2022

By Harald Vogel, Johannes Lachenski, Friedemann Koetzel, Sebastian Schnell

In this paper, a digital subsoil approach, a work-in-progress, will be presented describing the transformation from a classical 2D to digital 3D thinking process in the design of geotechnical structures. Certain pitfalls as well as lessons learned are described, and the reader can understand that the digitalization process of the design of geotechnical structures is always a problem-focused approach by creating systems for certain processes rather than setting rules or regulations. Three project examples are presented. Two of the presented project examples feature a heterogeneous geology distribution and made it necessary for the design of the foundations to work with 3D subsoil and 3D calculation models. However, the digital 3D design process in the third project, an inner-city excavation pit, is driven by the complicated boundary conditions making it necessary to work in a parametric 3D design space. All projects have in common, that new processes had to be developed. The paper concludes with a flow chart describing the process of the elaborated digital subsoil approach.

May 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

By Stefan Schwank, Alexander Blatt, Franz-Werner Gerressen

Diaphragm wall technique is usually used to install diaphragm walls, which are known as underground structural elements commonly used for retention systems and permanent foundation elements as well as deep groundwater barriers, named Cut-Off-Walls (COW). In this exploration project, the diaphragm wall equipment was used in the 2019 summer season to perform the first part of an exploration and bulk sampling program for a potential mine on the Star Kimberlite. Beside the idea of using the diaphragm wall technique as bulk sampling equipment, the sampling program required the adaption of equipment and tools for a depth capability never reached before by a trench cutter in any commercial application worldwide. The paper will explain the development of the sampling program as well as the challenges occurred with the local geology and the specific demands of the exploration and sampling program. It will also provide an overview of the lessons learned during the 2019 season and will give an outlook to the approaches of optimization for the second phase which will be carried out in 2020.

By S. P. Mukherjee, Smita Tung

"Piles are generally subjected to uplift in case of under ground and water front structures. Sometimes piles are also to resist uplift loads in transmission towers, dry rock, and so on. Experimental investigations of single piles and pile groups have been carried out using model hollow circular aluminum piles, having 25.4 mm outer diameter and lengths of 600 mm, 750 mm and 900 mm. Pile groups of 2?1 and 2?2 arrangements have been used in the experimental investigations. L/d ratio has been kept equal to 24, 30 and 36 in all the cases. All the single piles and pile groups have been tested under vertical uplift. Spacing between two piles in a group has been varied with respect to pile diameter such that spacing to diameter ratios of pile are 3, 4 and 5 in case of pile groups. An attempt has also been made to analyze those models of single piles and pile groups under vertical uplift by PLAXIS 3D software. Good analogy has been observed between the results of experimental and numerical studies. A parametric study has been carried out to observe the variation of ultimate uplift capacity of pile groups with spacing and depth of embedment. It is observed that for a particular embedment length of pile and a particular group arrangement the ultimate uplift capacity increases with increase of spacing. It is also investigated that for a particular spacing and particular group arrangement, the ultimate uplift capacity increases with increase of embedment depth. Those variations have also been presented with graphs which are generated considering non dimensional forms of parameters. The paper brings out change in pullout capacity of pile groups with spacing and embedment depth of piles.1. INTRODUCTIONPrediction of uplift capacity of single piles and especially of pile groups is one of the most interesting areas of research in geotechnical engineering. Pile foundations are frequently used to transmit the superstructure loads to deeper strata if the subsurface soil is of inadequate strength. The worst possible case may be considered to occur when all the piles in a group subjected to uplift. In cohesionless soils, the shaft resistance is an important source of pile capacity under axial loading, especially when the pile is subjected to uplift loading. Poulos and Davis (1980) recommended estimating the uplift capacity of piles as 2/3 of the downward shaft resistance. Later Ramasamy et al. (2004) indicated that the upward shaft resistance is significantly less than the downward shaft resistance. Some studies were conducted on the behavior of a single pile under uplift loads, such as those by Sowa (1970), Vesic (1970), Das and Seeley (1976), Levacher and Sieffert (1984), Rao and Venkatesh (1985), Chattopadhyay and Pise (1986), and Shanker et al. (2007). Das et al. (1976) conducted a model study to test the uplift capacity of single piles and pile groups buried in sand, and they also determined a relationship between the efficiency of a pile group and its spacing. Chattopadhyay and Pise (1986) proposed an analytical method for predicting the uplift capacity of piles embedded in sand and obtained reasonable agreement between experimental and theoretical results. Gaaver (2013) investigated experimentally that an upward displacement of about 1.4–2.5% of the pile diameter is required to attain the net uplift capacity for both single piles and pile groups. The uplift resistance of pile groups depends on the several variables like group size, shape, spacing to diameter ratio of piles, embedment depth to diameter ratio of piles, soil type and its density and soil-pile friction angle."

Jan 1, 2015

By Kyle R. Lackner, Jared P. Williams

"The Sutter Butte Flood Control Agency initiated the Feather River West Levee (FRWL) Program in 2010 to bring 35 miles of levee along the Feather River into compliance with applicable Federal and State standards for levees protecting urban areas. A combination of soil-bentonite cutoff walls, soil-cement-bentonite cutoff walls, and seepage berms will reduce flood risk by correcting under and through seepage deficiencies and remove more than 34,000 properties from the FEMA Special Flood Hazard Areas. The FRWL program includes a combined total of 7,744,803 square feet (SF) of cutoff wall planned to be constructed between 2013 and 2015. Cutoff wall construction methods to meet the design depths included conventional excavation to a depth of 85 feet and deep soil mixing for depths up to 120 feet. A key component of the FRWL program was the development of site specific mix designs using the design boring logs to evaluate the expected backfill gradation and permeability results. Issues that required a partnership between Contractors, Owner and Engineers included substantial Archaeological and Cultural Resource delays, significant depth changes due to a change in competent key, right of way acquisitions for abutting land, and the magnitude of the project in a resource limited industry.IntroductionThe Feather River watershed basin is located 50 miles north of Sacramento, CA and incorporates the agriculture producing communities of Yuba City, Live Oak, Gridley and Biggs. These communities are protected from flooding by levees that contain under-seepage and through-seepage deficiencies and were the cause of major failures in 1955, 1986 and 1997. The Feather River West Levee (FRWL) program was initiated by the Sutter Butte Flood Control Agency (SBFCA) in 2010. The long term objective of SBFCA is to correct the levee deficiencies and provide 200 year flood protection to more than 34,000 at risk properties located within the FEMA Special Flood Hazard Areas.Although FRWL contained a variety of construction components such as earthwork and pipe replacement, the slurry cutoff wall is the primary construction element for addressing under and through seepage deficiencies. From 2013 to 2015 approximately 6,649,210 SF of cutoff wall were installed using conventional excavation and deep soil mixing (DSM) techniques leaving 1,095,593 SF to be completed in 2016. The work was designed, solicited and constructed under two separate contracts, titled Project Area C and Project Area B&D. A summary of the contracts and cutoff wall quantities is presented in Table 1."

Jan 1, 2016

By Clarissa Aguiar, Seok hyeon Chai, Thamer Yacoub, Sina Javankhoshdel

Sheet piles are used as an excavation support for soil retention. They are interlocked systems to form a wall for earth support along with anchors to provide an extra lateral support in excavations. The earth pressure against a sheet pile structure is not unique for each soil, but rather a function of soil-structure system. Movements of the structure with respect to the soil are primary factor in developing the pressure and thus the problem becomes indeterminate. In order to model a sheet pile wall for the analysis, structural element/interface can be used for the sheet pile. However, the use of the structural element with soil model alone is insufficient to simulate this soil-structure system as it fails to capture the slip condition between the sheet pile and the retained soil. In order to capture this slip condition, an interactive element can be used between sheet pile and soil to allow slip to occur. There have been many case studies where this method was used to analyze the response of the retained soil. Numerical studies have shown a good agreement with experimental results, but this stiffness is often not a well-known parameter, due to its complexity in nature of interactive behavior between soil and sheet pile walls. Also, many case studies are carried out with twodimensional analysis of the foundation, where three-dimensional analysis may be more suitable in some practical applications. In this paper, the interactive behavior of the element between sheet pile and soil is investigated with case studies for staged excavation using sheet piles and anchors. Then, investigation of a three-dimensional model is carried out by comparing with two-dimensional analysis.

By Patrick J. Hannigan, Frank Rausche, Rozbeh B. Moghaddam

The Top-Loaded Bi-Directional Test (“TLBT”) is a new method to apply bi-directional loads to a deep foundation element with the loading source located above the foundation head. In the TLBT reusable load assembly, loads are applied to the foundation using the R-System which consists of two stacked steel plates located at the geotechnical resistance balance point or at the foundation base connected to the load assembly via vertical elements. The top plate or the Shaft Bearing Plate (“SBP”) will transfer loads to the foundation upper portion, and the bottom plate or the Base Bearing Plate (“BBP”) will transfer loads to the foundation lower portion as well as the foundation base. At the surface, above the foundation head, a hydraulic jack is located between a Top Load Assembly (“TLA”), and the Bottom Load Assembly (“BLA”). The TLA and BLA are connected to vertical elements which are consequently connected to the R-system. As the jack is pressurized and expanded at the surface, the R-System plates are separated, and the foundation is bidirectionally loaded. This paper presents a brief description of the conventional Bi-Directional Load Test (“BDLT”) including benefits and limitations followed by the TLBT method introduction including its benefits and advantages over other testing methods.

Sep 8, 2021

By Kirk Ellison, Eric S. Lindquist, Peter Faust, Stephen M. McLandrich

"The 181 Fremont Tower will be an 800-foot high-rise with a 60-foot deep basement located in a dense urban part of downtown San Francisco. The design and construction methods of the subsurface elements navigated a variety of site constraints such as loose fill and soft estuarine soils, shallow groundwater, contaminants, historic obstructions, small work area, proximity of adjacent buildings, and the on-going excavation and build-out of the adjacent Transbay Transit Center (TTC) train box. Design of the approximately 260-foot-deep drilled shafts (some of the deepest foundations ever constructed in San Francisco) was proven by a full-scale load test that provided unique data on the frictional capacity of the deep soil and Franciscan Complex bedrock in the region. Design and construction of the shoring system for the 5-story basement excavation was exceptionally challenging because of the on-going construction for the TTC. To allow for flexibility during construction, hydraulic rams were placed in a transfer waler along the shared TTC shoring wall that could adjust the forces transferred through to the TTC excavation if required. Open and steady communication between the shoring engineer, the geotechnical engineer, and the shoring/foundation contractor was crucial in order to satisfy the complex constraints of this site.INTRODUCTIONThe 181 Fremont Tower is a new build mixed-use tower, currently under construction in the dense urban core of the South of Market District of San Francisco, California. This high-rise will consist of 54 above ground floors with the roof level 700 feet high. Atop the roof will be some architectural features including a spire that will top out at just over 800 feet, which will make it the second tallest building in San Francisco upon completion.The tower is being developed by Jay Paul Company and the architectural design is by Heller Manus. The structural engineer and geotechnical engineer for the project is Arup North America Ltd (Arup). The shoring designer is Brierley Associates (Brierley). The general contractor is Level 10 Construction (Level 10) and the specialty foundation contractor and excavation contractor is Malcolm Drilling Co., Inc (Malcolm)."

Jan 1, 2017

This Section describes four alternative methods for load testing of drilled shafts: high strain dynamic test (HSDT), rapid load test, static load test, and bottom load test. Until recently, static load tests were the only method available for verifying the capacity of a drilled shaft. However, because many drilled shafts carry very high design loads, the static load test was prohibitively expensive. The alternative methods, HSDT, rapid load testing, and bottom load testing are gaining acceptance because of their lower cost and faster implementation. However, these different methods do not necessarily yield the same results. This section describes the load testing methods and the differences that may occur when interpreting the test results.

Jan 1, 2004

By Georgette Hlepas

How often phrases like these have been made by project managers and project teams trying to explain why there has been cost growth, project delays and differing site conditions claims. But does it really take x-ray vision? Do we really approach geotechnical construction projects unprepared for the subsurface that may be encountered because we can't get the answer? Too often our industry seems to think the answer is, "yes." However, this is not because we can't understand the subsurface. All too frequently it is because a choice is made to save money or time by foregoing or shortchanging upfront subsurface investigations. This is accepting a risk at the beginning of the process and realizing it during construction. Case histories have proven time and time again that upfront investment in site exploration and constructing a ground model mitigates risk in design and construction. But how much do we prepare? What level of investigation (or investment) is appropriate? The answer of course, is it depends; how much risk are you willing to take for your project and what are the potential consequences?

May 1, 2022

By Ronaldo Luna, Donald Deardorff

"The use of load and resistance factor design (LRFD) is well documented since the 1960s for structural applications when it was first adopted into the American Concrete Institute Building Code in 1963 and was established for geotechnical applications by the Danish Geotechnical Institute about the same time under the name of Limit State Design (LSD).The Federal Highway Administration required all federally funded projects to use the LRFD method by 2007. Due to this funding requirement, recent LRFD research for geotechnical applications has focused on common bridge foundations (i.e., driven or drilled shafts), resulting in good documentation for design using these methods. Unfortunately, the practicing geotechnical engineer does not intuitively know how to create resistance factors for deep foundations systems that have design methodologies and installation techniques significantly different from driven or drilled shaft foundation systems.Helical anchors typically use semiempirical methods for preliminary capacity design and a torque correlation methodology during installation to verify required capacity. Here we provide basic information on the LRFD methodology for helical anchor design. Additionally, the First- Order Second Moment (FOSM) method is applied to a previous helical anchor study (Hoyt and Clemence 1989) to determine resistance factors for an ultimate tension capacity strength limit state.MethodologyThe concept of the LRFD method is to establish factors for both the load and resistance that account for uncertainties using probability theory. The factors increase the nominal load and/or decrease the nominal resistance such that the probability of failure is an acceptable value. LRFD also accounts for the effects of load combinations (dead, live, seismic, wind, etc.) by determining the probability of the combined occurrence. The general form of the LRFD equation used by American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) is:"

Jan 1, 2009

"Standing 92 stories high and just over 1,362 ft tall, Chicago’s Trump International Hotel and Tower is perfectly positioned at the center of one of the world’s most impressive skylines.The Tower serves as a link between its famous predecessors, Willis Tower (formerly, the Sears Tower) to the south and the John Hancock Building to the north. Originally planned to be the world’s tallest building, the project was scaled back when the developers started questioning the need for super-tall buildings after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. In its River North neighborhood, Trump Tower dominates the skyline as a symbol of Chicago’s last great building boom, standing triumphantly over other high-profile projects that have been postponed due to current economic realities.It is often said that the three most important factors in real estate are location, location and location. This maxim was not forgotten by The Trump Organization when the site was selected for the International Hotel and Tower. Located two blocks west of Michigan Avenue and Chicago’s famed Magnificent Mile, the site is bound by the historic Wrigley Building to the east, Wabash Avenue to the north and west, and the Chicago River to the south. The building’s position along a bend in the Chicago River allows visitors and residents unobstructed views to the mouth of the Chicago River and Lake Michigan. Site ChallengesUnderneath the site there are approximately 10 to 20 ft of sand and urban fill underlain by soft Chicago blue clay. At 75 ft in depth, the soft clay transitions into Chicago hardpan, a very hard till that was consolidated by the glaciers over 10,000 years ago. Below the hardpan, the till turns granular with cobbles, boulders and water under pressure. Bedrock is about 100 ft below existing grade and has a weathered surface with fractures and clay seams. Unweathered limestone bedrock is sound and hard with unconfined compressive strengths of 10,000 to 20,000 psi."

Jan 1, 2009

By Alessandro Bertero, Manuel Toniolo, Vincenzo Tirozzi

"The installation of foundation elements (large-diameter Bored Piles or Diaphragm Walls) for the execution of underground works to be performed through the ""Top Down"" Technique (Stations, Car Parks, Subways, Artificial Tunnels) often requires the insertion, with pinpoint accuracy, of steel or prefabricated elements within the foundation system, to provide temporary and/or permanent support to the whole structure.The future high-speed railway station of Florence Belfiore (Italy) is a perfect example; the new station will be built in the Northwest area of Florence, about two kilometers far from the existing station of Santa Maria Novella. The project envisages installation of about 500 bored piles (1200-1500-2100 mm diameter), with lengths ranging between 50 and 70 m. In the upper inner part of 250 piles, a steel pipe (weight: 15-20 tons, length: 22-25 mt.) has to be inserted with pinpoint accuracy.The “TREVI-CALATORE” system allows to install the plunge columns and adjust their position and verticality.INTRODUCTIONThe execution of underground works via the ""Top Down"" technique, train or tube underground stations, parking shafts, tunnels, often implies the need to carefully insert steel or prefabricated structures, serving as provisional/definitive pillars, into the foundation elements.The future high-speed railway station of Florence Belfiore is a perfect example; the new station will be built in the Northwest area of Florence, located about two kilometers far from the existing station of Santa Maria Novella.The new Belfiore Station is part of the new European high-speed railway network. The works related to Florence urban penetration include (figure 1):•,a 6.5 km. twin tunnel excavated via TBM/EPB, that will run beneath Florence in a north-east direction,•,passing under more than 150 buildings, many of which can be considered historic buildings, with a soil•,coverage ranging from 6 m to 20 m;•,a North portal in Rifredi area, Firenze Castello Station;•,a South portal near Campo di Marte Station (which is also the launch shaft of the TBM)•,the new Underground Station in Belfiore area."

Jan 1, 2016

By Brian M. Fraley

"Portions of the Catholic Total Abstinence Fountain in Fairmount Park in Philadelphia, Pa., were in “imminent danger,” according to a restoration services request for proposals (RFP) issued by the City of Philadelphia in August 2014. Open voids in the subsurface beneath the foundation were causing ongoing settlement of the fountain.The fountain was unveiled in 1876 as an ornamental drinking fountain for the Centennial International Exhibition, which celebrated the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Its creation was commissioned by the Catholic Total Abstinence Union of America, an Irish temperance organization that advocated for total abstinence from alcohol. Ironically, the fountain ran dry decades ago.The now-defunct fountain features a 100 ft (30.5 m) wide granite base with three steps in the shape of a Maltese cross. The centerpiece — enclosed by a 40 ft (12.2 m) diameter basin — is a 15 ft (4.6 m) tall statue of Moses perched atop an iglooshaped marble mound. Four subsidiary statues rise from granite pedestals at the tips of each arm of the cross, including Archbishop John Carroll, Charles Carroll of Carrollton, Father Theobald Mathew and Commodore John Barry.Natural and Man-Made DamageThe City of Philadelphia’s RFP called attention to three “high priority structural areas.” It was noted that Moses, Father Mathew and the steps surrounding the fountain had been documented as public hazards. The long-term effects of water infiltration had set in, eroding mortar joints and causing some stones to jut out. Furthermore, the stone base supporting the 16 ton (14.5 tonne) statue of Moses was in danger of collapsing. The statue of Father Mathew had been struck by lightning in 1910 and was repaired with an iron and metal pin anchor system, which had succumbed to corrosion. The city considered the statue of Father Mathew as the most threatened of the statues. Mike Miluski, P.E., vice president of Compaction Grouting Services (CGS), recalled “the fountain was in pretty bad shape” as he walked onto the site in August 2016 and immediately recognized the challenges ahead."

Jan 1, 2017

By Martin B. Hudson, Kenneth S. Hudson, Gwendolyn Arreguin

A twin high-rise project site in Century City posed several foundation engineering challenges for the design team. One portion of the twin high-rise project site was required to utilize top-down construction in order to allow a driveway to remain open during construction of the project’s 40-foot deep excavation. The challenge was compounded by the need to utilize a mat foundation to support the high-rise construction and yet have temporary drilled shafts through the mat foundation area that would not create excessive differential settlement. This was accomplished by constructing a deck supported by eight drilled end- bearing drilled shafts with Osterberg load cells and five 7-foot-diameter end-bearing drilled shafts. The Osterberg load cells served to verify the capacity of each of the drilled shafts and preload the soils at the drilled shaft tips. The 7-foot-diameter shafts were constructed with bond breakers to prevent skin friction but instead mobilize end bearing (for settlement compatibility with the surrounding mat foundation). After the drilled shafts were placed, then top-down construction began beneath the driveway, leaving the driveway supported on the drilled shafts. Construction challenges included drilling of the shafts through previously abandoned tieback anchors from an adjacent parking structure basement, as well as cemented layers within the rock materials. The paper describes the use of the various analytical methods used to calculate capacities and check settlement compatibility, the construction and testing methods utilized, and the construction challenges encountered. INTRODUCTION Wood Environment and Infrastructure Solutions, Inc. (hereafter referred to as Wood) performed a geotechnical investigation for the New Century Plaza currently being constructed in the Century City District of Los Angeles, California. The New Century Plaza project consists of the construction of two new towers (designated as North and South Buildings) and the rehabilitation of the existing Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel. The existing hotel tower is 15 stories in height above the existing grade and is underlain by four subterranean basement parking levels. The new North and South Buildings will stand approximately 46 stories in height above the existing grade to accommodate residential use. The new towers are planned west of the existing hotel. The site was previously occupied by the existing hotel subterranean parking structure and overlying podium structure, and a loading dock in the southwest portion of the site. The former western portion of the podium and subterranean parking structure west of the existing hotel building western edge were demolished to allow for new subterranean levels, a new podium structure, and the new towers. The lowest floor of the proposed subterranean level required excavation on the order of 35 to 80 feet.

Jan 1, 2019

By Takefumi Takuma, Tsunenobu Nozaki, Masashi Nagano

The city of Naruto in the southwestern part of Japan is situated at the mouth of the mighty Yoshino River. An approximately 1,000m-long levee/bulkhead along one of the river’s tributaries in the city was raised with prefabricated steel panel walls on a concrete base bulkhead. Some sections of the walls’ foundations were combi-walls made of sheet pile cut-off walls and interspaced pipe piles; both of which were installed with press-in piling because the new wall alignment was very close to existing homes and businesses. A Clamp Crane, which clamped onto already installed piles and moved forward and backward on them, was utilized for a segment where the access to its piling location was too tight for a conventional crane or a track-mounted pile driver to maneuver.

Sep 8, 2021

By Paul M. Schuman, Alessandro Bertero, Giuliana A. Zelada, Sharon G. Cranston

Many jet grouted columns were recently installed to create a jet grout-treated soil foundation for an earthen embankment used in a large shoreline stabilization project in the Mystic River in Charlestown, MA. A physical test program was used to determine whether the jet grouting parameters the Contractor selected would meet the design requirements given the local soil variability, including soft river sediments and organic soils. The presence of hydrocarbons encountered in the marine sediments during the test program caused concern that the design strength could not be achieved. The published literature discusses the environmental aspects of jet grouting with hydrocarbons. The literature did not include many studies of the effect on jet grout-treated soil strength for the types and concentration of hydrocarbons encountered on this project. The grout mix, air pressure, and number of passes of jet grouting were varied in a second field test program to determine jet grouting parameters needed to achieve the design strength of columns with hydrocarbons. A geo-probe study was performed to identify the type and concentration of hydrocarbons on the site. With few exceptions, the quality control core samples from the production columns met the design requirements with many strength values far exceeding the design strength. This paper presents the data, and reviews the lessons learned. PROJECT BACKGROUND The Charlestown Bus Garage, located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is a Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) bus maintenance facility located on the Mystic River. The site was home to a coal gasification facility before it was developed by the MBTA as a bus garage in 1978. A deadman-anchored steel sheet pile bulkhead wall installed along the Mystic river on the east side of the site supports the site grade at about El. 11 ft (NAVD 1988) (Figure 1).

Jan 1, 2019

By Stefan Mewes

Europe’s second-largest seaport has installed a new combi wall consisting of pipe piles, sheet piles and inclined shaft grouted piles to support it. The new Liebherr piling rig with swinging leader was used to drive shaft grouted piles into a very dense soil layer of sand with glauconite. The 60 m Liebherr swinging leader was suspended at an inclination of 45° via a suspension frame and suspension ropes from the crawler crane. This inclined installation of shaft grouted piles via freely hanging swinging leader, as used for this project, is unique in Belgium. Moreover, the pile length of 43 m is a novelty for this type of pile. Shaft grouted piles consist of a steel profile with a separate box-like pile shoe with an open top. A thin grout is injected via an injection pipe during driving and emerges just above the pile shoe. As the pile is driven further down, so compressing the ground, the space above the pile foot is immediately filled with grout under pressure. This piling system is ideally suited for the transfer of high tensile loadings. It is a method to increase geotechnical load-bearing capacity and to reduce negative skin friction during pile driving.

Sep 1, 2022

By W. L. Chong

For a project located in Docklands Victoria, a high-rise development was proposed where the geology comprised soils of various compositions and consistencies to approximately 50m deep before being underlain by a siltstone bedrock. Due to the structural loads and spatial constraints, the majority of the foundation piles were designed to be socketed into the siltstone. Key factors in selecting the Continuous Flight Auger (CFA) technique as an effective piling solution are explained. These factors included structural and geological considerations, piling rig capabilities, pile testing regime to verify load performance and integrity, the extensive suite of construction quality controls and instrumentation records required while also achieving an appropriate piling budget and program. This paper also described how these factors underpinned the design approach of the final piling scheme. Critical aspects considered during construction and post-construction quality and pile testing records required to meet and satisfy the strict project piling specifications are also presented. The project adopted what may be considered the “best practice” in deep CFA piling. To the author’s knowledge, this project achieved the record for the deepest CFA piles in Australia where multiple piles to 53.8m deep were constructed.

Nov 1, 2022