INTRODUCTION TO SPECIALIZED

FOUNDATION CONSTRUCTION
TECHNOLOGY
Ayalneh Wondimu, B.A.Sc.,
M.Eng. (Geotech)
Oct. 02 – 13, 2017
Presentation outline:
 1.1 Overview of specialized foundation technology
 What is meant by specialized foundation techniques?
 Scopes of techniques – Globally, Locally

 1.2 Merits of Specialized Foundation Technology

 Structural Piles
 Piles as lateral support
 Grouted tie back Anchors
 Reinforced Shot-crete Membranes

 1.3 A closer look – from local experience

 Piling technology
 Anchoring technology
 Examples of Applications (Local and projects abroad)
 Omo River Bridge Project – piling, secant pile wall
 Shoring & Excavation – in Addis Ababa - piles, anchors, shot-crete.
 Offshore Piling – Songo Songo Tanzania.
Overview of specialized foundation
technology
• Any foundation solution that is out of the ordinary –
i.e aside from footing pads, mat, etc.

• Usually requires specialized machinery –

– large diameter pile drilling machines,
– small diameter anchor drilling machines

• Can be either improvement of the in-situ soil – the

shear and consolidation characteristics, seismic
responses – dynamic compaction, stone columns,
band drains, MIP- piles, etc
Overview of specialized foundation
(cont…)
• Or alternative economical replacement methods –
drilled piers, driven piles

• Temporary excavation pit stabilization – vertical walls

– adjacent pile wall, secant pile wall, sheet-pile wall.

• Permanent slope stabilization – shot-crete, permanent

anchors
Merits of Specialized Foundation
Technology
• Structural Piles
– transfer the loads from superstructures through
weak, compressible strata or water onto stronger,
more compact, less compressible and stiffer soil
or rock at depth
– Compression or Tension
– Typical usages of piles are in large high-rise
buildings, bridges, wind farms, off-shore
structures.
Merits of Specialized Foundation
Technology
• Structural Piles (Cont…)

• Figure 1:Typical Wind farm Foundation

Merits of Specialized Foundation
Technology
• Structural Piles (Cont…)

• Figure 2: Typical Pile Foundation for a Bridge

Pier
Merits of Specialized Foundation
Technology
• Structural Piles (Cont…)

• Figure 3: 3.7m Raft on 194 Nos. 1.5m Bored

Cast-in-situ Piles to 50m for Burj Khalifa
Merits of Specialized Foundation
Technology
• Piles as lateral support

– where the reaction loads of the superstructure

are predominately in the horizontal direction
– applications of piles providing significant lateral
resistance are in jetties, offshore structures,
bridge piers, shoring (retaining structure), and
tall chimneys.
Merits of Specialized Foundation
Technology
• Piles as lateral support (cont…)

• Figure 4:Songas Pipe line Trestle line

Merits of Specialized Foundation
Technology
• Piles as lateral support (cont…)

• Figure 5: Piles supporting large bridge Piers

Merits of Specialized Foundation
Technology
• Piles as lateral support (cont…)

• Figure 6: Piles supporting excavation wall

Merits of Specialized Foundation
Technology
• Grouted tie-back anchors
– provide support primarily in tension in their
installed direction
– mostly used as lateral support for excavation
protection walls (shoring walls).
– also provide support where uplift of foundation
is of concern
Merits of Specialized Foundation
Technology
• Grouted tie-back anchors (cont…)

– grouted anchors can be installed to provide

permanent support in retaining structures
– soil nails can also be employed to provide lateral
support both temporarily and permanently
Merits of Specialized Foundation
Technology
• Grouted tie-back anchors (cont…)

Figure 7: Multi-layered, multi-strand, grouted

anchors
Merits of Specialized Foundation
Technology
• Grouted tie-back anchors (cont…)

Figure 8: Two-strand, permanent grouted anchors

Merits of Specialized Foundation
Technology
• Grouted tie-back anchors (cont…)

Figure 9: Soil nailing with shot-crete membrane

Merits of Specialized Foundation
Technology
• Reinforced Shot-crete Membrane
– Used as support of excavation walls or in
combination with soil nails
– provide lateral support to the either the
excavation wall or the slope to be protected
– used as filler between bored-pile walls
Merits of Specialized Foundation
Technology
• Reinforced Shot-crete Membrane (cont..)

• Figure 10: Anchored bored-pile wall with

shot-crete membrane
Local Context
• augured / cored bored cast-in-situ piles
structural
• grouted, temporary and permanent anchors
• soldier bored pile wall with shot-crete
membrane
• secant bored pile wall – vertical retaining wall
Local Context (cont…)

Figure 12: Guide wall construction for Secant

Pile wall OMO Project
Local Context (cont…)

Figure 13: Structural Piles inside Braced

Secant pile Wall - OMO Project
Local Context (cont…)

Figure 14: First Layer Anchors completed -

Dashen Bank Project
Local Context (cont…)

Figure 14: First Layer Anchors completed -

Dashen Bank Project