Lessons Learned in Re-Starting a Stalled Project-Video

Video Transcription

Video Summary

A geotechnical team was brought in after a project’s 543 auger-cast piles were halted by a stop-work order over concerns about grout strength, corrosion, capacity, and installation records. Rather than discard the foundation and relocate the building, the team documented pile conditions and reconciled installation logs with inspection reports. Corrosion concerns were ruled out, and a targeted testing program assessed pile integrity and performance using low-strain, high-strain, and lateral-load tests. Results generally showed the piles met requirements and had adequate capacity. The team recommended repairing certain piles and abandoning only those with severe defects. Ultimately, just seven piles—slightly over 1% of the total—needed replacement, the stop-work order was rescinded, and the project was completed. Key lessons: systematically document existing conditions, investigate discrepancies, use testing to reduce uncertainty, and determine what can be salvaged before rejecting an entire stalled project.

Keywords

geotechnical engineering

auger-cast piles

pile testing

foundation remediation

corrosion assessment

stop-work order