Abstract:
As Greater Vancouver population continues to grow, developers have been forced to build bigger buildings on sites with less desirable soil conditions. As a result, there has been a significant increase in the use of all types of deep foundations technologies. Current design codes in Canada require the use of Limit States Design (Load and Resistance Factor Design/LFRD). Deep foundations installed with empirical methods require a safety factor 55% higher than deep foundations that have been subjected to a static load test.
Previously, testing large piles has often meant more of the same large pile and large test frames to limit pile interactions. By incorporating helical anchors, TerraCana has developed increasingly modular and complex test assemblies and procedures to provide alternate methods of testing all types of deep foundations.
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To date the largest test TerraCana has performed was 2,250 kips and has designs and plans for up to 5,400 kips. This presentation will have examples of test assemblies, helical piles selection, procedures used, and case studies.