Industrial Wood Chip Facility Retrofit


Project Information

Project Type:
Foundation Engineering
 
Client: 
Flakeboard
 
Location: 
Eugene, Oregon
 
Date: 
2012
 

This retrofit called for an increase in the size and load capacity of a chip truck/trailer dump facility for an industrial manufacturer of MDF wood products, requiring an upgraded foundation system to support large static and dynamic loads.

Soils at the site consisted of very weak, saturated organic silts and clays with low bearing capacity and a high risk of large settlements for conventional spread footing foundation systems. Micropiles were the recommended alternative foundation support system because of their very high load capacity, economy, and the ability to install the micropiles through existing structural elements with a minimum of excavation.

Services provided by K & A Engineering, Inc. included:

  • The initial Geotechnical investigation to characterize subsurface soil conditions and make recommendations for suitable foundation support
  • Design and construction criteria for the recommended foundation alternative
  • Quality assurance inspections for load testing and construction of micropiles