How Thermal Integrity Profiling ensures diaphragm wall integrity

Ever seen 36,000 pounds fall out of the sky? A recent post from Garbin GeoStructural Group about load testing brought back some great memories of Rapid Load Testing in Florida. On this project, debris-laden sands were a concern. The WBG team wanted to know whether heavy loads would bulge the aggregate piers or crush debris within the soil. To answer that, we turned to dynamic testing via Rapid Load Testing (RLT). ❓ How Rapid Load Tests (RLTs) work: A weight is dropped onto a load frame/steel plate, and pile accelerometers measure the resulting deflection. With the impact force, measured deflection, and solid knowledge of the existing soils, engineers can predict how a ground improvement system will perform. ⚠️ A word of caution: RLTs can give misleading results in low-permeability soils. In clayey or shallow groundwater conditions, the test may generate excess pore water pressure that cannot dissipate during the test. The danger is mistaking that excess pore pressure for soil performance—leading to an overly optimistic design. #geotechnicalengineering #groundimprovement #aggregatepiers #stonecolumns #loadtesting

Dr. Xinbao Yu was awarded a 2-year $195,805 award from TxDOT for his project “Clay and Shale LRFD Design Criteria for Drilled Shaft Foundations.”   Summary: TxDOT is advancing its approach to drilled shaft design by transitioning from the traditional Texas Cone Penetrometer (TCP) method to the nationally recognized AASHTO LRFD framework for drilled shaft foundations. This shift emphasizes resistance-based design methods, which account for both side (skin friction) and base (end bearing) resistance under varying subsurface conditions. To direct deep foundation design to use the most accurate methods based on data received from standardized drilling and logging, it is necessary to understand the reliability of calculations and gain further trust in the resistance factors in the current AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications. Therefore, the research team aims to create a likelihood map of shale and calibrate resistance factors for drilled shafts, thereby enhancing the design of drilled shafts. These two objectives are both data-driven and utilize a variety of data-centered methods and tools. With the established database from this study, advanced statistical analyses will be conducted to evaluate the accuracy of AASHTO/FHWA design methods and some DOT methods, and to calibrate new resistance factors for each of these methods in designing drilled shafts in Texas clays and shales. The results will provide TxDOT with data-driven design tools that improve accuracy, optimize foundation performance, and reflect the unique geotechnical conditions of the state—marking a major step forward in modernizing Texas’ drilled shaft design practices.

Less reliable factored design for everything except single pile foundations. Texas Department of Transportation is making a mistake in adopting LRFD for earth retaining structures, as this will result in an unjustifiable increase in public spending on retaining structures vs. the current practice. In some cases, LRFD will produce unsafe designs. I did reach out to them and offered to show them why this would increase public spending without benefit, but in typical government fashion, I was ignored. While I was skeptical of TCP when I first came to Texas, I concluded that the decision to ditch this local experience is not entirely justified. Work by many engineers to distinguish TCP adaptation to different soil types was not adopted, as the decision to move away from TCP had already been made. Good luck, Civil Engineering Department, UT-Arlington, and looking forward to the outcome of your work!

Foundation drilling and grouting. Downstream of the dam. Part of California’s largest dam replacement in decades. The Calaveras Dam will rise 220 feet high. A modern, seismic-resistant structure. Built to strict safety and environmental standards near the Calaveras Fault. The challenge? Difficult access. Complex geology. Seepage risks through fractured bedrock. Condon-Johnson & Associates, Inc. solution stood out. High-mobility cement grouts with varying viscosities. Real-time monitoring through a custom computer system. Careful sequencing to stay aligned with critical dam earthworks. The scale was significant. Four different drill rigs. Non-typical foundation grouting procedures. All while meeting traditional performance standards. For me, this shows the value of expertise and collaboration. The team worked seamlessly with design and construction partners. Keeping the programme moving, and the project on track. Safer dams. Smarter foundations. A step forward for critical infrastructure.

A vertical pile load test, also known as a static load test or axial load test, is a geotechnical investigation method used to determine the load-bearing capacity of a pile foundation. It involves applying a gradually increasing vertical load to the pile head and monitoring the resulting settlement. This helps engineers assess if the pile can safely support the intended structural load.  https://lnkd.in/dQjTB3-Q like subscribe & share

Southern Water is opting to use horizontal directional drilling to avoid long disruption times as it cleans up its aging water supply in West Sussex. https://lnkd.in/gnDxHxvv #trenchless #trenchlesstechnology #UK #HDD

This is a presentation slide I prepared earlier to illustrate the typical procedure for bored piles execution in the TMT Multipurpose Terminal Project, Alexandria Port, The process can be summarized as follows: 1- Setting out and positioning for the temporary casing 2- Installation of the temporary casing 3- Drilling inside the casing to the target tip level 3- While drilling begins, start pumping bentonite into the drilling hole inside 4-Once drilling reachs the tip level, the bentonite washing cycle should be start and the depth should be verified 5- After the depth and bentonite properties verification, Proceed with reinforcement cage installation 6- Install the tremie pipe with plug 7- Place concrete using the tremie pipe from the base upwards to avoid segregation and water contamination. - Bentonite slurry was required because of water/seepage was excessive. - Tremie concreting is important to ensure pile integrity in marine conditions. - Some pile integrity testing (PIT, sonic logging) followed execution. - Static load testing had been performed for 20% of total piles quantity. #MarineEngineering #CivilEngineering #GeotechnicalEngineering #FoundationEngineering #BoredPiles #PileConstruction #MarineInfrastructure #PortDevelopment #CoastalEngineering #DeepFoundations #ConstructionProjects #EngineeringDesign #AlexandriaPort #InfrastructureDevelopment #EngineeringExcellence #Drivingpiles #Driving #Piles

Minimizing environmental impact is a critical factor in modern utility construction. Trenchless technologies such as Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) and auger boring offer low-disturbance solutions that reduce surface disruption, limit restoration requirements, and accelerate project timelines. Learn how strategic trenchless methods support both performance and environmental compliance: https://lnkd.in/g7R34xsz

🌏 Aussie geotechnical engineers, elevate your sampling expertise! Download the recording of Prof. Jubert Pineda (University of Newcastle) in Legion Drillings recent webinar on The Importance of Sampling Disturbance in Geotechnical drilling and sampling. Discover best practices, fixed-piston and mini-block sampler insights, and cutting-edge CT scan techniques. Watch the full session: https://lnkd.in/g7z7DDi6 or the 12-min highlight: https://lnkd.in/gAeRKJdZ. #GeotechAU #SoilSampling #Engineering

⬇️ HOLE STRAIGHTNESS - A make-or-break factor in drilling performance? Here’s why hole deviation and straightness matters in every project—from mines to metro tunnels: 🔷 Precision targeting → Straight holes ensure you hit the intended depth, angle, and coordinates— essential for blasting, grouting, or piling. 🔷 Safer urban operations → In sensitive areas, straightness reduces the risk of deviating into adjacent structures or restricted zones. 🔷 Reduced rework → Avoid costly re-drilling or premature tool wear caused by deviation-induced stress. ✅ The takeaway? Water-powered DTH delivers straighter holes than air-DTH or top hammer systems — especially in homogeneous rock. ... But how ? - Water is incompressible → No ground pressurization - Lower up-hole velocity → Less wear, more control - Tight drill-to-borehole fit → Better trajectory stability 📊 Real-world projects like Wolf Creek Dam (USA) demanded <0.15% deviation. Wassara-hammers met the spec — air-hammers couldn’t. 🔄 Next week: How Wassara-waterpowered DTH reduces energy use by up to 75% vs. air systems. #lkab #lkabwassara #drilling #performance