FEATURE
APF Jet Filter
Weep Hole
Filtration System
Model JF-50000
NEW
Sheet Pile
Connector
Timber Uplift
Connector Galvanized
Model TC-7612
Provides tension
capacity of 12 tons
Box 1264 Clifton, NJ 07012-1264
NEW
Tel. 973-773-8400/800-526-9047 / Fax. 973-773-8442
Email: apf@associatedpile.com Website: www.associatedpile.com
TESTING THE THEORY
By Adam G. Theiss, P.E., S.E., Magnusson
Klemencic Associates
On a recent high-rise, residential project in the
upper mid-west, working with the geotechnical
engineer to consider pile support cost in a holistic
way proved to be a significant benefit to the
project. The initial foundation solutions for the
project were limited to certain maximum sizes
and capacities of driven piles defined by the local
industry norms.
Due to these limitations and the significant
magnitude of loads to be supported, pile
groupings were large and, in some extreme
conditions, overlapping. With guidance from the
geotechnical engineer, the design and ownership
teams chose to implement a driven pile design
and testing approach which strategically pushed
beyond the local industry norms.
The approach required early buy-in and
commitment by the design and ownership teams
in order to accept the upfront cost of the testing
program, to set up a schedule that accommodated
the testing program timing requirements and
to work with the local contractors to get them
comfortable with the advantages of strategically
exceeding the normal standards.
At the end of the process, the cost savings, the
novel design and testing approach brought to
the project forced the design team to ask the
question: “Why is this approach not used all
the time?” The cost savings from the approach
were readily measurable in the material and
schedule savings were greatly appreciated by the
ownership team and were well worth the foresight
and extra efforts required of the design team to
manage the early design process.
Komurka, Van E. (2004). “Incorporating Set-Up and Support Cost
Distributions into Driven Pile Design.” Current Practices and Future
Trends in Deep Foundations, ASCE/Geo-Institute, Geotechnical Special
Publication No. 125, 0-7844-0743-6, 16-49.
Van Komurka holds a B.S. degree in civil
engineering from the University of Wisconsin–
Platteville and an M.S. in civil engineering
from Colorado State University. He has a
30-plus-year career as a geotechnical engineer,
most recently at the helm of Wagner Komurka
Geotechnical Group. Komurka is a member
of the American Society of Civil Engineers
Geo-Institute’s Deep Foundations Committee, of the Deep Foundations
Institute’s Driven Pile Committee and of the Technical Committee of
PDCA. He has authored multiple publications and is an instructor for
the course “Driven Pile Foundations – Design and Construction” offered
by the Federal Highway Administration National Highway Institute.
Adam G. Theiss, P.E., S.E., is a senior associate
at Magnusson Klemencic Associates, an
award-winning structural and civil engineering
firm headquartered in Seattle, Wash.,
with a satellite office in Chicago. Theiss has
been involved in high-rise office and residential
towers throughout the United States from full
block developments to towers up to 76 stories.
He is also active in MKA’s foundations and
performance-based seismic design technical
specialist teams.
nexusplexus / 123RF Stock Photo
72 | ISSUE 3 2018
/www.associatedpile.com
link
/www.associatedpile.com
link
