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The FASTEEL Systems performance data was specified by Archer Daniels Midland (ADM)
Design Group engineers to correct ongoing issues with one of the massive cotton
seed storage buildings. The building had sustained a tremendous amount of damage
due to straight-line winds in excess of 100 mph which was causing uplift issues
when the storage house was empty. In addition to the uplift, downloading of the
foundation created problems at harvest time when the building was filled with harvested
seed. |
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The engineers designed thirty-four reinforced concrete pads around the perimeter
of the building, which would create the base for the massive buttresses extending
up the sides of the building. Each 36” thick concrete pad had a cage of #8 rebar
which was placed on top of the FASTEEL System piers. A custom threaded tension
rod assembly was manufactured and utilized to extend into the concrete pad. Each
pad required a series of piers that would act in both tension and compression. The
pier installation was coordinated closely with the concrete crews and iron workers
and was completed in a total of eighteen (18) days for all 292 helical piers. The
average depth was 45’ over the entire project with battered piers reaching depths
of 55’. The following photos show various stages of the project. |
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An IHI 55N mini-excavator with a 20k drive head and swivel assembly was used for
the installation |
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Engineered flowable fill was encountered on the north side of the building and required
a customfabricated helical with a rock bit at the tip to penetrate to depths of
12 feet below grade. After punching through the fill, normal installation resumed. |
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The fill was estimated to be 1500-1800 psi and as thick as 12’ in some areas. |
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An electronic torque tracking device was utilized to monitor the installation of
all piers. The device enables the operator to view a digital display of torque values
in real time to ensure that critical installation values are being met. The data
from the device was uploaded to a laptop at the end of each day and a permanent
file was created for each pier installed. |
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3 1/2" pier being installed at a 45 degree angle to resist lateral movement and/or
uplift |
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Tripple bolted, pipe on pipe connection is the standard for our 3 1/2" pipe helical |
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A view of one of the thirty-four pads cut to elevation, capped and redy to receive
threaded rods and rebar cage prior to forming and pouring of the concrete pile cap. |
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Rebar cage being placed into the hole after pier installation. |
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Pile cap formed and poured over the series of piers. Lag bolts are in place and
will be ready to receive the steel buttresses once the concrete reaches proper curing
parameters |
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Seed storage house #10 has been fully restored and is now able to withstand the
forces of natrue as well as the stockpiling of tremendous amounts of cotton seed
when the harvest occurs in September |
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