OWNER:
A. N. Richards Ltd.
ENGINEER:
JPS Structural Chester
GENERAL CONTRACTOR:
Studio83
MAIN FIGURES:
72 Stone Columns
Project Details
A new HGV Workshop & MOT Centre is being constructed on a site which has been a HGV haulage yard for the past decade. Menard was initially approached by Studio83 who were looking for a ground improvement solution as an alternative to a piled scheme which would be incompatible with the proposed inspection pits in the new structure. As the use of the haulage yard was still in use during the construction works it was imperative that the working area was kept to a minimum.
Ground Conditions
Made Ground was encountered in all exploratory hole locations from ground level to depths of between 0.50mbgl and 2.70mbgl; the soils directly below the made ground varied between sandy gravels and gravelly clays (Glacial Till).
Solution
The made ground consisted of a mixture of soft clays and loose sandy gravels containing various fragments of clinker and brick, and without soil improvement or replacement would lead to unacceptable post construction settlements and deformations. Menard’s solution was to install Vibro Stone Columns (VSC) utilising the top feed technique through the made ground and terminating in the firm to stiff clays/medium dense gravels. With this relatively small project Menard was able to complete the installation and testing within 1 day allowing the client to begin the foundation works immediately after the demobilisation of our equipment.
Sustainable development
The use of the very low carbon solution of Vibro Stone Columns (VSC) rather than concrete piles helped towards reducing the overall embodied carbon footprint of the works.
