Activities

Engineering and TestingGulf Foundation

Engineering
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Engineering

The challenging marine and foundation construction projects that Gulf Foundation undertakes, often include the involvement of our engineering and design team. Our Engineering and design team has both the theoretical knowledge as well as the practical experience to convert a concept or tender designs into a detailed “ready for construction” set of drawings and to prepare the required method statements. With a focus on constructability, safety and planning we will work together with our client to implement the most challenging solutions.

Design

Gulf Foundation has the capability to perform its own in-house detailed design for foundation and marine projects. This allows for an integrated approach of our projects, in which we can offer both our practical experience, creativity, scientific approach, as well as theoretical knowledge to reach the most cost-effective and tailor-made solutions. Our fields of expertise include:

Geotechnical engineering
Structural engineering
Coastal engineering and hydraulic modelling
Port and waterway engineering
Environmental engineering
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In-House-Testing
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In-House Testing

Gulf Foundation has the know how, facilities and experience to execute dynamic and static pile and ground anchor compression and tension tests as well as soil bearing capacity tests and to perform the interpretation of test results.

Static axial compressive load tests

Test loading is the most definitive method of determining load capacity of a pile. This method is applicable to all types of deep foundations such as piles, regardless of the installation method. The test load is defined based on the resulting axial pile load determined in the detailed pile design.

Large scale plate load tests

The large-scale plate load test is a test method used to estimate or determine the bearing capacity of soil by applying a fixed known load. It also determines the subsidence of soil after applying a specified pressure, depending on the design proof load. The tests are executed according to the provisions described in ASTM D1194-94 “Standard test method for Bearing Capacity of Soil for Static Load and Spread Footings”.

Static axial tensile load tests

The objective of Static axial tensile load tests is to verify the behaviour of tension piles. The test load is defined based on the resulting anchor loads determined in the detailed design of the anchored structure.

Pile lateral load tests

Pile lateral load test is usually conducted to estimate the lateral capacity of a pile. Piles are generally used to transmit vertical loads to the surrounding soil. However, they are also sometimes subject to lateral loads due to wind pressure, water pressure, earth pressure, earthquakes, etc. When the horizontal component of the load is small in comparison to the vertical load, it is generally assumed to be carried by vertical piles and no special provision for lateral load is made. Piles that are used under tall chimneys, towers, high rise buildings, high retaining walls, bridges and other concrete elevated structures are normally subjected to high lateral loads. These piles should resist not only to vertical loads but also to lateral loads. The interpretation of the test measures:

  • Efficiency of the pile loads
  • Lateral soil stiffness
  • Lateral pile response
  • Pile deflection and soil response
  • Ultimate lateral resistance
Sonic Pile Integrity Tests

This non-destructive test method is a quick method to evaluate the shaft integrity of concrete piles. The test results provide information on

  • Pile continuity
  • Consistency of material
  • Location of defect
  • Degree of defect

The test method is performed with a handheld hammer, a sensitive accelerometer, and the Pile Integrity Tester.

The accelerometer is attached to the top of the pile, and then a compressive wave is generated by tapping the pile head with a hammer. When the downward compression wave encounters a change in cross section or in concrete quality, it generates an upward tension wave that is later observed at the pile top.
The velocity recorded along with the subsequent reflections from the pile toe or pile discontinuities are graphically displayed.

The effectiveness of the system is limited to a pile length not exceeding 30 to 60 pile diameters depending on soil condition and concrete quality.

Vibration monitoring

Gulf Foundation has the equipment and experience to monitor vibration intensity in and around a project site. This usually concerns vibration caused by vibratory or impact hammers during piling works, heavy machinery, or rock blasting works.