Project Overview
Client: Deben Yacht Club, Woodbridge, Suffolk
Objective: To verify the structural integrity of cantilevered laterally loaded piles used in the club’s infrastructure, particularly given the challenging ground conditions.
Project Background
Deben Yacht Club, situated along the River Deben in Woodbridge, faced a unique challenge with the construction of its new facilities. The site’s ground conditions, characterised by variable alluvium, raised concerns about the reliability of standard design methods for the cantilevered piles that were to support parts of the structure. To ensure the piles would perform as needed, a tailored load testing procedure was implemented.
Methodology
Pile Design: The piles were designed using standard formulae for laterally loaded piles, but uncertainties arose due to the inconsistent soil conditions. These conditions necessitated a more rigorous verification process to ensure the safety and stability of the structure.
Load Testing Procedure: To test the load-bearing capacity of the piles:
- A barge was fitted with an excavator.
- The excavator applied a horizontal force to one of the piles to simulate lateral loads that the piles would experience in situ.
- A load-indicating sensor was attached to monitor the force applied and the resulting deflection of the pile.
Results:
The load testing confirmed that the piles could bear the required loads, with a maximum measured deflection of just two to three millimetres. This minimal deflection demonstrated the effectiveness of the design, providing confidence in the structural integrity of the piles under the given site conditions.
Conclusion
The load testing at Deben Yacht Club successfully validated the pile design, ensuring the stability and safety of the club’s new facilities. This project highlights the importance of tailored testing in construction projects where ground conditions present significant challenges. By conducting these tests, the engineering team was able to deliver a robust solution that met the client’s needs and overcame the uncertainties posed by the site’s variable alluvium.
This approach not only ensured the longevity of the club’s infrastructure but also reinforced the importance of verifying standard designs under atypical conditions.
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