Repairing the Foundation of a Tilting Silo with Steel Piers
Customer
Location
Challenge
After several freeze and thaw cycles a crack formed in the silo’s foundation. Over time the crack expanded and permitted water to erode the soil under the silo’s foundation. The northwest portion of the silo’s foundation had settled 4 inches causing the silo to tilt. In order to re-stabilize the foundation, the 680,000 pound silo needed to be lifted, leveled and structurally supported.
Solution
The structural load was transferred from the soil to 18 ECP steel piers. The steel piers were driven to depths of 35 and 50 feet below the silo to the load bearing stratum. After each pier was load tested, custom 25 ton RC-Series hydraulic jacks were attached to a bracket on the top of each steel pier. Powered by a Z-Class pump, the hydraulic jacks applied 48,000 pounds of force at each placement to lift the silo 2 ½ inches. Once level, the pier cap bolts were tightened and the hydraulic jacks were removed. The silo is now structurally supported by the ECP Steel Piers.
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