Client
Sappi IBL Tanks
Location
Mpumalanga
Project Description
The project entailed the implementation of a suitable foundation solution for a cylindrical tank with a diameter of 10 meters and a height of 24 meters. The self-weight of the tank under service loads was determined to be 32,650 kN (excluding wind and seismic loads, which were taken into account). The subsurface geology, consisting primarily of sandy clays interspersed with clay (WAD) layers, was unable to provide adequate support, requiring a deep foundation system. Given the site constraints, it was determined that a self-drilling micropile solution, in the form of a pile group, would be the most appropriate foundation solution for the tank.
Project Tasks
The following design tasks were conducted for the foundation design:
- Pile group analysis using Rocscience’s RS Pile Module.
- Pile geotechnical capacity and design.
- Structural capacity of micropiles.
Project Results
The project was successfully executed, with a total of over 1,800 meters of drilling carried out to install all the necessary micropiles.