Micropiles at the Transformation AGO Project

Date: 2011      Download the PDF

Toronto's Art Gallery of Ontario, eager for new exhibit and storage space and a freshening of its image, embarked in 2000 on an ambitious scheme to achieve these goals. Structural engineering work was begun in 2001, a construction manager was hired in 2002 and the foundation design was developed and redeveloped until late 2005 when the first trade contract was tendered.   More »

Grout Flushed Micropile Foundations for a New Rail Overpass

Date: 2009      Download the PDF

Micropiles remain an emerging technology in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) market in Canada due to a variety of factors including a well deserved reputation for costliness relative to conventional deep foundation types. Ironically, when micropiles were proposed post-tender in place of the specified driven pile scheme for a railway infrastructure project, it was the cost effectiveness and cost certainty of the micropile scheme that ultimately lead to its acceptance.   More »

The SMART Contractometer – Its Application to Micropile Quality Assurance

Date: 2005      Download the PDF

This paper details the experience of the authors with the application of a new instrument that allows real-time measurement of relative movement at multiple points along the shaft of a micropile during loading. The working principles of the instrument are revealed, and results from 6 field applications are presented, complete with analysis and interpretation of data.  More »

Design and Construction of a Micropile Wall to Stabilize a Railway Embarkment

Date: 2004      Download the PDF

This paper presents details of a slope stabilization scheme built in late 2003 at a 12m-high railway embankment in southern Ontario, Canada. The owner, faced with continuing maintenance and safety issues arising from numerous nuisance slides, and residential neighbours in close proximity to the slope, sought new proposals to replace a previous recommendation to cut down all trees and undertake a deep soil nailing scheme.  More »

Performance and Instrumentation of Micropiles for Paper Mill Expansion

Date: 2004      Download the PDF

Expansion of the Bowater Pulp and Paper Mill in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada required the enhancement of column andpier loads at several locations. A new hopper bin placed on the roof of the structure resulted in significant increases to existing column loads. The present spread footings could not be increased to accommodate the new loads and provide acceptable settlements. The mill was to remain operating during the construction which, combined with cramped conditions and low overhead clearance limited the foundation options available. As a result micropiles were chosen to augment the vertical capacity of the piers.  More »