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All types of foundations may be designed. Precast concrete, rotary bored, tubular steel, BSP cased and CFA piles have all been used on various schemes as suited to the ground

conditions and sensitivity of location. Alternatively, raft, beam and pad or strip foundations may be utlised as appropriate. Our combined strength in both geotechnics and structures allows the structure and foundation/soil system to be designed in tandem for maximum efficency and economy.

Retaining walls have been design in most materials. Timber or concrete crib walls are often appropriate where movement can be tolerated and appearance is important. Contiguous bored piles may be used when a new development requires excavating into an existing hill side, or around a proposed deep basement. Reinforced concrete walls are used where walls can be backfilled after construction. Reinforced brickwork has also been part of the design for bridge abutments and reinforced blockwork for small scale walls for swimming pools and the like. Sheet piles are utilised for temporary structures or for quay walls.

Embankments bring their own problems, for instance, the embankment to carry the runway extension over the soft alluvial and glacial deposits at Derry Airport. This involved an extensive instrumentation system to measure the pore water pressure and settlement during construction and a short period of surcharge loading. Great care was required to control the rate at which the edges of the embankment were built up to prevent localised slope failure.

Photos: left to right and top to bottom in order.
Retaining Wall, Shanklin.
Rotary Auger, I.O.W.
Load Testing a BSP Cased Pile. Fairoak.
Rock Anchors, Ventnor.
Rotary Augered Piles, Cowes.
Steel Tubular Piles, Merlin Quay.
P.C. Piles, Bursledon.

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