At a new energy-from-waste plant currently under construction in Avonmouth, near Bristol, P J Edwards has successfully completed the design and construction of another complex deep bunker.
The sophisticated design of a propped secant wall involved the use of detailed finite element analyses to model the interaction between the large diameter piles and the propping structure at ground level. The design work for the 14m deep excavation was carried out by our design partners, Byrne Looby Partners (UK) and it necessitated close interaction with both the principal designer and main contractor to ensure that preferred construction sequences could be accommodated.
At times during the 12 week construction period, four piling rigs were in action on the restricted site including two rotary piling rigs and two cfa rigs. The 1200mm diameter cfa piles were installed to depths of 22m by the company's recently purchased Llamada P135. Full length reinforcing cages were plunged to depths of 22m through the wet concrete of the newly formed piles.
Close co-operation with the main contractor enabled the works to be completed ahead of programme.