Deep foundations for large constructions

The production of pile foundations for big structures — e.g. bridges, towers and slope stabilization — are a steady challenge for the foundation engineer. This challenge is not only based on the pile dimensions (diameter of 1,20 m up to 2,10 m, pile lengths up to 70 m), but also by the ground conditions and the equipment for constructing in river beds, the onshore areas and in the center of the cities. As the geology is known by the soil report, there is in most cases a difference between the result given by the report and the conditions which are found actually during executing these large piles. Very often additional measures are necessary as: dewatering, cleaning of drilling fluid before concreting, grouting, chiselling and stabilisation of the ground. The report gives explanation to the complicated system of two large foundation jobs: the foundation of the highest office building in Europe — Commerzbank Frankfurt — and the foundation of the world’s largest cable stayed bridge ‘Pont de Normandie’.