Vibro Compaction for the Lock Hohenwarthe

The Lock Hohenwarthe near Magdeburg, Germany is the key structure for the intersection of the River Elbe with the Mittelland-Canal and the Elbe-Havel-Canal. Former construction started in 1939, but was terminated in World War II. The unfinished structure has been covered without any compaction using locally available sand. The area of the old ship lift is now being used for the outer harbour of the new lock. In order to minimize settlements and to protect the clay seal underneath the harbour basin, vibro compaction has been executed. Results of the pre-construction test-program as well as results of pre- and post-compaction testing are presented in this paper.