STEEL PIPE MANUFACTURING PLANT
PROJECT OVERVIEW
Morris-Shea, an industry-leading deep foundation contractor, completed installation of two cofferdams at the Berg Pipe facility expansion in Panama City, Florida. The cofferdams will accommodate new pipe-forming echnology that upgrades the existing plant’s large diameter steel pipe manufacturing and coating capabilities. Morris-Shea fielded a highly experienced team who completed the harborside project on schedule.
COFFERDAM INSTALLATION
The Morris-Shea team drilled 202 18 inch diameter continuous flight auger (CFA) piles to depths of 35 and 70 feet in sandy subsurface soils to produce a deep foundation for the cofferdams. Eight specified CFA piles were redesigned to be H-piles to accommodate below ground voids and pile flushing. The cofferdams were constructed of PZC sheet piles installed to 30 and 40 feet depths. One cell was cantilevered and required no bracing and the other utilized 1 waler.
SOIL CONDITIONS
The geotechnical test report noted that existing fill was encountered at depths of 6 to 8 feet below the existing ground surface. These deposits generally consisted of gray, black, brown, white, and tan, poorly-graded sand with silt. Coastal Plain Deposits were discovered underlying the fill at depths beginning at 8 to 12 feet below the existing ground surface. Test borings indicated consistently medium dense, poorly-graded sand and silt. These subsurface soils demonstrated natural moisture contents ranging from 13% to 35%. The existing fill was deemed to be suitable for support of concrete slabs and lightly-loaded foundations following reconditioning.
