ABSTRACT
One of
the goals of the FIN-C2M project is to further develop the old DATU (Database
on Turku Underpinning Projects) and MIDA databases (Micropile Database).
As a result of this the two earlier databases have been merged creating
a completely new database.
Following
this merger the underpinning database can now be used for projects
all around the World and lots of additional details about the projects can be
entered into the micropile load test database MIDA. In total there are now
details about 110 micropiling projects, almost 400 load tests and close to 9000
micropiles in the database.
The
database is accessible with an internet browser and access can be given to
either full set of data or to specific parts of it. Inserting data into the database
can also be done with a browser. Some
graphical representations from the entire dataset can be
given to the public.
INTRODUCTION
FIN-C2M
project at Turku University of Applied Sciences (TUAS) is part of an international
cooperation C2M (Case 2 Micropile Research in ISM Collaboration)
coordinated by the International Society for Micropiles (ISM).
The
collaboration is lead by Professore James A. Mason (University of Tennessee,
USA). C2M Collaboration improves the already strong global growth
and expansion of micropile markets. For a long time market growth has
been 20…40 % annually and markets in the Nordic have been among the busiest
in the World. On the other hand e.g. the underpinning of buildings in St.
Petersburg have only begun and the need for underpinning exists in all oldcities
Copenhagen, Venice and old Dutch cities.
The new
Micropile Database is a database that can store various details from micropiling
projects. The core of the database is formed by the old DATU (Database
on Turku Underpinning Projects) and MIDA (Micropile Database) databases.
However this new Micropile Database removes many of the restrictions
that these old databases had. For example DATU could handle only
projects that were done in Turku, Finland and MIDA had very little details about
piles outside the scope of load testing. The new Micropile Databse is
designed
to handle all kinds of piling projects from around the world whether small
or large.
DATA
MODEL
Data in
the new Micropile Database is stored based on the micropiling project.
Each
project is linked to a construction types, usually a building. Construction details
include the basic details of the building, including volume, area, year of completion
and location. Project details describe mainly the time span of the project.
Most of the other tables are linked to the project, including contact details
of companies and persons involved in the project, causes for the underpinning
project, generic notes and other tasks performed during the underpinning.
Also cost details and the cost of the project can be stored into the new
Micropile Database. More specific details can be stored about various observations
made before, during and after the project such as vibration, settlement,
moisture, cracking, noise, water level and sampling hole observations.
Load transfer structures, piles, load tests and soil data are inserted
separately.
Load
transfer structure details include the type and basic measurements of various
components of the structure. The type of the load transfer structure tells
the basic layout of load transfer components, whether jacks and anchors are
used and in what general configuration they are used. Soil data is stored in layers.
Each layer represents a distinctive layer of soil the
piles are installed into. Each site can have several columns of soil layers and
each pile can be linked to a certain soil column. Soil layers are characterized
by soil type and few geotechnical parameters.
VISUALIZATIONS
In the
new Micropile Database there are several ways to visualize the data in the
database. Some visualizations can be drawn from the entire database such as
the distribution of various piling methods used during each year (Figure
1), length distribution of piles by piling method (Figure 2) or load transfer
type (Figure 3) or cost analysis by for example length of piles and piling method (Figure
4).
Figure 1 |
Figure 2 |
Figure 3 |
Figure 4 |
CONCLUSIONS
As a
result of the new Micropile Database, an invaluable tool for analyzing micropiling
projects will be available. The database could be used for analyzing
various details in micropiling projects and their effects e.g. on load bearing
capacity or costs. The data available in the database has already been
used to analyze the cost of underpinning.