Restoring Structural Integrity to Critical Steel Pipe Piles in Seattle
The Challenge Severe Damage to Load-Bearing Infrastructure: The steel pipe piles supporting a major facility in Seattle had suffered significant corrosion and wear, compromising their structural integrity. These piles were the primary support for the client’s mission-critical operations, meaning a failure would have resulted in a catastrophic shutdown – an unacceptable risk.
Specifically, the piles exhibited significant section loss. The level of deterioration threatened the stability of the entire facility, which relied on the piles as the foundation for the concrete deck above.
Operational Urgency: The client needed an immediate and comprehensive solution to address the urgent problem. A potential pile failure, which would have forced a complete shutdown of the client’s operations, could result in major disruptions and financial losses.
QuakeWrap’s Innovative Solution Engineered for Structural Restoration: Recognizing the critical nature of the project, the team designed an advanced repair solution using PileMedic® laminates that went beyond standard pile jacketing. The repair included innovative features like ShearWrap to ensure a continuous load path without the need for welding shear studs. The braces were also redesigned to fully restore the integrity of the steel pipe piles – going above and beyond basic remediation.
Specifically, the QuakeWrap solution incorporated a system of PileMedic® jackets, vertical reinforcing bars and ShearWraps to re-establish the piles’ load-bearing capacity and resistance to lateral forces. This comprehensive approach, as opposed to a simple jacket, was essential to addressing the severe damage and ensuring the long-term stability of the structure.
Specialized Expertise: Leveraging their extensive experience in steel pipe pile repair, QuakeWrap was able to deliver a tailored solution that addressed the complex needs of this high-stakes project. This included providing the client with detailed design specifications, to ensure the repair was executed correctly.
Lasting Results Stabilized Infrastructure: The repaired piles now provide stable, reliable support for the client’s facility, ensuring uninterrupted operations. The cross-bracing and reinforcement system implemented by QuakeWrap has fully restored the structural integrity of the piles, mitigating the risk of a catastrophic failure.
Exceeding Client Expectations: The client was extremely satisfied with QuakeWrap’s work. This level of client satisfaction is a testament to QuakeWrap’s ability to deliver solutions that not only address the technical challenges but also meet the operational needs of the facility.
By combining their technical knowledge, with a deep understanding of the client’s operational requirements, QuakeWrap was able to deliver a lasting solution that exceeded the client’s expectations and strengthened the relationship for future collaborations.
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