Thursday, July 11, 2013

Building Layout

The contractor has arrived on site and started to layout the building this week. This is an exciting step as it means that everything is squared away and we are ready to start the construction work. The building layout method that they use here is quite different to the typical way a survey crew would complete this same work back in Canada.  No survey equipment used, only a tape measure and clear water hose to check levels. They have welded rebar to the surrounding security fence at a set level and have been stringing wires along all the gridlines.   It makes for a bit of a maze to get around the site.

(Setting layout lines - string lines)


The crushed stone and sand have started to arrive from Syhlet (24 hour drive away on the Indian border). They load the trucks to well over twice the allowable limit on PEI (+35 M.ton). This makes it a challenge to keep adequate access roads during the rainy season.

(Material stockpile yard)

The Pile Testing was completed at the end of June.  The results were very positive in that the soil conditions are suitable for the updated structural design. There was less than 1.5mm of net settlement at double the design load.

(Test pile ballast ready for testing)

(The corner was starting to sink a little so I wanted to do my part to pick it up )

(Testing pressure gage)

(27 hours of straight testing)

(below the sandbag pile taking readings)

(Hydraulic Jack with settlement gages)

(After testing - tearing down the sand bag pile)


Jon

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