The Route 6 /10 10 Interchange Design/Build project, located in Providence, Rhode Island, involves thedesign and construction of five (5) new elevated bridge structures to replace and reconfigure the existinginterchange and to provide a link between Route 10 northbound and Route 6 westbound. Due to sitelogistics, headroom restrictions, and depth to bedrock, 50 ton drilled micropiles installed in the deepmedium dense sand strata were initially proposed as the deep foundation solution. Post project award,Geosciences Testing and Research, Inc. (GTR) performed various analyses and developed an alternatedriven pile solution using steel Tapertube. The results of these analyses indicated that driven steel tapertube and steel pipe piles could develop greater capacities than the drilled micropiles in the granular soillayer, thereby reducing the number of foundation elements, decreasing construction schedule and providinga more cost effective foundation alternative.A comprehensive driven pile load test program was subsequently executed by GTR and the Design BuildTeam led by Barletta Heavy Division of Canton, Massachusetts, to assess the performance of Tapertubeand steel pipe piles, including pile drivability, load-deformation characteristics under static and dynamicloading, and to develop site-specific design parameters in two (2) distinct test areas. The test pile programincluded dynamic, static compression, tension and lateral load tests on each test pile. Load testmeasurements were automated with embedded Vibrating Wire Strain Gages (VWSG) to measure loadtransfer with depth. The execution and results of the successful pile load test program are presented andoffer unique case study and valuable data for the use of Tapertube piles on deep foundation projects in theNew England region
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