The Job
This grain silo tunnel backfilling project is located in Tampa, Florida. As part of a redevelopment project in downtown Tampa, Florida, a large grain milling facility was moving operations from the downtown port to a new facility further down Tampa Bay.
The Challenge
The facility is immediately adjacent to Tampa Bay. To minimize flood risks, the the entire structure is above grade. This includes the 8′ tall unloading conveyor tunnels. The structure was bears on a mat slab cast over thousands of auger cast piles. The unloading tunnels were only about 10% of each silos footprint. So, the areas long side of the tunnels needed to be filled.
Due to the slipform construction, there was very limited access. So the backfill material around the tunnels needed to be pumpable. Flowable fill was an option, but is very heavy. The design build contractor identified cellular concrete as a potential backfill material. This could save nearly 1ksf of dead load off of the mat foundation.
The Solution
CJGeo worked with the design builder to create a mix design that would minimize the amount of dead load on the foundation, while providing adequate support for the bin floor when fully loaded with grain. Over the course of a few weeks, CJGeo crews placed nearly 7200CY of 25lb/cuft CJFill-Ultra Lightweight cellular concrete. Rodbusters were able to start setting steel the day after completion of the final lift in each of the silos.
Speak With An Expert
Facing a similar challenge to this grain silo tunnel backfilling load reducing fill project by CJGeo? Give us a shout or shoot us a text. Click the state marker for the location of your project for contact info for the appropriate rep.
