— Augercast piles are installed by drilling with a hollow stem, initially plugged, continuously flighted auger to design depth.The plug is then ejected and a high strength sand-cement grout is pumped into the hole as the auger is slowly withdrawn. Dependant on the injection and withdrawal rates, the grout may displace the existing soils optimizing bearing properties. Limited reinforcing steel can be installed or vibrated down into the fresh grout once completed. The resulting grout column subsequently hardens and forms an augercast pile. Pile diameters of 12 to 18 inches are most common for augercast type piles, with the diameters up to about 36 inches possible. Augercast pile advantages include not requiring casing or slurry for their construction, speed of installation and cost. Augercast piles have the disadvantages of being constructed at smaller diameters and thus lesser capacities, and have limited reinforcement capabilities. Lynchburg Renewable Energy In the Lynchburg Renewables project, Dorado Construction Group contracted A.H. Beck for ground improvement to support seven tanks at a renewable fuel plant. A.H. Beck installed 1694 rigid inclusions, 16 inches in diameter, reaching depths between 10 and 30 feet into karst limestone. They also designed a load transfer platform between the inclusions and tank slab. Two high strain dynamic tests were completed prior to production installation to prove the engineering design capacities. Learn More Bushy Park Peaking Modernization Burns and McDonnell Engineering Company contracted A.H. Beck to complete the deep foundation work for Dominion Energy South Carolina's new gas turbine. A.H. Beck installed 403 each 50 to 60-foot deep augercast piles through difficult ground conditions within confined work areas of the existing facility. Due to the proximity of the Black and Cooper rivers, weather monitoring and environmentally conscious construction methods were employed throughout the project to ensure a timely and safe delivery. Learn More