Telogia Power Plant Truck Tipper Stabilization

The Challenge

The foundation of the Telogia truck tipper was settling.

The foundations and supporting columns of the Telogia Power Plant’s truck tipper began to shift and settle. Semi-trucks loaded with wood chips would back onto the tipper, where they were hydraulically raised at an angle to unload the trailers.

The truck tipper was supported by concrete foundations beneath its hydraulic and hinge components. Over time, the repeated loading caused these foundations to settle in opposite directions, resulting in the supporting columns moving 3 to 4 inches out of plumb. This movement also created a 7-inch gap between the ramp and approach slab.

As the foundations continued to settle, the supporting columns were unintentionally rotating farther out of alignment, increasing concerns that continued movement could eventually cause the columns to tip. With as many as one truckload arriving every 30 minutes, the facility needed a solution that could stabilize the foundations while minimizing disruption to operations.

Key Facts

The Solution

Push piers were installed to properly support the tipper.

Scheduling was critical because truck traffic had to be temporarily stopped during the repair. Groundworks was given a 24-hour window to complete the installation and bring the columns as close to plumb as possible.

Six push piers were installed at each foundation to an approximate depth of 40 feet. Soil reports identified a shallow layer of very loose material, so the piers were advanced through the weaker soils to provide support at greater depths. Four piers were installed along the outside edges and two along the inside edges of each foundation.

Once installed, the push pier system was used to lift and reposition the foundations, bringing the supporting columns closer to their original alignment.

The Impact

The project was completed quickly with minimal operational interruption.

Groundworks successfully lifted and stabilized the foundations, bringing the supporting columns closer to plumb and closing the 7-inch gap between the ramp and approach slab.

The entire repair was completed within the required 24-hour window, allowing truck traffic to resume and the facility to return the tipper to operation.