Geotechnical Engineering
Micropiles / Minipiles
Micropiles were conceived in Italy in the early 1950s, in response to the demand for innovative techniques for underpinning historical buildings damaged during the Second World War. What was needed was a reliable underpinning system that could support structural loads with minimal movement, and be able to be installed in access-restrictive environments with minimal disturbance to existing structures.
In the early 1980s, UTRACO was one of the first to carry out micropiling works in Singapore. With our first completed micropiling project at Emerald Hill.
Limited Access Drilling
UTRACO is a specialist in restricted access drilling, where conventional micropiling equipment cannot be used. Our range of custom built limited access drilling rigs allows us to work in areas inaccessible to others.
We are specialists in dealing with difficult ground conditions, poor access or limited space.
Ground Anchors / Rock Anchors
Ground anchors are a structural element installed in soils or rock, it is used to transmit an applied tensile load into the ground. The basic components of a grouted ground anchor include the anchorage, free stressing length and bond length.
Grout Mixed Piles / Grout Piles
Grout Mix Pile is a soil improvement technique which is used to improve the strength of the sub-soil, it also can be used to increase the bearing capacity of the soil for supporting light structures. By mixing ordinary Portland cement with the soil, the soil strength is increased significantly. Grout mix pile is an alternative method to jet grouting for ground improvement.
Slope Stabilisation
Slopes are all around us in the urban environment, and the soil on some of these slopes may be inherently unstable. Movement of soil and rock down unstable slopes due to gravity is called mass wasting; surface movement resulting from the effects of wind and water is called erosion. Both processes can affect the safety of people living or working on or near slopes. Thus, engineering works are carried out to prevent slope failure.
UTRACO has carried out numerous slope stablisation works through out Singapore.
Ground Improvement
Ground improvement is the process in which in situ soils are improved for the support of the foundations for structures. Ground improvement works are carried out to increase density, bearing capacity, shear or frictional strength.
Static Load Test
Static load testing is used to determine the bearing capacity of piles prior to the construction of a building.
The Kentledge method uses weights in load testing. Using this method massive weights are placed on a specially built platform. These weights bear down on the pile putting it under load. Gauges measure resistance, movement of the pile, and other readings to determine the capacity of the pile.
Pile Driving Analyser (PDA Test)
Dynamic load testing using Pile Driving Analyser (PDA) equipment is a high-strain non-destructive load test method. PDA equipment calculates the velocity and force signals obtained from accelerometers and strain transducers attached to the pile during driving. This data is then analysed to calculate the pile capacity. This test method is particularly attractive for very large, high capacity piles where the large capacity makes a static test extremely costly.
