INDUSTRIAL TANKS • TRANSPORTATION WATER TREATMENT • WIND TURBINES • RAILROAD • UPLIFT

BIOFUEL FACILITIES • FLOOR SLAB

FACILITIES • LIQUEFACTION/SEISMIC • FOUNDATIONS
Rammed Aggregate Pier® Foundation Systems
APPLICATIONS

Roseville Waste Water Treatment Plant, Roseville, CA

Rammed Aggregate Pier® Construction

Rammed Aggregate Pier® elements are constructed by drilling a cavity (Geopier® replacement process) or
driving a hollow mandrel (Impact® displacement process) to the design depth and ramming select aggregate
in thin lifts. Rammed Aggregate Pier (RAP) construction results in very dense aggregate piers used to densify
loose sand and reinforce soft clay, silt and fill for support of foundations, slabs and mats at water treatment
plants (WTPs) and waste water treatment plants (WWTPs).

1. The process begins by drilling a hole (Geopier) up to 30 feet or driving a hollow mandrel (Impact) to
design depths up to 45 feet. The Geopier process allows for visual inspection of the spoils between
borings, confirming the reinforcement of poor soils. The Impact process is a displacement approach that
is well-suited in high groundwater conditions. The installation process eliminates spoils and significantly
improves granular soils.

2. Layers of aggregate are introduced into the cavity in thin compacted lifts. A patented beveled tamper
rams each layer of aggregate using static downforce and vertical impact ramming energy, resulting in
superior strength and stiffness. The tamper densifies aggregate vertically and forces aggregate laterally
into the loose or soft matrix soil. This results in matrix soil improvement and excellent coupling
with the surrounding soils, thereby delivering increased design bearing pressures and highly reliable
settlement control.

3. Following installation, the Rammed Aggregate Pier systems support shallow foundations, floor slabs, mats,
clarifiers, oxidation ditches and other settlement sensitive structures. The applied footing, slab and tank
pressures are attracted to the stiff RAP elements, resulting in
engineered settlement control.

800.371.7470
www.geopier.com THE INTERMEDIATE FOUNDATION ®
LEADER
 INDUSTRIAL TANKS • TRANSPORTATION WATER TREATMENT • WIND TURBINES • RAILROAD • UPLIFT
BIOFUEL FACILITIES • FLOOR SLAB
FACILITIES • LIQUEFACTION/SEISMIC • FOUNDATIONS

Increased Bearing Support

WTPs and WWTPs are designed with foundations, slabs and holding
tanks that induce high applied bearing pressures that often exceed the
bearing pressure of the existing soil. Friction angles of 50 degrees allow
RAP elements to provide significantly improved design bearing pressures
of 5 to 10 ksf depending on soil conditions. The improved bearing
pressure reduces footing sizes, and supports heavy tanks and foundation
pressures saving time and money on your project.

Settlement Control
High applied pressures of foundations, slabs and tanks at WTPs and
WWTPs could result in excessive settlement. RAP solutions exhibit Mountain House Portable Water Tanks
superior strength and stiffness to provide demonstrated settlement San Joaquín County, California

control of tanks, mats, shallow foundations and other structures. The

system is engineered to provide a cost-effective approach to meet both
total and differential settlement requirements. Our engineered solutions
and site specific modulus testing combined with the experience of
delivering settlement control for heavy tanks, and plant foundations
provide an unmatched level of support and reliability.

Accelerated Construction Schedule

The RAP system is installed at rates of 30 to 60 per day or more.
The rapid installation rate significantly reduces the construction schedule
compared to deep foundations, overexcavation and replacement or
other forms of ground improvement. High production rates combined
Belews Creek WWTP,
with no lengthy curing time and our unique ability to work in inclement Stokesdale, North Carolina
weather affords both time and cost savings on your project.

Rammed Aggregate Pier®

Foundation System
Advantages
INCREASES
bearing support
IMPROVES
settlement performance
ACCELERATES
Lone Tree Water Treatment Plant, Gill, Colorado
construction schedule
SAVINGS
often 20% to 50%

City of Brunswick WWTP, Brunswick, Maryland

150 Fairview Road, Suite 335 • Mooresville, NC 28117 • P: 704.799.3185 • 800.371.7470

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Intermediate Foundation , Rammed Aggregate Pier , Impact and Geopier are registered trademarks of Geopier Foundation Company, Inc.
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