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Shifting and Tilting Occur Generally During The Sinking Phase of Well Foundations
Shifting and Tilting Occur Generally During The Sinking Phase of Well Foundations
Shifting and Tilting Occur Generally During The Sinking Phase of Well Foundations
If
proper care is not taken, they can cause grave problems which may lead to the
weakening of the stability of foundations. Precautions to avoid shifting and tilting,
limitations and rectifying methods are discussed below.
The diameter of well curb should be more than the external diameter of steining.
Generally, a difference of 40 to 80 mm is recommended.
The well steining should be symmetrically placed over the curb.
The outer surface of the well curb and steining should be smooth.
All the sides should be uniformly dredged.
The cutting edge should be uniformly thick and sharp.
Limitations
The maximum tilt allowed in case of well foundation is 1 in 60.
The shift in well foundation should not be more than 1 % of depth of sunk.
Beyond the above limits, well foundation is considered as dangerous and in such a case,
remedial measures to rectify shifting and tilting should be followed.
Rectifying Methods
Rectifying methods for Rectification of shifting and tilting problems in well
foundations are as follows:
1. Eccentric loading
2. Excavation on higher side
3. Water jetting
4. Pulling the well
5. Using hydraulic jacks
6. Using struts
7. Excavation under cutting edge
8. Wood sleeper under cutting edge
1. Eccentric loading
The well tilt can be rectified by placing eccentric loading on the higher side. Higher side
is nothing but the opposite side of tilt or lower side.
A loading platform is constructed on the higher side and load is placed on it.
This eccentric load will increase downward pressure on higher side and correct the tilt.
The amount of load and eccentricity is decided based on the depth of sinking.
Greater is the depth of sinking of well, larger will be the eccentricity and load.
3. Water Jetting
Water jetting on external surface of well on the higher side is another remedial measure
for rectifying tilt.
When water jet is forced towards surface of well, the friction between soil and well
surface gets reduced and the higher side of well becomes lowered to make well vertical.
Fig 3: Water
Jetting on Higher Side
Another method to rectify tilting and shifting of well foundation is using hydraulic jacks
or mechanical jacks, the tilted well can be pushed from lower side to higher side.
Neighbor vertical well foundations or suitable arrangements made will give support to the
jack system.
Care should be taken while pushing the well otherwise the well may shift.
Fig 5: Pushing using Jacks
6. Using Struts
By providing struts as supports on the lower side or tilted side of well, further tilting can
be prevented.
Wooden sleepers are provided between struts and well steining to prevent damage to well
steining and to distribute pressure to larger area.
This technique is used for hard strata soils. In this method, the well is de-watered first and
open excavation is carried out exactly under the cutting edge on the higher side.
If de-watering is not possible, soil strata is loosened using suitable equipment with the
help of professional divers.
8. Wood Sleeper under Cutting Edge
If tilting towards lower side is increasing, then wooden sleepers are placed under cutting
edge on the lower side to control the tilting temporarily.