The Steamship Authority (SSA) was looking to upgrade its various marine structures at several terminal facilities. The Maguire-GTR team carried out a special Pile Load Test Program to incorporate an innovative pile type, called a Spin FinTM pile. Until GTR introduced the Spin FinTM pile, these piles had not been used for permanent applications on the East Coast. This special load Test program performed in Oak Bluffs, MA provided the design basis for using the Spin FinTM on four other SSA terminal facilities.
Through rigorous field testing, including dynamic, static compression, tension and cyclical load testing, GTR’s Spin Fin pile design successfully reduced driven pile lengths to resist end bearing and uplift loading conditions as compared to significantly longer and more traditional steel pipe pile foundations. The use of the Spin FinTM pile’s ability to generate high compression and uplift capacities at shallow depths has resulted in significant cost savings for the SSA and has accelerated its construction schedules.
GTR became the Steamship Authority’s specialty geotechnical consultant of choice. GTR has since provided multiple services for the SSA directly and indirectly for several engineering and contractor clients. These projects occurred at several terminal locations and occurred over a several year period. In addition to introducing and designing the Spin FinTM piles, GTR provided geotechnical design and pile inspection services for the design team and carried out specialty high strain dynamic load testing. GTR also performed static, tension and cyclic load testing services.
