As part of the UETCL’s ongoing programme of Rural Electrification, EA Piling was selected by the Main Contractor, Sinohydro, to perform static load tests on the pile foundations for the Karuma-Lira transmission line. EA Piling conducted the pile load tests to the engineering specifications provided by the specialist geotechnical consultants working for the client.

EA Piling, in consultation with specialist geotechnical engineers, designed a pile testing structure which was capable of meeting the client’s requirements whilst remaining cost-effective and time-efficient.

The largest load test applied an inclined tensile load of 250 tonnes to a pile foundation, thereby proving EA Piling’s capabilities in delivering high quality and technically challenging engineering services to our customers.

The load tests were conducted in order to validate the pile foundation designs conducted by the project consultants. The successful load tests prove that the transmission line foundations are capable of withstanding all forces which will be applied to them over their entire lifetime.

EAP installed the test piles and reaction piles for all of the load tests using the R620 piling rig. All piles were installed using the rotary bored method with casings. The majority of the pile testing sites consisted of water-logged soils which required lateral support during piling works so as to prevent the holes from collapsing.

Once the test and reaction piles along were installed along with their reinforcement and pile caps, EAP constructed the pile testing structure which comprised large steel sections, a hydraulic jack and a load cell. This steel structure allowed the test load to be safely transmitted from the hydraulic jack to the reaction piles and the test pile.

Despite the logistical challenges of working within a remote environment, EAP managed to successfully complete all pile load tests in a timely manner. EAP is proud to report zero safety related incidences on this project, maintaining the company’s reputation for excellent standards for health and safety.