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Re: [TowerTalk] Tower Foundation Pouring

To: towertalk@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Tower Foundation Pouring
From: "Roger (K8RI) on TT" <K8RI-on-TowerTalk@tm.net>
Date: Sun, 5 Feb 2017 03:59:30 -0500
List-post: <towertalk@contesting.com">mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>
Many times, pouring against undisturbed soil is not possible. an alternative to the compactor is a uniform slurry. If done properly it will form a solid and uniform connection between the form and the undisturbed soil after it sets, or dries. Keep in mind tat if the base or guy anchor is poured in this type of soil, it will need to be larger than the normal spec.

I had one guy anchor that was in this type of soil. The NW anchor (abt 4 X 4 X 6 Deep.)We couldn't pour until the next day. In the morning the hole was over 10' wide...just a shallow, circular depression, so it was over size, formed, and hand dug with the forms going down with the digging

73,  Roger (K8RI)

On 2/4/2017 1:36 PM, Steve Jones wrote:
Jim-

Actually, undisturbed soil is not an urban myth, it's just the simplest way
for the engineer to calculate the foundation design.  The vertical walls of
the undisturbed soil create friction against the concrete which counts as
part of the foundation's resistance to the overturning moment.

The key factor in over-excavating is the "high level of compaction".  Soils
engineers have a way of calculating that level required, designing the depth
of the engineered lifts, and then measuring the compaction in the field.
But then if the soil is not suitable (ie. too sandy) it won't adequately
compact.  In that case you need a mat foundation.  The mat design will be
much wider and shallower than the typical pier foundation, but with enough
mass to still resist the overturning moment of the tower.

73,
Steve
N6SJ


-----Original Message-----
From: TowerTalk [mailto:towertalk-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of
JVarney
Sent: Friday, February 03, 2017 12:11 PM
To: towertalk@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Tower Foundation Pouring

There's an urban myth about "undisturbed soil." Hams believe that pouring
concrete against undisturbed vertical dirt walls is the only way to place a
footing.  It is often the easiest way to do it and is perfectly acceptable,
but when soils are soft it can be difficult to do.

The other way to pour a footing, commonly used in commercial construction,
is to over-excavate, build a full form, like this:

https://goo.gl/MKNbLy

After the concrete cures pull the form. Rent a "jumping jack" or "elephant's
foot" compactor. Backfill the dirt around the footing in layers, then
compact it

https://youtu.be/lYndguhIEQc

Done carefully and with a high level of compaction the footing will be as
good as if the undisturbed soil method was used.

73 Jim K6OK

Paul W9AC wrote:

Despite efforts to brace the walls from blowing out as concreate was
added, we still had slight bowing on the
140 ft. tower base (a 10 ft. x 10 ft. square).  That resulted in a
less than perfect square on two sides of the top surface.
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--

73

Roger (K8RI)


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