In preparation of the Houma Navigation Canal Lock Complex, Sealevel Construction was awarded the general contract to perform lateral, compression and tension pile load tests along with concrete piles pile driving analysis. Specifications were to get to 300% of the service load for each test.

Test pile 1, 90″ x 80′,  and test pile 2, 66″ x 85′, were the subjects of one of the largest lateral load tests done over water in the gulf states, with 100% tons of service load.

The compression tests and results are as follows:

TP 3: 42″ x 75′ | 250 tons of service load

TP 5: 24″ x 94.5′ | 190 tons of service load

TP 6: 36″ x 65′ | 140 tons of service load

TP 7: 30″ x 97.5′ | 377 tons of service load

The tension tests and results are as follows:

TP 5: 24″ x 94.5′ | 150 tons of service load

TP 7: 30″ x 97.5′ | 140 tons of service loads

The pile driving analysis consisted of (6) 24″ x 63′ concrete piles for engineers to better understand the drivability of concrete piles in those soil conditions.

‍