PROJECT OF THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE EXTENSION OF THE PALACE OF CENTO
CLIENT: Municipality of Cento
LOCATION: Piazzale Donatori di Sangue e Organi, 10 – Cento (FE).
SERVICES RENDERED: executive project of the foundations of the enlargement of Palazzetto di Cento and seismic adaptation of the existing foundations.
BEGINNING/END OF WORKS: 2016/2020
1. Project Description
Teleios designed the foundations for the extension and seismic upgrading of the Cento Sports Hall located in Piazzale Donatori di Sangue e Organi, 10 – Cento (FE).
At the present time the sports hall has a reinforced concrete frame structure with a wooden reticular covering. On one of the major sides of the playing field there is a grandstand and, on the same side, there are also some rooms at one level above ground containing technical rooms and locker rooms.
It was found a high risk of liquefaction so the particularity of the project consisted in the design of the foundations of the extension and verification of existing foundations considering this phenomenon.
2. Geological characterization
It has been foreseen an integration of geognostic investigation in order to deepen the phenomenon of liquefaction found.
In this context have been provided:
- N°4 static penetrometric tests with piezocone CPTu, which were carried out in the positions indicated in the plan attached to the document /11/.
- N°2 continuous coring surveys with collection of samples to be subjected to laboratory investigations.
- Laboratory tests:
- Analysis of the particle size distribution of the soil;
- Dynamic tests: resonant column tests (RC) and TX CYC cyclic triaxial tests.
All of these supplemental investigations performed in 2017 allowed us to better ascertain and study the extent of liquefaction risk so that a robust foundation design could be performed.
3. Geotechnical Model
4. Foundations geometry
Given the intensity of the actions discharged and considering the geotechnical conditions of the ground (to which must be added the high risk of liquefaction) it was considered necessary to use deep foundations in order to involve a greater volume of soil, spreading the stresses more and involving soil horizons with better mechanical properties. Piles of different diameters and construction technology were chosen for reasons of feasibility and load magnitude.
In particular, micropiles with diameter φ 220 mm of length L = 15.0 m and L = 22.0 m and FDP type piles φ 600 mm of length L = 15.0 m were chosen to be used in the portion of the existing arena, and FDP type piles φ 600 mm of length L = 22.0 m in the extension area (seismic-resistant partitions and new grandstand).
Sub-horizontal drains were also used to mitigate the risk of liquefaction in the portion of the existing technical rooms / locker rooms. In the light of the high risk of liquefaction, in the design of the foundations it has been taken into account the theory of Madabhushi, Cubrinovski and many other authors involved in the design of foundation piles in the presence of liquefaction.
