Building on a Swamp
Building on a Swamp
(OP)
We are consulting on a project to build multiplex houses in northern Ontario, near St. James Bay. Assume that the soil conditions are very poor as the water table is one foot below grade. It is unreasonable to excavate to good soil and backfill with good material. Piles are out of the question because the equipment is not available in the region. The structures are single story wood construction with crawl space. Has anyone ever designed a foundation for similar applications?





RE: Building on a Swamp
Surprises with the excavation costs can make or break a project.
Mike McCann
McCann Engineering
RE: Building on a Swamp
If you are in Canada, contact Maccaferri Canada - They have done work in Northern Quebec were the geocomposites were used over soft clays. They should be able to help with the design.
RE: Building on a Swamp
Since the water table is so high, I assume that this is not an option for you, is it?
RE: Building on a Swamp
RE: Building on a Swamp
"...students of traffic are beginning to realize the false economy of mechanically controlled traffic, and hand work by trained officers will again prevail." - Wm. Phelps Eno, ca. 1928
"I'm searching for the questions, so my answers will make sense." - Stephen Brust
RE: Building on a Swamp
RE: Building on a Swamp
You can read of the difficulties and solutions in the history books. The Institution of mechanical Engineers has available a library full of documents on their first president.
A book called the George Stephenson Letters documents some of the details.
Geoffrey D Stone FIMechE C.Eng;FIEAust CP Eng
www.waterhammer.bigblog.com.au