TENSAR GEOPIER FOUNDATIONS

RAMMED AGGREGATE PIER SYSTEMS

your intermediate foundation solution

Use Rammed Aggregate Pier systems by

Tensar Geopier to Strengthen Soft Soils.

Tensar Technology - Proven

Practical Solutions and the
Know-How to Get them Built
Intermediate Foundation technology is widely adopted for
soil improvement of soft ground, delivering real savings in
cost and time. We can help you apply Tensar Technology to
improve the bottom line on your project.

Because of the cost eff

ffeective and rapid installation process, Geopier Rammed
Aggregate Pier systems can avoid massive over excavation and deep ffo
oundations
thus ensuring high levels of performance and reliability.

B
Building
uilding iin
nC
Confidence
onfidence with
with Rammed
Rammed A
Aggregate
ggregate P
Pier
ier S
Systems
ystems
Tensar Geopier is your experienced and reliable par tner in
soil improvement technologies for foundation suppor t of
commer cial, industrial, transpor tation, residential and
municipal construc tion. With more than t wo decades of
proven foundation suppor t, our Rammed Aggregate Pier
(R AP) s ystems provide resource-friendly, ef ficient and
cost-ef fec tive Intermediate Foundation solutions. Our
patented technologies utilise R A P elements that are
construc ted by densely compac ting successive thin lif ts
of qualit y aggregate in 450 mm to 900 mm diameter cavit y
of depths up to 14 m using patented ramming processes.
The ver tical ramming ac tion increases the lateral stress
and improves the soils surrounding the cavit y, which results
in foundation set tlement control, greater shear resistance,
and increased bearing pressure for design.

R A P s ys tems can be ins talled using replacement or

displacement methods, depending on site requirements.
The individual installation process utilises both direc t ver tical
impac t ramming energ y combined with downward ver tical
c o m p a c t i o n f o r c e , r e s u l t in g in h i g h s t r e n g t h a n d s t i f f n e s s .
R A P s y s t e m s a r e u s e d t o im p r o v e g o o d t o p o o r s o il s ,
including sof t to s tif f clay and silt, loose to dense sand,
o r g a n i c s il t a n d p e a t , a n d v a r i a b l e u n c o n t r o ll e d f ill . R A P
s ystems replace the need for costly and resource-depleting
deep foundations or overexcavation.

Tensar Geopier of fers a wide range of methods and solutions

for dif ferent soil conditions and challenges. Depending on the
specific conditions of the projec t we are of fering three
dif ferent soil-improvement methods:
 Geopier GP3 System
 Geopier Impac t System
 Geopier Rampac t System

Cement Clincer Dome Construction

Medgidia, Romania

Construction
Advantages
C
onstruction A
dvantages
 Rapid installation process
 Specific on-site quality control through visual inspection of
drill spoils and modulus tests
 Significantly reduce or eliminate spoils for removal or treatment
 Besides a working platform no site infrastructure required
 Displacement approach eliminates casing and allows for
construction below groundwater
 Clean process results in little construction mess
or siltation concerns

KE Y EN
KEY
ENVIRONMENTAL
V IRONMEN TA
A L BENEFITS
BENEFIT S OF
OF TENSAR
TENSA R
GEOPIER
GEOPIER SOLUTIONS:
SOLU TIONS:
 Can replace steel or concrete deep foundations with
natural, local aggregate
 Reduces high fossil fuel consumption needed for massive
overexcavation and replacement
 Reduces construc tion waste by using reclaimed
a g g r e g a t e s u c h as r e c y c l e d c o n c r e t e
 Eliminates potential for harmful water runof f, siltation
and environmental disturbance with our dr y R AP
construc tion process

 Densifies granular soils and reinforces cohesive and organic

soils and fill

 Reduces construc tion disturbance on greenfield sites

using small R AP installation equipment and maintaining
limited stockpile area

 Often results in significant cost savings

 Reduces noise levels in the environment

 Prevents contamination migration and improves stiffness

and bearing support by adding cementitious mixes
 Versatile system allows for use in a wider range of structures
 Low vibration levels
 Environmentally safe and sustainable offering contribution
to an improved CO2-balance
 Proven and cost effective solution for a variety of applications
 No delay period for curing accelerates construction schedules
 Allows deep treatment forr liquefaction

Heifer International Center

Little Rock, Arkansa, USA
3

Engineered to meet specific soil conditions and loads, the

Geopier GP3 system provides foundation support for
sensitive structures.

Houston Fuel Oil T

Teerminal Company T
Ta
ank Y
Ya
ard Construction Houston, T
Teexas, USA

The
T
he G
Geopier
eopier GP3
GP3 S
System
ystem
Tensar Geopier developed the Geopier GP3 s ystem as an
ef ficient and cost ef fec tive Intermediate Foundation
solution for the suppor t of set tlement sensitive struc tures.
The Geopier GP3 s ystem has since become an ef fec tive
replacement for massive overexcavation and replacement or
deep foundations, including driven piles, drilled shaf ts or
augered cast-inplace piles. Thousands of struc tures are
currently suppor ted by Geopier s ystems proven experience
that ensures high levels of per formance and reliabilit y
compared with traditional s ystems.
Geopier GP3 Construction Process

T
THE
HE GE
GEOPIER
OPIER GP
GP3
3 CONSTRUCTION
CONSTRUC TION PROCESS
PROCESS
The Geopier GP3 s ystem uses replacement Rammed
Aggregate Pier (R AP) elements to improve good to poor soils,
including sof t to stif f clay and silt, loose to dense sand,
organic silt and peat, and variable, uncontrolled fill.
The installation process utilises pre-augering and ver tical
impac t ramming energ y to construc t R AP elements, which
exhibit excellent streng th and stif fness. R AP s ystems are
designed to provide reliable and imposing total and
dif ferential set tlement control and increased bearing suppor t
to meet projec t requirements.

1. The process first involves drilling a cavit y 60 cm or 7 5 cm in

diameter. Drill depths normally range from about 2 m to
7 m. Both diameter and drill depths are depending on
design requirements. Pre-drilling allows you to visually
inspec t the soil bet ween the borings, ensuring that the
piers are engineered to improve the right soils.

2 Layers of aggregate are then introduced into the drilled

2.
cavit y in thin compac ted lif ts. A bevelled tamper rams
each layer of aggregate using ver tical impac t ramming
energ y, resulting in ver y high streng th and stif fness. The
tamper densifies aggregate ver tically and forces aggregate
laterally into cavit y sidewalls. This results in excellent
coupling with surrounding soils and reliable set tlement
control.
3. Following installation, R AP elements reinforce slopes and
embankments, suppor t shallow foundations, floor slabs,
and tank pads. The footing stresses are at trac ted to
the stif f R AP elements, resulting in engineered
set tlement control.

KIA Manuffacturing Plant Construction

West Point, Georgia, USA

Cement Clincer Dome

Medgidia, Romania

CONSTRUCTION
CONS TRUC TION ADVANTAGES
ADVA NTA
A GE S

D
DESIGN
E S I GN / P
PERFORMANCE
ER F OR M A NCE A
ADVANTAGES
DVA N TA
A GE S

 Bet ter qualit y control through visual inspec tion

of drill spoils and modulus tests

 Strong and stif f elements

 E xcellent set tlement control

 Besides a working plat form no site

infrastruc ture required

 High suppor t capacit y

 Environmentally safe and sustainable of fering

contribution to an improved CO2-balance

 Designed for struc tural suppor t of buildings

 Clean and rapid installation process

 Accelerated schedules
 Versatile s ystem allows for use in a
wider range of struc tures
 Reliable and cost ef fec tive

 Increased bearing pressure

 Of ten results in significant cost savings
 Engineered to meet specific soil conditions and loads

A
APPLICATIONS
PPLIC ATIONS
 Foundations

 Transpor tation

 Floor slabs

 Embankments

 Biofuel facilities

 Railways

 Industrial tanks

 Liquefac tion

 Wind turbines

 Lateral load resistance

 Ear th retaining walls

and slopes

 Drainage to accelerate
consolidation process

The Geopier Impact and Geopier Rampact Systems

The Geopier Impact and Geopier Rampact systems are
efficient and cost-effective Intermediate Foundation
solutions for the support of settlement-sensitive structures.
Like the GP3 system, both the Impact and Rampact systems
create stiff Rammed Aggregate Pier (RAP) elements using
patented vertical ramming processes. Where the Geopier
GP3 system uses a replacement method, the Impact and
Rampact systems use the displacement method, ideally
suited for contaminated sites where spoils or overexcavation
is not an option. Both systems are extremely cost effective
for installations in soils subject to caving because
construction is facilitated using patented displacement
mandrel, eliminating casing risks. The Impact and Rampact
solutions replace massive over excavation and replacement
and deep foundations, including driven piles, drilled shafts or
augered cast-in-place piles. This high-performing systems
provide high strength, stiffness and excellent levels of
performance.

Bogazici Shipyard
Altinova, Turkey

DESIGN / PERFORMANCE ADVANTAGES

 Strong and stiff elements
 Excellent settlement control
 High support capacity

CONSTRUCTION ADVANTAGES

 Designed for structural support of buildings

 Besides a working platform no site

infrastructure required

 Engineered to meet specific soil conditions and loads

 Specific Qualitiy Control program including

modulus load tests
 Environmentally safe and sustainable offering
contribution to an improved CO2-balance
 Clean and rapid installation process
 Accelerated schedules
6

 Increased bearing pressure

 No drill spoils reduce project costs especially

advantageous in contaminated soils

 Versatile system allows for use in a wider range

of structures
 Reliable and cost effective

 Often results in significant cost savings

APPLICATIONS
 Foundations

 Transportation

 Floor slabs

 Embankments

 Biofuel facilities

 Railways

 Industrial tanks

 Liquefaction

 Wind turbines

 Lateral load resistance

 Earth retaining walls

and slopes

 Drainage to accelerate
consolidation process

With more than two decades of proven foundation

support, Geopier systems provide resource-friendly,
efficient, and cost effective foundation support.

Wind Park Construction

Purzien, Germany

Geopier Rampact Construction

USA

The Geopier Impact Construction Process

1. A specially designed mandrel and tamper foot is driven
into the ground using a strong static force augmented by
dynamic vertical impact energy. Depths normally range
from 3 m to 14 m, depending on design requirements. A
sacrificial cap or other flow restrictors prevent soil from
entering the tamper foot and mandrel during driving. The
process eliminates spoils and displaces soils laterally,
densifying and reinforcing the existing soils.
2. After driving to design depth, the aggregate is fed into a
hopper at the top of the mandrel by use of a telehandler.
The hollow mandrel serves as a conduit for aggregate
placement. The mandrel is then lifted approximately 1 m
and then driven back down 60cm, forming a 30 cm thick
compacted lift. Compaction is achieved through static

down force and dynamic vertical ramming from the

hammer. The process densifies aggregate vertically and
the patented bevelled tamper foot forces aggregate
laterally into cavity sidewalls. This results in soil
improvement, excellent coupling with surrounding soils
and reliable settlement control with excellent strength
and stiffness.
3. Following installation, the Rammed Aggregate Pier
elements support shallow foundations, floor slabs, and
reduce liquefaction potential and improve stability support
of embankments, walls and storage tank foundations. The
footing stresses are attracted to the stiff RAP elements,
resulting in engineered settlement control.

The Geopier Rampact

Construction Process

Geopier Impact Construction

The Geopier Rampact system, like the Geopier Impact

system, is a displacement technology. RAP elements provide
effective support in relatively shallow deposits of man-made
fill and other heterogeneous profiles to depth of
approximately 6 m. Through its tapered shape, the Rampact
system laterally compacts the matrix soil along the entire
profile of the mandrel as the mandrel is driven into the
ground. The blunt bottom is then used to compact each lift
of aggregate which is introduced through the mandrel as the
pier is constructed.
The Rampact system is faster to install and provides higher
capacities relative to the displacement Impact system in
appropriate soil profiles.

Contac t Tensar Geopier or your local ins taller to r ecei ve

fur ther information about:
 T
he G
e opier G
P 3 S
y s t em
The
Geopier
GP3
System
 T
he G
eopier IImpact
mp a c t S
y s t em
The
Geopier
System

Your
Y
our local
local installer
installer iis:
s:

 T
he Geopier
Geopier Rampact
Rampac t System
System
The

Tensar Geopier is par t o f Tensar C or por ation, a leading

global developer and manufacturer of proprietar y, highly
engineered, nontraditional site-development solutions for
infr as tr uc tur e end-markets, including tr anspor tation,
commer cial and indus trial cons tr uc tion.
Tensar prov ides its cus tomer s with an integr ated suite
o f in n o v a t i v e p r o d u c t s , t e c h n o l o g i e s a n d a p p li c a t i o n
e x p e r t is e f o r a w i d e v a r i e t y o f e n d us e s , in c l u din g h i g h
performance roadways, ear th retention structures, building
foundations and erosion and sediment control.

Cop y r igh t @ Tensar In ter national Cor por ation 20 1 2

P r in t e d N o v e m b e r 2 0 1 2 , I s s u e 2 , 4 8 5 , E N

Geopier Foundation GmbH

Br hler Strae 9
D-53 1 19 Bonn
Tel: + 49 (0) 2 28 9 13 92 0
Fa x : + 49 (0) 2 28 9 13 92-1 1
E-mail: info@geopier.eu
Web: w w w.geopier.eu

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r espe c t of Tensar In ter national L imi teds liabilit y f or death or per sonal injur y ar ising ou t of negligence or for f r audulen t misr epr esen t ation (if an y), Tensar In ter national L imi ted shall no t be
liable to y ou dir e c tl y or indir e c tl y in con tr ac t , tor t (including negligence), equit y or other w ise for an y loss or damage w hat soe v er or ho w soe v er ar ising in conne c tion w ith the use of and/or
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business r e v enue, an ticipated sav ings, business or good w ill). Tensar is a r egis ter ed tr ademar k of Tensar In ter national L imited. Geopier is a r egis ter ed tr ademar k of Geopier F oundation
Compan y, Inc. In case of legal dispu tes be t w een the par ties, the or iginal English v er sion of this dis claimer shall pr e v ail.