Sika at Work

No. 37.09 - September 2009

Infrastructure Projects

Photo: Bijorn Hansen, Marti AG

Newly Constructed Silo Installation

Erected with Slipform Technology
Port of Basel, Switzerland

Photo: Bijorn Hansen, Marti AG

Concrete is poured for 8 silos simultaneously. The concrete reinforcement rods are always positioned directly on the formwork.
The pouring of concrete and the reinforcement run continuously, 24 hours a day.

Newly Constructed Silo Installation Erected with Slipform

Technology at the Port of Basel (Switzerland)
by Martina Strazzer, Holcim (Switzerland) AG, CH-8050 Zurich and
Andreas Jenny, Bitschnau Slipform & Formwork Technology, A-Nenzing

Project Description

Solutions

The oldest port facility in Basel, St. Johann, was vacated and relocated
to create space for the expansion of the Novartis Campus. Because
landing stages were thereby lost and in order to maintain the previous
handling capacity, Ultra-Brag AG, an internationally active Swiss logistics and inland water transport company, had new grain silos equipped
with modern conveying systems erected at the port in Kleinhningen.
Nearly 70 m in height, the towers were built in only three months. To
this end 21 grain silos, each 68.5 m high and with an internal diameter
of 6 m, were constructed on premises measuring only 25 x 40 m.

Every layer of concrete was always placed according to the same procedure. This process could not last longer than half an hour, so that
subsequently the slipform could be raised while the concrete was still
workable. In this manner roughly 6 m3 of fresh concrete were laid at a
sliding rate of some 20 cm/h (high value 4.35 m/d).

Photo: Bijorn Hansen, Marti AG

Work is carried out at considerable height, but in close quarters. The spotlight is evidence of 24-hour operation.

Sika Products
Sika ViscoCrete-3082
SikaRapid-2
Antisol-E20
Separol-6W
SikaGrout-314
SikaGrout-318
Sika Refit-2000
Sika Refit-2002
Sikadur-12 Pronto RAIL
Sika MonoTop-613
Sika AnchorFix-1

Superplasticiser
Hardening accelerator
Curing agent
Form release agent
Castable mortar
Castable mortar
Surface repair / thin coat mortar
Surface repair / thin coat mortar
Castable mortar to -10C
Cementitious primer
Fast curing anchoring adhesive

Requirements
This type of silo can only be constructed economically using a slipform
process. The continuous vertical draw of the formwork over the entire
height of the installation thereby ensures a jointless construction which
supports the free flowing properties of the bulk material (grain).
At the same time, the deadline specifications of roughly three months
posed an ambitious target. This required round the clock work; everything else was subordinated to the predetermined sliding rate. Definitive
thereby is, that the concrete across the whole cross-section currently
being processed must harden quickly enough (green strength) so that
upon raising the formwork it can still be smoothed and buffed.

Photo: A. Jenny
Photo: A. Jenny

The surface is smoothed with a rotary sander to close air spaces

Concrete reinforcement and concrete pouring are attuned to the sliding rate.
Exact pouring is crucial

View from the harbour

Building Owner:
Ultra-Brag AG, Basel

Engineering Contractor:
Gruner AG, Basel

Contractors:
Joint Venture Uetliberg (Arge Uetli):
ARGE Neubau Siloanlage Basel:
Marti AG, Basel (Federfhrung), Implenia Bau AG, Basel,
Ernst Frey AG, Kaiseraugst
Subunternehmer: Bitschnau Gleit- & Schalungstechnik, A-Nenzing

Concrete:
Holcim Kies und Beton AG, Birsfelden

Sika Services AG
Corporate Business Unit Concrete
Tffenwies 16
CH-8048 Zrich
Switzerland
Phone +41 58 436 40 40
Fax +41 58 436 47 29
www.sika.com

Sika Services AG / BU Concrete / Sika at Work / Infrastructure Projects / 09.09 / gho

Photo: Bijorn Hansen, Marti AG

Photo: A. Jenny