c
 



Maintenance is the continuous up-keep, in good condition of a system to achieve

operational reliability with maximum designed output result, endurance or stability. Thus,
building maintenance is the work undertaken in order to keep or restore every part of a
building, every building facility or machinery to an acceptable standard.

During the last decade increasing need for constructions of multilevel basement,
mainly intended to parking space have arises all around the world. Excavation with vertical
cuts that may go to depths of 12m-15m necessary for the construction of these basements,
have required to perform shoring and underpinning works of existing structures.

Underpinning is a broad term to describe the process of modifying an existing

foundation by adding support. This can be done by several methods such as concrete
caissons, piles or grouting. Each one has its own advantages and disadvantages depending on
the specific characteristics of the project.

Shoring is the construction of a temporary structure to support temporarily an unsafe

structure. These render lateral to walls and are used under the following circumstances:

G uhen a wall shows signs of bulging out due to bad workmanship.

G uhen a wall cracks due to unequal settlement of foundation and the crack work needs repairs
G uhen an adjacent structure is to be dismantled.
G uhen openings are to be made or enlarge in the wall.
G uhen under pinning an existing wall or column
G uhen carrying out demolition.

¦





Existing buildings, like historical monuments, sometimes experience excessive

settlement under the design load or face the prospect of excessive settlement in the future if a
change use is required and increased foundation loadings may occur. Several methods of
foundation enhancement are available to limit settlements or improve the future performance
of existing foundations. One of the common remedial measures for foundations that are
settling excessively is to underpin with piles.

Various reasons may result in the need for underpinning. However In general,
underpinning of a structure is required;
 G To enable the foundations to be deepened for structural reasons, for example, to
construct a basement beneath a building.
G To increase the width of a foundation to permit heavier loads to be carried, for
example, when increasing the height of a building.
G To enable a building to be moved bodily to a new site.
G To strengthen existing foundation which as settled and caused cracks in the wall
G To strengthen the existing shallow foundation of existing buildings when a building
with deepen foundation is to be constructed adjoining it.
G Ñowering of adjacent ground i.e. usually required when constructing a basement
adjacent to existing foundations.
G Increase in load: this could be due to the addition of an extra storey or an increase in
imposed loadings such as that which may occur with a change of use.

Underpinning is highly skilled operations and should be undertaken only by

experienced firms. No one underpinning job is like another and each one must be given
specific consideration for the most economical and safest scheme to be worked out. That¶s
why; the improvement and development of underpinning techniques have been growing fast.

Traditional underpinning methods entails large amount of heavy and unhealthy manual
labour. New regulations regarding working conditions and adaptation to ergonometric
research results in other branches of the building and construction industry have made the
poor conditions on underpinning sites even more unacceptable. For this reason, new methods
were needed urgently. Thus, a number of methods for underpinning heavy structures have
been developed or adapted to these conditions during the last few years.




1. ŒIT METHOD:

In this method, the entire length of the foundation to be underpinned is divided into
sections of 1.2m to 1.5m lengths. One section is taken up at a time. For each section, a hole is
made in the wall, above the plinth level, and needle is inserted in the hole. Needles may be
either of stout timber or steel section. Bearing plates are placed above the needle to support
the masonry above it. Needle is supported at either side of the wall on crib supports (wooden
blocks) and screw jacks. The foundation pit is then excavated up to the desired level and new
foundation is then laid. uhen the work of one section is over, work on next to next section is
taken up, i.e. alternate sections are underpinned in the first round, and then remaining
sections are taken up. If the wall to be underpinned is weak, raking shores may be provided.
Similarly, the first floor may also be supposed, if required.

If an exterior strong column exists, or if the foundation is to be extended only to one

side, cantilever needles beams may be used in the place of central needle beam. The
following points are note worthy in the pit method;

  ºlternate sections are taken up in the first round. The remaining intermediate sections
are then taken up. Only one section should be taken at a time.
  If the wall is long, the work is started from the middle, and is extended in both
directions.
  If the new foundation is deeper, proper timbering of the foundation trench may be
done.
  The needle beams should be removed only when the new foundation has gained
strength.
  It is desirable to do the new foundation work in concrete.
  The needle holes should be closed in masonry using cement mortar.

Conventional pit method underpinning has been used for centuries. The pit method
often results in moderate deformation of the structure and unsafe working conditions. That¶s
why during the last 20 years, several less disturbing methods have been developed to
underpin structures that result in much less deformation and a faster, less expensive, and safer
operation. The means and method of supporting foundation depends on many factors
including;

  Foundation loads: static and dynamic; permanent and temporary

  State of existing foundations.
  Type and magnitude of allowable structural movement i.e. deformations.
  Sub surface soil conditions.
  Condition of the structure.
  ºccess and mobility to the foundation.
  Œotential for environmental hazards.
  Seismic loading.

2. ŒIÑE METHOD:
 In this method, piles are driven at regular interval along both sides of the wall.
Generally, bore holes piles or under-reamed piles may be used. The piles are connected by
concrete or steel needles, penetrating through the wall. This beam incidentally acts as piles
caps also. This method is very much useful in clayey soils, and also in water-logged areas.
The existing foundation is very much relieved of the load.

uhen both the existing and future structures belong to both the same owner, the use of
bracket piles is very economical (most municipal building code do not allow a building to be
supported on the foundation that is located on someone else property). The steel bracket piles
are driven or placed adjacent to future structure in pre-augured holes which are then
backfilled with a lean sand-cement mix. The load is transferred from the structure into the
pile through a steel bracket welded to the side of the pile. º combination of steel plates,
wedges, and daypack is installed to ensure a tight fit between the structure and the bracket, as
shown in the figure below

This type of underpinning can be utilized for structures up to two stories high,
depending on the weight of the building and the quality of the bearing material at sub grade
or the new structure. The spacing of the piles depends on the load distribution in the existing
structure. The maximum spacing should not exceed 8 feet.
V
 



Shoring may be needed to give temporary support to walls and floors during alteration work,
demolition work or underpinning, or where a structure has become unsafe. In the absence of adequate
shoring the buildings could collapse, possibly causing death or injury to persons in or near the
building. Shoring may take a number of different forms-raking shores, flying shores, dead shores,
window strutting and floor propping.

Shoring members are generally of timber, often pitch pine, with all needles, cleats and wedges
preferably of hardwood. The stress in the shoring members is usually compressive, except in the case
of the needles used in dead shoring where there is a bending stress. Shores may be of the following
types;

G ?aking shores
G Flying shores
G Dead shores

c  


In this method, inclined members called rakers are used to give lateral support to the
wall. º raking shore consist of the following components; (a)rakers /inclined members
(b)wall plate (c)needles (d)cleats (e)bracing (f)sole plate. The needles are strengthened by the
means of cleats which are nailed directly to the wall plate. ?akers are interconnected by
struts, to prevent their buckling. The feet of rakers are connected to an inclined sole plate,
embedded into the ground by means of iron dogs. The feet of rakers are further stiffened near
the sole plate by of hoop iron. The wall plate distributes the pressure to the wall uniformly.
The following points are note worthy;
G ?akers should be inclined to the ground by 45Û, to make them more effective.
G For tall buildings, the length of raker can be reduced by introducing rider raker.
G ?akers should be properly braced at intervals.
G The size of the rakers should be decided on the basis of anticipated thrust from the
wall
G The centre line of a raker and the world should meet at floor level.
G If longer length of the wall needs support, shoring may be placed at 3m to 4.5m
spacing.
 G The sole plate should be properly embedded into the ground, at an inclination, should
be of proper section.
G uedges should not be used on sole plates since they are likely to give way under
vibrations which are likely to occur.

?aking shores may be used to provide temporary support to a wall which has become
defective and unsafe or as a precautionary measure while alteration work is been undertaken.
The arrangement of the shores will depend on the height of the building, loads to be carried,
extent of openings and space available adjacent to the building.

º grillage is sometimes provided below it. º crowbar can be used to lever a raker into
position after which a dog is inserted to prevent any subsequent movement.

¦  


This shore are used to give horizontal support to two adjacent, parallel parties walls
which have become unsafe due to removal or collapse of the intermediate building. ºll types
of arrangement of supporting the unsafe structure in which the shores do not reach the ground
fall under this category. If the walls are quite near to each other, singles flying shores can be
constructed. º length of straining sill and head nailed to the top and bottom of the centre part
of the horizontal shore assist in stiffening the shore and providing support for the raking
struts.

The following points should be noted while erecting flying shores;

 The centre lines of the flying shore, struts and those of the walls should meet at floor
levels of the two buildings.
 The struts should be preferably be inclined at 45Û. In no case should it exceed 60Û.
 Singles shore should be used only up to 9m distance between walls. For greater
distance, double shores should be provided.
 The flying shores should be placed at 3m to 4.5m centers, along the two walls; and
horizontal braces should be introduced between adjacent shores.
 Ñarge factor of safety should be used for determining sections of various members of
the shoring, since it is very difficult to assess the actual load.
 Flying shores are inserted when the old building is being removed, and should be kept
in position till the new unit is constructed.

V  


 This type of shoring consists of vertical members known as dead shores supporting
horizontal members known as needles. The needles transfer the load of the wall etc, to the
dead shores. Such shoring is provided to serve the following purposes which are; to rebuild
the defective lower part of the wall, to rebuild or deepen the existing foundation and to make
large opening in the existing wall at lower level.

Holes are made in the wall at suitable height. Needles, which are made of thick
wooden sections or of steel, are inserted in the holes. Each needle is supported at its two ends
by vertical post or dead shores. The dead shores stand away from the walls so that repair
work is not obstructed. The shores are supported on the sole plates and folding wedges. The
following points are note worthy;

G The sections of the needles and dead shores should be adequate to transfer the load,
which can be estimated with fair degree of accuracy.
G The needles are spaced from 1m to 2m. º minimum of three needles should be used
for an opening.
G The needle should be suitably braced.
G If the opening is made in an external wall, the length of outer shores will be greater
than the inner ones.
G The dead shores are supported on sole plate. Folding wedges should be inserted
between the two. It is preferable to use one single sole pate between dead shores in a
row.
G The floors should be suitably supported from inside.
G If the external wall is weak, raking shores may be provided.
G Shores should be removed only when the new work has gained sufficient strength, but
in case earlier than 7 days of the completion of new work. The new work should have
proper strutting.
G The sequence of removal must be; needles, strutting from opening, floor strutting
inside and raking shore if any.
§
 





 
§ c

 

Before undertaken any scheme of underpinning whether in connection with adjacent

construction operations, or to prevent further settlement as a result of ground subsidence or
overloading of foundations, it is important to carry out a careful soil investigation by means
of boring pressures for the new foundations.

If underpinning is necessary to stop settlement, it is essential that the underpinned

foundations should be taken down to relatively unyielding ground below the zone of
subsidence. The underpinning must be taken down to a deeper and relatively incompressible
stratum, if necessary by pier or pile.

If the structure to be underpinned is close to the excavation, it is often convenient to

combine the underpinning with the support to the excavation. The load of the building can
then be transferred to the top of the piles. ºlternatively, a system of close-spaced bored piles
can be used. In all cases where underpinning is provided close to excavation, it is important
to design the underpinning members to carry any lateral loads transmitted to them from the
retained earth or ground water.

§¦  



(º) JºCK ŒIÑE UNDE?ŒINNING

This method can be used when the depth of suitable bearing capacity subsoil is too
deep to make traditional underpinning to be uneconomic. Jack pile underpinning is quiet,
vibration free and flexible since the pile depth can be adjusted to suit subsoil condition
encountered. The existing foundation must be in a good condition since they will have to
span over the heads of the pile caps which are cast unto the jack pile heads after the hydraulic
jacks have been removed.

(B) NEEDÑE ºND ŒIÑE UNDE?ŒINNING

This method of underpinning can be used where the condition of the existing
foundation is unsuitable for traditional or jack pile underpinning techniques. The brickwork
above the existing foundation must be in a sound condition since this method relies on the
µarching effect¶ of the brick bonding to transmit the wall loads onto the needles and
ultimately to the piles. The piles used with this method are usually small diameter bored
piles.

(C) µŒ NFO?D¶ STOOÑ METHOD OF UNDE?ŒINNIG

This method can be used where the existing foundations are in a poor condition and it
enables the wall to be underpinned in a continuous run without the need for needles or
shoring. The reinforced concrete beam formed by this method may well be adequate to
spread the load of the existing wall or it may be used in conjunction with the other form of
underpinning such as traditional and jack pile.

(D) µBUÑÑIVºNT¶ ŒºTENT ºNGÑE ŒIÑING

This is a much simpler alternative to traditional underpinning techniques, applying

modern concrete drilling equipment to achieve cost benefit through time saving. The process
is considerably less disruptive, as large volumes of excavation are avoided. uhere sound
bearing strata can be located within a few meters of the surface, wall stability is achieved
through line reinforced concrete piles installed in pairs, at opposing angle. The existing floor,
wall and foundation are pre-drilled with air flushed percussion auger, giving access for a steel
lining to be driven through the low grade/clay subsoil until it impacts with firm strata. The
lining is cut to terminate at the underside of the foundation and the void steel reinforced prior
to concreting.

In many situations, it is impractical to apply angle pilling to both sides of a wall.

Subject to subsoil conditions being adequate, it may be acceptable to apply remedial
treatment from one side only. The will need to relatively close space.

4.3 UNDE?ŒINNING FO? MºSON? uºÑÑS

To prevent fracture, damage or settlement of the wall(s) being underpinned the work
should always be carried out in short lengths called legs or bays. The length of this bay will
depend upon the following factors.

× Total length of wall to be underpinned.

× uall loading
× General state of repair and stability of wall and foundation to be underpinned.
× Nature of subsoil beneath existing foundation.
× Estimated spanning and ability of existing foundation.

Generally suitable lengths are;

 1.000 to 1.500 for mass concrete strip foundation supporting walls of traditional
construction; 1.5000 to 3.000 for reinforced concrete strip foundation supporting walls of
moderate loading. In all the cases the total sum of the unsupported length of the wall should
not exceed 25% of the total wall length.

The sequence of bays should be arrange so that the working in the adjoining bays is
avoided until one leg of under pinning has been completed, pinned and curved sufficiently to
support the wall above.

Masonry walls usually rest on strip foundations and will need underpinning when the
foundation is affected by earth movement. The wall is supported to relieve the load on the
foundation by passing needles through holes made in it, the ends of the needles being
supported on props and plates clear of the excavation. ºreas of excavation about 1.2m wide
are selected. These should be at least two widths away from any nearby excavation.

Brickwork is the most convenient for this purpose. º new foundation is dug out and
concreted at the determined level, and then a new brick wall is built from this foundation up
to the underside of the old foundation. The space behind the wall is filled with concrete as
work proceeds. The final pinning up between the new wall and the old foundation is done
with a very stiff concrete grout.

Underpinning columns; columns can be underpinned in the some manners as walls using
traditional or jack pile methods after the column have been relieved of their loadings. The
beam loads can usually be transferred from the columns by means of dead shores and the
actual load of the column can be transferred by means of a pair of beams acting against a
collar attached to the base of the column shaft.

4.4 UNDE?ŒINNING FO? F?ºMED ST?UCTU?ES

The weight to be supported when a framed structure is to be underpinned is

concentrated in the column and is therefore usually greater than the disturbed load occurring
in a masonry wall. Once again, floor and roof loads can be relieved from the column by dead
shoring. In the case of reinforced concrete columns, grooves are cut in the sides of each
column to accommodate a pair of steel joists. These joists are bolted into position and extend
equally on each sides of the column. The end of the joist rest on other steel joist which are
long enough to be clear of the excavation work.
 The ends of these latter joists are supported on jacks resting on the floor or the
ground. By applying an upward force through the jacks, the load from the column and
foundation can be temporarily supported. The excavation and underpinning can now proceed
normally. The various loads to be supported can be calculated and the size of joists that will
be adequate to support these loads are determined.

4.5 UNDE?ŒINNING uITH CONC?ETE STOOÑ ºND G?OUND BEºMS

This method is only really suitable where the settlement is small and unlikely to
reoccur. The stools consist of short struts or columns, often of prestressed concrete about
225mm by225mm in section and 450mm high, spaced at about 900mm to 1200mm centers. º
series of holes are cut into the wall to be underpinned and the stools within top and bottom
steel distributing plates are inserted in the holes and packed around solidly with mortar. Once
the mortar has set, the inverting brick work is cut away to accommodate in situ reinforced
concrete beams, with their course normally two courses of brick work below damp-proof
course.

Finally the tops of the beams are pinned up to the brickwork above and their outsides
faces are normally rendered to give the appearances of a plinth. Bored piles or brick piers are
often taken down to a firm base to provide support to the beams.

4.6 UNDE?ŒINNING B JºCKING

uhere a building needs reveling and returning to a truly vertical plane, following
extensive and possibly continuing settlement, jacks replace the stool with the lift reproducing
the settlement in reverse, and a part of the building which has for instance settled 200mm
must be pushed back into position at twice the speed of a part that has settled 100mm, with an
average jacking speed of about 25mm/hr.

º concrete plan is prepared joining all points of equal settlement to produce µjacking
contours¶. The apparatus controlling the jack is based on a system of moving water levels
with manually actuated jacks in small system and power operated jacks in larger systems.
Finally the jacks are replaced by the insertion of ground beams and probably foundations
piles or pier.

4.7 UNDE?ŒINNING FO? OTHE? FO?MS OF SETTÑEMENT

 Buildings may settle for a variety of other reasons and the cause of the settlement may
sometimes be difficult to establish. a poorly constructed foundation disintegrate under load
and would need replacement in short lengths, strutting the wall above while the replacement
wall is in progress, to prevents it slipping.

Settlement could result from soil being washed away from beneath foundations owing
to leaking drains or water services. The first step is to locate and rectify the defective
services. ºnother possible cause is the lowering of natural groundwater level over a period of
years. uhile the failure of an adjoining owner of land at a lower level to provide adequate
retaining walls may result in landslips and consequent settlement of building at a higher level.

Buildings erected on unsuitable or inadequately compacted fill are likely to settle and
where there are varying depths of fill, unequal settlement may occur unless the fill is less
consolidated in layers not exceeding 300mm thick. On most fills, pad or strip foundations are
rarely suitable and raft or pile foundations are generally needed. º more expensive but
sounder job could be obtained by underpinning with the supporting stools being taken down
through the fill to a firm base below.

½



½c   


º combination of tieback sheeting, soil nailing and underpinning was used to support
adjacent structures, utilities and road ways for a 56 foot deep excavation in downtown
Honolulu. The original underpinning scheme for support of adjacent union plaza structure,
which entailed supporting the existing footing directly on bracket piles, was revised in the
field when it was discovered that the existing footings were of very poor quality and would
not span between brackets, so the revised plan involved constructing a post-tensioned
concrete beam below the existing footings and supporting the beam on the bracket piles. This
method of underpinning resulted in less than 1/4 ±inch of settlement for the union plaza
building.

½¦ 
 




The existing residential building with 7 floors above and 1 floor below ground was
founded on individual spread footings sand. The structural engineer office, imposed a
limitation for differential vertical movement of individual column an walls in the existing
basement of 5mm. the restriction was to be respected for structural reasons throughout the
complete building extension and rehabilitation works. The construction of the new basement
was enabled and realized within this limitation by the use of an underpinning system base on
micropiles with load transfer system.

Design: the total building load was increased from 59300KN to 80600KN.

Two load cases was taken into account for the design of the underpinning system;

G Temporary support of the new building loads during basement construction stage.
G Œermanent support of the final building loads.

Under consideration of this requirements and based on available drilling tools and pile tube
sizes, two types of micropiles were selected;

Type 1: diameter 150mm with working load capacity of 680KN

Type 2: diameter 150mm with working load capacity of 310KN.

Construction process: The constructions of the new underground floors were achieved in four
principal phases as shown in the figure below;

Ñoad transfer: the load transfer from the columns to the micropiles required to be done before
start of excavation in order to activate the support function of the micropiles with all
consequential deformations of soil and pile shaft while the building was still resting on its
existing footings, thereby affecting the building structure.

In the final stage of construction of the footings, columns and slabs to the new
basements, the structural connection between the previously existing and the new column
was achieved by injection of the final gap with non footings was effected by release of the
load in the piles heads.

½V  
 


To stabilize the Saskatchewan legislative building, construction crew installed

approximately 1,800 piles under the Dome, north, south, and east wings of the structure.
Consultants advised Saskatchewan management team that new foundations supports were
required to prevent the building from further shifting and ensure public safety. To install the
nearly 1,800 piles, construction crews needed to gain access directly below the building. ºn
access ramp was built to guide crews directly under the building.

Construction crews excavated earth from under the Dome, north, south, east wings of
the building using bobcats to do a majority of the digging. The excavation below the building
occurred in stages. Œiles were first installed near the access ramp on the cast side of the
building. From there, crews worked their way towards the Dome and then to the north and
south areas of the building. Once underground, construction crews installed the pre-cast
concrete piles. The piles were installed by hydraulically jacking 1m pre-cast concrete pile
sections into the underlying subsoil. The buildings foundations were used as a pressure point
for pushing the piles into the earth below. ºdditional pre-cast concrete piles sections were
then added to the lower section. Jacking continues until the sufficient number of pile sections
required to meet specifications was installed.


 




 

The order of erecting one of the type of raking shore is as follows;

 Cut holes in the walls to receive needles, taking care not to disturb the surrounding
brickwork
 ualls plates are prepared, morticed for needles notched for cleats, and then fix to the
wall with wall hooks.
 uhere the wall is bulging badly, it is necessary to place packing pieces behind the
wall Œlate to provide an even bearing throughout.
 The needles are prepared and inserted through the wall plate into the holes in the wall.
 º beveled cleat is inserted in each housing in the wall plate and spiked.
 The heads of the rakers are cut to the required angle and notched to receive the needle
for a width of at least 75mm.
 The sole plate is fixed in position and the bottom ends of the rakers tightened against
it by levering them with a crowbar fitted into notches.
 Bracing boards is then fixed for stiffening purpose.

 c




Example can be found in the demolition and rebuilding an intermediate three-storey

terrace house. It can be assumed that the adjoining houses are in poor condition so that
maximum care must be taken. Following inspection, raking shores are erected to each upper
floor and eaves opposite each party wall. Flying shores are then erected inside between the
party walls, with the outsides one positioned close to the fronts and rear walls. Once the
shoring is complete , demolition can proceed and the shores will remain in position until the
new building work is virtually complete.

 ¦






Example can be found in inserting a shop front in an existing dwelling. ºll windows
opening in the front wall are strutted to prevent deformation. ?aking shores are then erected
against the party walls and at intermediate points if the brickwork is in poor condition. This
strutting is placed as near as possible to the wall, often 900mm-1200mm from it and may be
sheeted to form a screen where the buildings remain in occupation during the alterations. The
ground work brickwork is cut away, pier built and steel beams inserted and wedged. ºfter
allowing about two weeks for the mortar to harden, then the shoring is removed in the revese
order to which it was erected and needles holes in the brickwork made good.


 

Inorderwords, direct underpinning is to form isolated blocks going down to firm

bearing on either side of the wall and connect the blocks by beams, going under and
supporting, the original footing. Thus, underpinning needs access from one side only and can
therefore, for external walls, be carried out without disturbance of the interior of the building.
ºlso, it preserves the original footing more or less intact. Moreover, it requires no special
machinery. Therefore, underpinning is one of the best methods of correcting defects in
building.



 

The demand for underpinning and shoring has increased gradually in the last years as
renewals and renovation works have gained popularity. ºs example, the present cases proved
how the versatility of some underpinning techniques can fit the uniqueness and restraints of
complex scenarios. It is also important to point out that underpinning and shoring works
requires expertise in the design and execution levels, along with safe working practices.

Finally, with the different alternatives available, detailed subsurface information and
an understanding of the critical ground performance is fundamental. ºn experienced
geotechnical consultant can offer much to the success of underpinning and shoring system.

 

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