A Self-Refrigerated Gravel Pad Foundation for Large Thermal Loads

by John E. Cronin, Shannon & Wilson Inc, Fairbanks, AK, USA,
Thomas C. Kinney, Shannon & Wilson Inc, Fairbanks, AK, USA,
Subodh K. Jain, Shannon & Wilson Inc, Fairbanks, AK, USA,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Cold Regions Engineering

Abstract:

Design criteria for a proposed power plant at Thule Air Force Base, Greenland, involved both large thermal loads from the diesel engines and large static loads from an eight foot thick concrete block used for vibration damping. The six generators and their concrete block will be founded on an insulated gravel fill pad with embedded self-refrigerating thermal probes. The remainder of the structure will be elevated on a post and pad foundation with an air space. A unique design incorporating two layers of insulation and two rows of thermal probes was used under the generator block. This minimizes the required depth of excavation and fill and will reduce creep settlement by maintaining cold ground temperatures within the ice-rich permafrost.

Subject Headings: Thermal loads | Foundation settlement | Soil settlement | Gravels | Static loads | Probe instruments | Power plants | Greenland | Denmark

Services: Buy this book/Buy this article

 

Return to search