March 10, 2021

Choose Your Testing Partner Wisely

A symbiotic relationship between the testing professional and the foundation contractor is vital to each other’s success. AH Beck Foundation Co., Inc. and AFT recently demonstrated this to deliver North Carolina DOT the successful execution of a very complex Bi-Directional Load Test Shaft with double levels of multiple AFT-Cell’s. The added test complexity assures the drilled shaft side resistance and base resistance is fully mobilized.

July 30, 2020

AFT participates in ‘One of FDOT’s First Uses of Augercast Piles’

Drop Hammer Dynamic Testing for I-395 Signature Bridge – One of FDOT’s First Uses of Augercast Piles AFT recently built and put its second drop hammer dynamic test device into service for the new I-395 Signature Bridge in Miami. It’s one of FDOT’s first uses of augercast piles and includes a robust QC program where AFT is performing dynamic proof load testing on 5% of

May 15, 2020

AFT Participates in Possible World Record Drilled Shaft

Recently AFT took part in a big accomplishment on our Honolulu Light Rail Project on Oahu, Hawaii. A possible record drilled shaft was installed by our client Legacy Drilling. The mammoth drilled shaft was 10-feet in diameter, drilled to an astonishing depth of 357.3 feet. It was installed using an oscillator to place full-length temporary casing, excavation by hammer grab, and water as the drilling

May 13, 2020

AFT Completes Container Terminal Upgrade Project in Mexico’s Pacific Coast Port of Manzanillo

Colima, Mexico: Contecon Manzanillo S.A. de C.V. (CMSA), the Mexican subsidiary of International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI), undertook a capacity improvement program at the Port of Manzanillo in Mexico to expand Mexico’s gateway on the Pacific coast. AFT, working with one of our long-standing Contractor clients based out of Panama, installed the new foundation piles for the dock.  We performed construction geotechnical services during

high-capacity-static-load-testing
December 4, 2018

High Capacity Static Load Testing for Tampa’s West Extension of the Selmon Expressway

AFT completes another successful high capacity load test. Shown is our 1,500 ton top down static test system, setup in the median of busy Gandy Blvd in South Tampa. All part of the foundation construction by Kiewit for the new Lee Roy Selmon Expressway West Extension project. As usual, we utilized fully automated instrumentation for high precision measurements monitored from a safe distance away. Contact

statnamic-load-testing-west-palm-beach
October 23, 2018

FDOT Makes Use of Statnamic Load Testing in West Palm Beach, Florida

AFT recently performed three Statnamic Load Tests for the FDOT bridge replacement project at SR80 Southern Blvd over the Intracoastal Waterway in West Palm Beach, Florida. The drilled shaft foundations for the new bridge utilize AFT’s manufactured tip grouting apparatus and base grouting to increase usable end bearing. The test program included pressure grouting of the drilled shaft tip via pre-installed grout apparatus, followed by

lateral-static-test-ability
August 23, 2018

1,000 kips of Lateral Static Load Test Ability

Simplicity and highly effective. AFT upgraded our lateral static load test capabilities with the addition of this 1,000 kip lateral test strut. Ideal for Drilled Shafts and Pile groups. Push or pull while allowing the pile head to freely rotate. Allows accurate back fitting of results to modeling programs. We apply fully automated precision electronic instrumentation above ground, embedment gages, and reusable downhole instruments for

static-load-testing-with-a-beautiful-backdrop
July 31, 2018

Static Load Testing with a Beautiful Backdrop

We appreciate the unique opportunities our clients give us. This time it was set in beautiful British Columbia, Canada. When the phone rang and we were asked if we could do a 3,000 kip top down load test, the answer was YES. AFT combined our static test equipment and know how with the resources of our client to successfully complete a series of complex high capacity

aftcell-mele-in-hawaii
October 31, 2017

AFTCell Mele in Hawaii

AFT is proud to be a part of the latest phase of the Honolulu Rail Transit project working with the JV of Shimick Traylor Granite. This is the third segment of the project known as the Airport Guideway and Stations Design Build Contract. It includes a 5.15-mile segment of elevated guideway and four stations all supported on Drilled Shaft foundations. AFT-Cell’s were used extensively on the project but