This new 2.3 km (1.45 mile) span over the Zambezi River will link the towns of Caia and Chimuara in central Mozambique. It will be the second longest bridge on the African continent and become an integral part of the transportation corridor EN 1. A ferry service currently provides the only commercial means of transporting goods and people across the Zambezi at this critical juncture. This International Aid project will hopefully be great economic benefit to the local and regional economies.
Trevi S.p.A. were tasked with constructing the foundation piles for this marquee project on the African continent. The total applied load to the test pile exceeded 20 MN (2,200 tons) and proved the pile design. What may be more significant the applied load for this project is the remote location where this test occurred. Capitalizing on the portability and efficiency of the Osterberg cell, Loadtest was able to accomplish another load testing feat in a remote corner of the world.
Location: Zambezi River, Caia Mozambique
Designers: GRID, Ltda., Louis, Berger Group, WSP Group
Foundation Contractor:Trevi S.p.A.
Subsurface: Sandy, Clayey overburden underlain by friable sandstone
Pile Diameter:1500 mm (60”); Pile Length: 60 m (200’)
O-cell Configuration: 1 x 540 mm (21”)
MAX LOAD
22 MN (4928 kips)
O-cell Expansion
0.23 mm (0.009” ) upward
0.29 mm (0.0116” ) downward