Research Article
Mar 1976

The Superdome Foundations

Publication: Journal of the Construction Division
Volume 102, Issue 1

Abstract

The Louisiana Superdome is founded on 14-in. (355 mm) square precast prestressed concrete piling driven to 165 ft (50 m). Alternate strata of soft clays and sand occur to about 100-ft (30 m) depth. Below, firm clays above very stiff preconsolidated clays provided the principal supporting strata. The design concept uses individual pile caps interconnected by a braced superstructure to distribute and minimize differential settlements. During the early pile driving, a rejection rate of about 8% occurred, far exceeding the 3% to 5% expected. A detailed analysis of pile manufacture, shipping and driving identified possible causes of the high rejection rate. Added pile tests also verified both the acceptance and the rejection criteria. No single variable was isolated as the rejection cause, but by eliminating many minor imperfections rejections were reduced to less than 3%. Periodic readings at various stages of construction show settlements between 0.5-in. (13 mm) to 1-in. (25 mm). Differential settlements between adjacent columns have stabilized at about 0.25-in. (7 mm) maximum well below the 0.5-in. (13 mm) design allowable.

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Published In

Journal of the Construction Division
Volume 102Issue 1March 1976
Pages: 81 - 98

History

Published in print: Mar 1976
Published online: Feb 11, 2021

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Thor L. Anderson, M.ASCE
Vice Pres. and San Francisco Mgr., Sverdrup & Parcel and Assocs., Inc., San Francisco, Calif.
Melvin C. Williams, M.ASCE
Resident Engr., Louisiana Stadium Project, Sverdrup & Parcel and Assocs., Inc., New Orleans, La.

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