Deep Foundation Systems
Deep Foundations for Load, Ground, and Access Constraints
Pacific Foundation installs drilled and driven systems where shallow foundations cannot provide adequate support. Pacific plans the work around the required load path and the site's access, vibration, and adjacent-structure constraints.
Load Transfer
Deep foundations move structural loads through weak or variable upper soils into more competent bearing material.
Restricted Access
Method and equipment selection have to account for work room, overhead clearance, utilities, and active-site sequencing.
Low-Vibration Options
Drilled systems can support structures where vibration, settlement, or adjacent improvements rule out simpler approaches.
When It Fits
Use deep foundations when the ground or structure needs a deeper load path
Deep foundations support structures where weak near-surface soils, heavy loads, seismic demands, groundwater, or limited access make shallow foundations impractical.
Early review determines which foundation systems can carry the required loads in the actual ground. It also confirms whether access, tooling, testing, and schedule support installation.
Methods
Foundation method selection follows the ground, load, and work plan
Pacific reviews the geotechnical report and structural loads first. The team then checks whether access, material delivery, vibration limits, testing, and schedule support the installation plan.
Drilled Shafts
Large-diameter drilled foundations for bridges, buildings, industrial work, and infrastructure where load, casing, access, and ground conditions shape the plan.
Auger Cast Piles
Continuous flight auger piles for drilled, cast-in-place support where low-vibration installation, spoil handling, concrete placement, and sequencing need coordinated control.
Displacement Piles
Displacement CFA piles reduce spoils and use lateral soil displacement where the soil profile, pile spacing, and verification requirements fit the method.
Driven Piles
Driven pile systems support structures where pile type, installation resistance, vibration controls, and access for crane-supported work can be managed.
Micropiles
Small-diameter drilled and grouted piles for retrofit, low-clearance, seismic, and restricted-access work where larger equipment does not fit the site.
Planning
The foundation plan has to work before the rig arrives
Before mobilization, the installation plan must work within the available platform and site access. The team also checks utilities, casing, material delivery, reinforcement handling, and access for follow-on work.
Pacific can review the drawings, geotechnical report, load requirements, adjacent structures, access limits, testing needs, and phasing assumptions before a method becomes difficult to change.
Selected Work
Deep foundation work tied to actual site demands
Useful project examples show what controlled the work, such as groundwater, rock, limited access, retrofit conditions, or load transfer.
Bull Run Dam
Large-diameter drilled shaft work with rock sockets, temporary casing, and tremie concrete placement for major water infrastructure.
Lower Granite Dam
Drilled shafts over water required installation through water, overburden, and hard bedrock for dam infrastructure work.
CAMS III - Oregon Capitol
Micropile, underpinning, shoring, and seismic retrofit support in a constrained historic structure setting.
Scope Review
Review the foundation scope before the method is locked
Send the drawings, geotechnical report, load information, and known access constraints. Pacific Foundation can review the installation requirements before the foundation system is finalized.