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Sinkhole and Karst

Sinkholes occur when a confining clay layer is breached by an underlying karst void and soils ravel into the cavity, creating a surface depression. Pre-construction treatment includes compaction grouting to fill cavities and cap limestone formations to restrict further raveling of soils; vibro replacement and vibro compaction to precollapse sinkholes and densify and reinforce loose overburden soils; and dynamic compaction to densifiy underlying soils and collapse voids. Remedial treatment typically consists of compaction grouting to fill the cavity and densify raveled soils. Hayward Baker has experience with sinkhole pretreatment and remediation techniques to provide a sinkhole solution.

Video and Image Gallery

  • Compaction grouting to treat a 160-foot-wide, 400-foot-deep sinkhole through a gypsum stack in Polk County, FL.
  • Compaction grouting to mitigate sinkhole conditions at a residence near Tampa, FL.
  • Vibro replacement to reduce sinkhole risk and allow standard construction for a planned research building at the University of South Florida, Tampa, FL.
  • Compaction grouting for emergency highway stabilization above a drainage culvert at the Eisenhower Tunnel on I-70 in CO.
  • Selective cap grouting program to reduce sinkhole risk, and Vibro Piers™ to support the tower portion of the new Gateway Medical Center in Clarksville, TN.
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  • Compaction grouting to mitigate sinkhole conditions at a residence near Tampa, FL.
  • Vibro replacement to reduce sinkhole risk and allow standard construction for a planned research building at the University of South Florida, Tampa, FL.
  • Compaction grouting for emergency highway stabilization above a drainage culvert at the Eisenhower Tunnel on I-70 in CO.
  • Selective cap grouting program to reduce sinkhole risk, and Vibro Piers™ to support the tower portion of the new Gateway Medical Center in Clarksville, TN.
Hayward Baker performed four different ground modification techniques (vibro replacement, permeation grouting, compaction grouting, and jet grouting) for settlement control and to reduce the risk for future sinkhole development for new additions to the Lee Moffitt Cancer Center on the University of South Florida campus.

Feature case study

H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL

Hayward Baker performed four different ground modification techniques (vibro replacement, permeation grouting, compaction grouting, and jet grouting) for settlement control and to reduce the risk for future sinkhole development for new additions to the Lee Moffitt Cancer Center on the University of South Florida campus.

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