Skip to content

The Osterberg Cell

The Osterberg Cell

HCM was contracted to provide supply & installation of O-Cell load test on the New Calgary Library project located in downtown core of the city, in close proximity to the City Hall. The outcome of the load test was to determine the actual soil parameters for the foundation pile design on the project.

The O-cell is a hydraulically driven, high capacity, sacrificial loading device installed within the foundation unit. As the load is applied to the O cell, it begins working in two directions; upward against upper side shear and downward against base resistance and lower side shear (if applicable). Each O-cell is specially instrumented to allow for direct measurement of the O-cell’s expansion. O-cells range in capacities from 800 kN to 26,000 kN.

The scope of work consisted in installation of single test pile (1070mm diam. x 8.0 meters top liner casing, 910mm diam. x 8.0 meters rock socket). The overall length of test pile was approx.16 meters. O-cell was attached to the bottom of the steel frame c/w instrumentation connections, gauges, wiring etc.

Steel frame was manufactured in HCM’s shop, the O-cell was supplied by Loadtest Inc. HCM installed the pile in one day according to the timeline and specification requirements.

Client: Tetra Tech EBA

Location: Calgary, Alberta

University of Toronto Faculty of Law

TTC Steels Launch Shaft The expansion of the Faculty of Law building at the University of Toronto incorporated the addition of another storey to the existing building. The increased loading
Read More

Oshawa Mall

Oshawa Mall The Oshawa Mall expansion was a large project that required several foundation and shoring services. HCM met the needs of the contractor by providing both tied back and
Read More

Herald Block

Herald Block HCM was chosen to provide a comprehensive design-build shoring solution for Phase 1 of Brookfield Place development, which will become the tallest building in Western Canada. The excavation
Read More

Pixel by Battistella

Pixel by Battistella HCM was contracted to provide the design and installation of shoring system for a 110 unit building consisting of town homes, studios and condos. This development was
Read More

Alloa Feedermain

Alloa Feedermain This project involved installation of 3 watertight caisson wall shafts. Two rectangular secant pile wall shaft approx 12m deep and one 6m diameter compression ring shaft approx 7m
Read More

Cobourg Railway Station

Cobourg Railway Station On this project, HCM, in conjunction with its in-house engineering company, RWH Engineering Inc. (RWH), was able to offer the owner one source for the design, supply,
Read More