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Deep Foundations
Helical Piles and Helical Tiebacks
For Enginners:
Typical Helical Specifications
Drilled Piers
Liquefaction Solved
Underpinning
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with Helical Piles
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with Ground Screws
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Retaining Wall Basics
Retaining Wall Fortification
Solving Limited Access
Using EPS Blocks
Using W-beams
Excavation & Drilling
Grading
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Hillside Stabilization
Challenging Hillside
Additions & Patios
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Impact Walls
Avalon Supports
the Famous Rockettes
USING EPS BLOCKS
Retaining Wall Special Issue
Avalon encourages engineers to explore designs with Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) for large backfills.

It is cheap, inert, non-toxic, stable, does not absorb water, and it is approximately 160 times lighter than compacted dirt.

Because it weighs so little, the pressure against the retaining wall is less, potentially saving the owner significantly on construction costs of the wall.
Here the tied-back retaining wall is ready for the installation of a sub-drain and the placement of EPS blocks and rock.

The rock will be placed in veins surround the tiebacks and between sections of EPS blocks. After the installation of the EPS blocks and rock, the tiebacks will be tightened.
In this photo, EPS blocks and rock veins are being installed. Earlier, special geo-fabric, rock, and a perforated pipe had been installed behind the base of the wall forming a sub-drain. Later, the filter fabric will be folded over the backfill, with soil placed on top.

Soils Engineering:
Joe Rafferty,
Redwood Geotechnical

Structural Design:
Bob Patterson,
Patterson & Associates.
A second wall with EPS block, with drain rock.

Soils Engineering
Becky Dees,
Dees & Associates

Structural Design:
Bob Patterson,
Patterson & Associates.
A third wall with EPS block. Gaps are filled with rock as water passages.

Soils Engineering:
Becky Dees,
Dees & Associates

Structural Design:
Bob Patterson,
Patterson & Associates.
Avalon Structural, Inc.
181 Ridgeview Drive
Aptos, CA 95003
(831) 479-4389 (office)
info@avalonstructural.com
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Avalon Structural, Inc.
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Classifications:  B, C-8
Avalon is a general building
contracting firm and
does not employ engineers.