Compressor Foundation not on Concrete Slab, but Caliche in East Texas

[Virgil Rudd]

Out client wants to support a 12'x36' 67 ton Compressor on a caliche bed in east Texas. I have done this kind of thing before using a sand box type foundation. Sand over structural fill. Caliche is used more often in south Texas for road sub-grades. Even TxDOT hasn't found caliche to be the best for this purpose, but south and west Texas git little rain compared with east Texas.
Does anyone have experience using caliche as a base? Any other thoughts?

 

[WARose]

Does anyone have experience using caliche as a base? Any other thoughts?

I don't know anything about caliche.....but having a compressor on a base you can't anchor to doesn't seem like a good idea. (Depending on the magnitude of unbalanced forces generated.) Getting good anchorage is hard enough to a concrete base.

I'd check with a geotech and with the compressor manufacturer (the latter whom you should ask as to their recommendations for base support).

 

[Virgil Rudd]

Thank you, good ideas.