vtminer
Mining
- Mar 31, 2021
- 1
New user here so bare with me.
I am looking at installing a small array for test purposes as a precursor to a full utility-scale array. The purpose of the test array is to evaluate how the piles react (settle) in the poor ground conditions. For reference, from ground surface, the strata is as follows:
8 to 10 feet of well-graded, hydraulically-place sand
60 to 80 feet of hydraulically-placed, flocculated, dewatered clays. The upper 5 to 8 feet of clays was worked over a number of years to allow for substantial drying prior to placement of sand.
Bottom of clays is roughly 30' below original natural ground and typically consists of a marine-environment blend of clays, silt and sand.
The clays under the surface sand are generally well compacted and dewatered.
The question at hand is given that I'll have a 12-18 month window to operate and evaluate the test array, how do I try to induce decades (20-30 years) of settlement into the pile structures? The biggest issue is generating the "right" frequencies of vibrations within these structures. Vibrations are generally from 2 sources - harmonics produced from the wind blowing over the panels (think aerofoil) and the physical harmonics that occur within electrical equipment. I've been through a few studies that evaluated piles for buildings but the loading on building piles is way more than what the solar array will see. Would great appreciate any advice. Thanks.
I am looking at installing a small array for test purposes as a precursor to a full utility-scale array. The purpose of the test array is to evaluate how the piles react (settle) in the poor ground conditions. For reference, from ground surface, the strata is as follows:
8 to 10 feet of well-graded, hydraulically-place sand
60 to 80 feet of hydraulically-placed, flocculated, dewatered clays. The upper 5 to 8 feet of clays was worked over a number of years to allow for substantial drying prior to placement of sand.
Bottom of clays is roughly 30' below original natural ground and typically consists of a marine-environment blend of clays, silt and sand.
The clays under the surface sand are generally well compacted and dewatered.
The question at hand is given that I'll have a 12-18 month window to operate and evaluate the test array, how do I try to induce decades (20-30 years) of settlement into the pile structures? The biggest issue is generating the "right" frequencies of vibrations within these structures. Vibrations are generally from 2 sources - harmonics produced from the wind blowing over the panels (think aerofoil) and the physical harmonics that occur within electrical equipment. I've been through a few studies that evaluated piles for buildings but the loading on building piles is way more than what the solar array will see. Would great appreciate any advice. Thanks.
