[harryc]

This sequence is the last part of installing a caisson on the Chicago Spire project.

I arrived as they were lifting up this sleeve.
1http://lh6.ggpht.com/harry.r.carmichael/SDDxyrY7FOI/AAAAAAAAmZQ/cwVv2bhcmO4/P1350248.JPG?imgmax=800

2http://lh5.ggpht.com/harry.r.carmichael/SDDx0bY7FPI/AAAAAAAAmZc/DnmuVk75Nhs/P1350251.JPG?imgmax=800

3http://lh6.ggpht.com/harry.r.carmichael/SDDx1rY7FQI/AAAAAAAAmZo/J7fDWhGbE6s/P1350252.JPG?imgmax=800

Then lowering it into the already drilled ( and belled ? ) shaft.
4http://lh4.ggpht.com/harry.r.carmichael/SDDx4LY7FRI/AAAAAAAAmZ0/xg6HTJrZe3M/P1350256.JPG?imgmax=640

5http://lh6.ggpht.com/harry.r.carmichael/SDDx6rY7FSI/AAAAAAAAmaA/_wWr3wF4B2c/P1350258.JPG?imgmax=800

6http://lh3.ggpht.com/harry.r.carmichael/SDDx87Y7FTI/AAAAAAAAmaM/gXPf81nQ4KY/P1350259.JPG?imgmax=640

Here the tape measure has been tied to the top of the sleeve with plastic tape ( can be pulled off with a strong tug ).
7http://lh5.ggpht.com/harry.r.carmichael/SDDx-bY7FUI/AAAAAAAAmaY/h3Fc-EqN3aA/P1350264.JPG?imgmax=800

Riding the sleeve down
8http://lh5.ggpht.com/harry.r.carmichael/SDDx_bY7FVI/AAAAAAAAmak/qs19CWIOQ7A/P1350267.JPG?imgmax=640

9http://lh3.ggpht.com/harry.r.carmichael/SDDyA7Y7FWI/AAAAAAAAmaw/r58M7-aeJdM/P1350268.JPG?imgmax=640

Carefully measuring
10http://lh6.ggpht.com/harry.r.carmichael/SDDyCrY7FXI/AAAAAAAAmbA/pJ2x6_kD8MQ/P1350273.JPG?imgmax=720

The red reel is the saftey line.
11http://lh4.ggpht.com/harry.r.carmichael/SDDyELY7FYI/AAAAAAAAmbM/VB1MIRNXXP0/P1350279.JPG?imgmax=800

12http://lh6.ggpht.com/harry.r.carmichael/SDDyErY7FZI/AAAAAAAAmbY/0vAw5vpUMy8/P1350292.JPG?imgmax=640

Guy in white helmet is checking the numbers while the one in back prepares a bucket full of tools and shims (?). He wears the notbook in his tool belt and consulted it seemingly at every step.
13http://lh5.ggpht.com/harry.r.carmichael/SDDyGbY7FaI/AAAAAAAAmbk/Diq3_rhDe8c/P1350295.JPG?imgmax=640

A pretty pink plumb line
14http://lh6.ggpht.com/harry.r.carmichael/SDDyHrY7FbI/AAAAAAAAmbw/fQRE9QBNY4o/P1350298.JPG?imgmax=640

Another bucket of tools
15http://lh4.ggpht.com/harry.r.carmichael/SDDyJLY7FcI/AAAAAAAAmb8/BWiy3etwt-w/P1350299.JPG?imgmax=640

16http://lh4.ggpht.com/harry.r.carmichael/SDDyMLY7FeI/AAAAAAAAmcU/jnk0GA7V_QY/P1350308.JPG?imgmax=720

Preparing a foot loop
17http://lh3.ggpht.com/harry.r.carmichael/SDDyN7Y7FfI/AAAAAAAAmcg/PZlMaQl6Nog/P1350316.JPG?imgmax=640

UP and out
18http://lh5.ggpht.com/harry.r.carmichael/SDDyQbY7FgI/AAAAAAAAmcs/CXNGVNBlQUw/P1350322.JPG?imgmax=640

19http://lh4.ggpht.com/harry.r.carmichael/SDDySLY7FhI/AAAAAAAAmc4/xaRQ0i0IYsA/P1350325.JPG?imgmax=640

Emotional welcome - or just unhooking him ?
20http://lh6.ggpht.com/harry.r.carmichael/SDDyTrY7FiI/AAAAAAAAmdE/-o1xVW5JCWI/P1350326.JPG?imgmax=640

Hooking up the first (bottom) segment
21http://lh5.ggpht.com/harry.r.carmichael/SDDyVbY7FjI/AAAAAAAAmdQ/HrmBm6GzHx4/P1350335.JPG?imgmax=800

Up and in
22http://lh3.ggpht.com/harry.r.carmichael/SDDyW7Y7FkI/AAAAAAAAmdg/PhTeB21IBTQ/P1350336.JPG?imgmax=640

23http://lh6.ggpht.com/harry.r.carmichael/SDDyYrY7FlI/AAAAAAAAmds/fNBHQGFo8Y8/P1350337.JPG?imgmax=720

24http://lh3.ggpht.com/harry.r.carmichael/SDDya7Y7FmI/AAAAAAAAmd4/Am_FFbgbNho/P1350343.JPG?imgmax=640

25http://lh6.ggpht.com/harry.r.carmichael/SDDycrY7FnI/AAAAAAAAmeE/ufz4uVhiaw0/P1350347.JPG?imgmax=640

Down and held in place with the 2 poles
26http://lh5.ggpht.com/harry.r.carmichael/SDDyhbY7FoI/AAAAAAAAmeQ/VFB3Q0kgi9s/P1350348.JPG?imgmax=800

27http://lh6.ggpht.com/harry.r.carmichael/SDDyjrY7FpI/AAAAAAAAmec/ABW4bVWIu20/P1350349.JPG?imgmax=800

28http://lh3.ggpht.com/harry.r.carmichael/SDDym7Y7FqI/AAAAAAAAmeo/Pk88SDFFCA4/P1350351.JPG?imgmax=640

Rigging the next segment
29http://lh3.ggpht.com/harry.r.carmichael/SDDyp7Y7FrI/AAAAAAAAme0/ADRtK5Stpow/P1350356.JPG?imgmax=800

Up & Over
30http://lh6.ggpht.com/harry.r.carmichael/SDDyrrY7FsI/AAAAAAAAmfA/jf9ne-54vOw/P1350361.JPG?imgmax=640

31http://lh6.ggpht.com/harry.r.carmichael/SDDytrY7FtI/AAAAAAAAmfM/eqGOOXajN64/P1350367.JPG?imgmax=720

Fit #2 over #1
32http://lh5.ggpht.com/harry.r.carmichael/SDDyvbY7FuI/AAAAAAAAmfY/rRo2t4GOstU/P1350374.JPG?imgmax=640

33http://lh5.ggpht.com/harry.r.carmichael/SDDyxbY7FvI/AAAAAAAAmf4/e93Pv1a_czU/P1350380.JPG?imgmax=640

Squeeze down
34http://lh6.ggpht.com/harry.r.carmichael/SDDy0rY7FwI/AAAAAAAAmgE/KMivizRs16s/P1350384.JPG?imgmax=640

Tie off
35http://lh6.ggpht.com/harry.r.carmichael/SDDy2rY7FxI/AAAAAAAAmgQ/utqDGz1BjvY/P1350390.JPG?imgmax=800

36http://lh3.ggpht.com/harry.r.carmichael/SDDy37Y7FyI/AAAAAAAAmgc/FFBYD2CRSMk/P1350397.JPG?imgmax=640

37http://lh5.ggpht.com/harry.r.carmichael/SDDy5bY7FzI/AAAAAAAAmgo/upKViqf2qc4/P1350402.JPG?imgmax=800

Pull out the pipes
38http://lh4.ggpht.com/harry.r.carmichael/SDDy7LY7F0I/AAAAAAAAmg0/qHAXDc6FeFs/P1350403.JPG?imgmax=640

39http://lh5.ggpht.com/harry.r.carmichael/SDDy8bY7F1I/AAAAAAAAmhA/HLHnpgX0nuw/P1350406.JPG?imgmax=640

Ease it down
40http://lh4.ggpht.com/harry.r.carmichael/SDDy-LY7F2I/AAAAAAAAmhM/W0lA2ZmGLyA/P1350412.JPG?imgmax=640

Hold it again with the pipes
41http://lh6.ggpht.com/harry.r.carmichael/SDDy_rY7F3I/AAAAAAAAmhY/-_DX1DSKBPc/P1350417.JPG?imgmax=640

Reconfigure the hooks, and tie on the measuring tape again. Replacing the s rewed together - won't come apart - lugs with simple hooks.
42http://lh3.ggpht.com/harry.r.carmichael/SDDzA7Y7F4I/AAAAAAAAmhk/NL7giplneH0/P1350419.JPG?imgmax=800

43http://lh5.ggpht.com/harry.r.carmichael/SDDzCbY7F5I/AAAAAAAAmhw/0gYf6gawKe4/P1350422.JPG?imgmax=800

44http://lh3.ggpht.com/harry.r.carmichael/SDDzD7Y7F6I/AAAAAAAAmh8/ZYhHYscMSPM/P1350426.JPG?imgmax=800

45http://lh5.ggpht.com/harry.r.carmichael/SDDzFbY7F7I/AAAAAAAAmiM/rfDZbTJ5Y_M/P1350427.JPG?imgmax=800

46http://lh6.ggpht.com/harry.r.carmichael/SDDzGrY7F8I/AAAAAAAAmiY/4bR20O4u-q0/P1350430.JPG?imgmax=800

Lowering the completed cage ( into the sleeve ).
47http://lh5.ggpht.com/harry.r.carmichael/SDDzIbY7F9I/AAAAAAAAmik/FrLpHv6FK7c/P1350431.JPG?imgmax=800

At this point the tape read 21'
48http://lh5.ggpht.com/harry.r.carmichael/SDDzLbY7F_I/AAAAAAAAmi8/SpWoPB0Y4pA/P1350444.JPG?imgmax=800

All the way down
49http://lh3.ggpht.com/harry.r.carmichael/SDDzM7Y7GAI/AAAAAAAAmjI/awDpO7WJc-I/P1350452.JPG?imgmax=800

50http://lh6.ggpht.com/harry.r.carmichael/SDDzOrY7GBI/AAAAAAAAmjU/N9QNqsgMBnc/P1350446.JPG?imgmax=800

Tie off the cage ( held up by the chains - one set visable on the left )
51http://lh4.ggpht.com/harry.r.carmichael/SDDzQLY7GCI/AAAAAAAAmjg/2uTvE6FykDY/P1350454.JPG?imgmax=800

Unhooking
52http://lh5.ggpht.com/harry.r.carmichael/SDDzSbY7GDI/AAAAAAAAmjs/rgPIkuCxsfE/P1350463.JPG?imgmax=720

Cable up
53http://lh5.ggpht.com/harry.r.carmichael/SDDzTbY7GEI/AAAAAAAAmj4/byjZWmTUbLA/P1350469.JPG?imgmax=640

Securely tied off
54http://lh5.ggpht.com/harry.r.carmichael/SDDzUbY7GFI/AAAAAAAAmkE/txL991HE88s/P1350473.JPG?imgmax=640

Filler Up
55http://lh6.ggpht.com/harry.r.carmichael/SDDzVrY7GGI/AAAAAAAAmkQ/9Feb8P3JUCU/P1350488.JPG?imgmax=800

On the 2nd of three truckloads, filler gravel has been delivered ( this will be used to bury the caisson ).
56http://lh4.ggpht.com/harry.r.carmichael/SDDzXLY7GHI/AAAAAAAAmkc/XsLQQr_pgdY/P1350515.JPG?imgmax=800

The descriptions are from what I have deduced.
Corrections, Clarifications, and additions would be very welcome.

[Kelvin]

It all seems pretty concise.

[Coldrsx]

great report, thanks. I was going to say...that 1st rebar they lowered was pretty wimpy, but then i scrolled down.

[Jibba]

This was a great documentation of the process, harryc. I have been trying to piece the parts of the process together from the random shots interspersed into your Spire posts, but now that they are all isolated and ordered here it is much easier to see what is going on. Thanks!

[alsajano]

A very good information.

[Lecom]

Fascinating. Thanks a lot.

[Nowhereman1280]

Harry, your picture narratives certainly add a lot to this forum, I always enjoy reading them and seeing a step by step of how things are done on these sites!

Thanks!

[mdiederi]

Great photo documentary, as usual harryc.

That must be very claustrophobic having to go down inside of that thing.

[harryc]

Great photo documentary, as usual harryc.

That must be very claustrophobic having to go down inside of that thing.

Yes in photo 20 there was definitely some relief and emotion involved when he got back up.

[Vexxed8282]

Great pictures and analysis. I have a few clarification questions. Is the sleeve the exact diameter of the drilled hole? When I look at the caisson top it appears as the diameter is quite a few feet on each side. Is this extra width only for the first few feet? I wonder because it looks like the caisson could shift from side to side. If the diameter is much bigger then the sleeve, do they then fill the sides in with the gravel? I hope this question makes sense. Thanks

[Colin Giersberg]

While I am not sure of this, I believe that the outermost section of caisson will be pulled out as the concrete is poured in. The photos make it look like that is not the case, however. On a bridge project that I was on, the outer section was to prevent the surrounding material from collapsing. The man that was pulled out probably went down to inspect the bottom of the caisson to make sure that there were no voids in the floor. If there were, they would have to drill down further to get to solid rock. The outer sleeve has notches cut into opposing sides (which you can see) for a drive bar to fit into. This would be at the bottom end of the "Kelly" bar, and when engaged, the entire tube would rotate. It should have teeth on the bottom end to cut into the rock, which is then excavated by using an auger that also has teeth on the cutting edge. One it is cleaned out, the man would have to go back down and re-inspect the floor.
Since they have lowered a rebar cage into the hole, the floor should be okay. As the concrete is poured, the outer section would be pulled out, the concrete would then fill the hole up and prevent any collapse from the surrounding material. The rebar cage does look rather small in diameter to me, and I don't know what the steel tube placed in the hole is for, but it looks like it forms the permanent sides of the caisson, but it is smaller than the outer casing, so I am confused about that.

Hope this may clear up the operation some.
Regards, Colin

[harryc]

Yes the outer portion ( caisson top ? ) was pulled out later. The inner liner ( caisson sleve ) is still in the ground, and will be cut off as needed when the site is excavated.