Within the scope of Ford Otosan Automobile Factory in Gölcük, bored piles, jet grout columns and stone columns were successfully executed under the foundations of the different strcutures. 13 months after the project started; in other words when 90% of total work was accomplished, Gölcük Earthquake occurred in 1999 causing a huge devastation in the region. Owing to soil improvement works performed successfully, facilities at the factory survived with very minor damages. Although, the total area of the factory; which is ~1.6 million square meters; settled down by 1.5 m and horizontally shifted by 3 to 4 m, no major structural damage was observed.
A very comprehensive study was conducted to investigate the effects of the earthquake. With respect to these findings, construction works of the factory facility was resumed in 2001. Various number of tests were conducted as part of the comprehensive quality control program implemented at the project. Especially, after the earthquake, zone loading and plate loading tests were performed on areas previously improved so as to verify the performance of the existing foundations.
- The longest (1998-2013) and the largest project completed in Turkey
- Total facility area is 1.6 million square meters
- Construction works started in May 1998, the factory has been under operation since April 2001
- The project is not only the largest geotechnical and foundation engineering project completed in Turkey.
Project Description
Ford Otosan Automobile Plant, Phase I, II, III
- Engineering
Project Features
Client
Key Quantities
Phase I (1998 – 2006)
| Bored Pile | 151,500 m | Phase II (2010) | |
| Jet Grout | 620,000 m | Bored Pile | 4,750 m |
| Stone Column | 42,400 m | Jet Grout | 22,000 m |
| Diaphragm Wall | 18,500 m2 | Phase III (2011 – 2013) | |
| Sheet Pile | 12,900 m2 | Bored Pile | 33,750 m |
| Mini Pile | 3,300 m | Jet Grout | 191,500 m |
Project Duration
| Start Date | 01.08.1998 |
| Finish Date | 01.12.2012 |
| Duration | 175 Months |
Location
Kocaeli, Turkey
