Drilled Displacement, Micropiles, and Helical Piles
Introduction
The 1st part of this post series covered three different pile installation methods for driven, drilled, and CFA piles. In this second part, we’ll dive into advanced techniques such as drilled displacement piles, micropiles, and helical piles, each suited for unique site conditions and load requirements. These methods are invaluable for projects with specific constraints, such as restricted access, high sensitivity to noise, or demanding soil conditions.
DeepFND supports these specialized methods with industry-standard calculations, depth optimization, and load-bearing analysis, ensuring that you can tackle any project requirement with confidence. Let’s examine each method in detail, highlighting how DeepFND enables streamlined design solutions for every scenario.
1. Drilled Displacement (Screw) Piles
Description: Drilled displacement piles are installed by screwing an auger into the soil, displacing it laterally. This method avoids the need to remove soil and creates a stable foundation without casing.
Advantages: Minimal soil disturbance, efficient installation, and enhanced soil stability due to lateral displacement.
Disadvantages: Limited to certain soil types; challenging in dense or hard soils.
Common Applications: Used in urban and environmentally sensitive areas where noise and vibration must be minimized.
DeepFND Integration: DeepFND’s FHWA GEC-8 integration supports drilled displacement piles with robust geotechnical and structural checks, making it easy to optimize designs for complex conditions.
Figure 1: Drilled-in-displacement Stelcor pile analysis results in DeepFND
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2. Micropiles (Mini-Piles)
Description: Small-diameter piles that are drilled and grouted, often with steel reinforcement. Micropiles usually have a cased upper portion and a lower only grouted section that provides practically all the geotechnical axial capacity. In most cases, a single bar reinforcement is provided for the whole pile length. They’re ideal for tight or restricted access areas and can be adapted to many soil types.
Advantages: Flexible for various soil types, minimal vibration, adaptable to low headroom or tight spaces.
Disadvantages: Specialized equipment and materials may increase costs; high-pressure grouting required.
Common Applications: Foundation repairs, seismic retrofits, and projects in constrained urban spaces.
DeepFND Integration: DeepFND applies FHWA GEC-10 standards to micropiles, calculating both geotechnical capacities and structural requirements. It’s optimized for retrofit and repair designs in challenging environments.
Figure 2: Concrete micropile with steel casing - analysis results in DeepFND
3. Helical Piles
Description: Helical piles consist of a central shaft with helical plates that are rotated into the ground. They are especially useful for resisting uplift loads in unstable soils.
Advantages: Quick installation, easily removable, and immediate load-bearing capacity estimates, almost no spoils left after operations, no vibrations during installation.
Disadvantages: Limited installation depth, helical plate installation can result in localized soil disturbance, and specialized equipment may be needed.
Common Applications: Used in residential foundations, temporary structures, and projects requiring uplift resistance.
DeepFND Integration: DeepFND supports helical pile designs with both individual plate and cylinder methods, calculating geotechnical bearing capacity with precision. Depth and load optimization ensure efficient and reliable design.
Figure 3: Helical pile - analysis results in DeepFND
Conclusion (Part 2)
Pile installation methods like drilled displacement, micropiles, and helical piles offer unique solutions for challenging projects with specific needs. DeepFND supports each of these methods with tailored geotechnical and structural calculations, depth optimization, and load-bearing analysis. Engineers can rely on DeepFND’s comprehensive design tools for accurate, efficient, and code-compliant solutions across any project scenario.
With Part 1 and Part 2 of this series, you now have a complete overview of deep foundation pile installation methods and how DeepFND provides full support for designing each type. From foundational methods to advanced techniques, DeepFND ensures that your designs are both efficient and robust, helping you achieve reliable results with confidence.
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