Helical Pile Technology
Helical Piles, or mini piles, have been developed over a number of years to provide a cost effective, engineered solution for subsidence repairs and to support new lightweight structures. Used in combination with a masonry beaming system the Helical Piles are used as a standard pile and beam repair method with considerable cost, time and disruption free benefits over traditional underpinning.
Helical piles are installed using lightweight driving equipment which transmits the induced loads via the wedge-shaped fins at an angle into the surrounding substrate. The shape of these fins compresses the substrate and increases the effective diameter of the pile. Skin friction is greatly enhanced by compression and the mechanical effect of the fins and end bearing load is greatly improved by the ‘cone’ effect of the compression.
Site performance of the installed piles is determined by measuring driving speeds. The relationship between driving speed and compression resistance has been
established by carrying out compression tests at control sites.
Helical piles can be used to depths of approximately 10m (greater depths are achievable in certain conditions). The supports will carry loads from 30kN to 100kN dependent on ground conditions.
This page belongs to our Helical Pile Underpinning section.
