HIGH CAPACITY DRILLED HELICAL DISPLACEMENT PILES AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO CONVENTIONAL DRIVEN METHODS-PPT Presentation

PPT Presentation

Pdf Summary

The presentation describes using high-capacity drilled helical displacement piles as an alternative to conventional driven piles for a two-building development. Bid documents called for driven piles with minimum tip depths of 110 feet for the East Building and 35 feet for the West Building.<br /><br />The alternative pile design was developed to meet the buildings’ required loads. The West Building required 64 kips in compression and 1.5 kips laterally; its calculated installation depth was 45 feet. Test piles were installed to depths of about 38–43 feet and load-tested. The East Building required 210 kips in compression, 60 kips in tension, and 20 kips laterally; its calculated depth was 50 feet. Test piles were installed at depths of about 40–53 feet. Load tests assessed lateral and compressive performance, with results meeting the stated design and ultimate compression requirements.<br /><br />Compared with the original pile recommendations, the alternative reduced the East Building’s minimum pile depth from 110 feet to approximately 40–42.5 feet, and the West Building’s from 35 feet to about 38 feet. The presentation reports savings of millions of dollars through reduced material and labor costs and improved productivity. The method also shortened the schedule, avoided pile splicing and vibration monitoring, and was quieter than pile driving.<br /><br />A key lesson was that introducing newer construction technology can be challenging. Project teams should be engaged through persistent communication and education about a product’s design, installation, and performance.

Keywords

helical displacement piles

drilled piles

pile load testing

foundation design

compression capacity

lateral load resistance

East Building

West Building

construction cost savings

quiet installation