High Capacity Drilled Displacement Piles as an Alternative to Conventional Driven Methods-Video

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Dynamic Earth developed a grouted helical-pile system as an alternative to conventional pipe piles for new utility buildings serving Red Hook, Brooklyn, where Hurricane Sandy had severely damaged housing infrastructure. Congested site conditions, noise, vibration, and material-handling challenges made the originally specified deep pipe piles difficult and costly to install.<br /><br />The alternative combined helical plates for end-bearing capacity with a pressure-grouted column designed using micropile bond values. The team monitored installation torque, grout volume, and pressure, then conducted axial and lateral load tests on both buildings’ piles. Results met or exceeded design requirements, including lateral performance, and strain gauges helped assess load transfer.<br /><br />Compared with conventional piles—some specified to 110 feet—the system used less steel and, in one case, piles averaging about 42.5 feet. It also reduced driving, vibration monitoring, splicing, noise, and site-storage demands. Approval required extensive review and testing because the design differed substantially from the original.

Keywords

grouted helical piles

Red Hook Brooklyn

Hurricane Sandy reconstruction

micropile bond values

axial and lateral load testing