Numerical Study on Uplift Capacity of Helical Pile Embedded in Clay-Video 2

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Video Summary

Karthik presents an experimental and numerical study of the uplift capacity of helical piles in clay, examining how helix diameter, thickness, spacing, and number affect performance. The study tested a two-helix model pile in clay and validated the experimental results using PLAXIS 3D; numerical predictions differed by less than 10%.<br /><br />Increasing helix diameter from 250 mm to 375 mm raised uplift capacity by about 20%, although the effect also depended on plate thickness. Helix spacing had a major influence: capacity increased up to a critical spacing, then declined as resistance shifted from cylindrical shear to individual bearing. The critical spacing depended on helix diameter and soil properties. A single helix generally provided the greatest capacity for a fixed contact area, but a double-helix pile at 1.5 m spacing performed nearly as well. These findings can help engineers select practical pile configurations before field installation.

Keywords

helical piles

uplift capacity

clay soil

PLAXIS 3D

helix spacing