Micropile

1 Dept.of CE,SNGIST

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 GENERAL

Micro piles were conceived in Italy in the early 1950s in response to the
demand for innovative techniques for underpinning historic building and monuments
that has sustained damage with time. The micro pile systems used today are evolution
from the basic small- diameter, cast-in-place pile developed by Dr. Fernando Lizzi
called palo radice. A typical micro pile construction involves the drilling the pile shaft
to the required depth, placing the steel reinforcement, initial grouting by tremie and
placing additional grout under pressure where applicable. In Malaysia, micro piles are
widely recognized as a common remedial option for underpinning structures with
foundation problems and as well as a common foundation option. This is primarily due
to local geological factors such as karstic features in limestone formation and
performance factors for speedy foundation construction. The sizes of micro piles
constructed in Malaysia vary from 100mm to 350mm carrying load from 150kN to
2,800kN respectively Other advantages of micro piles are high carrying capacity, less
site constraint problems and self sustained operation. This piling system is therefore
attractive to both the client and the foundation designer. Apart from the light and
compact drilling rigs, other ancillary equipment, like grout mixer and grout pump, is
very compact in size. The only disadvantage of micro piles is the relatively high cost as
compared to other piling systems except for the case of shallow pile termination depth.

2. MICROPILE

Micro piles have been used effectively in many applications of ground
improvement to increase the bearing capacity and reduce the settlements particularly in
strengthening the existing foundations. Advantages of Micro piles are high carrying
capacity, less site constraint problem and self sustained operation. This piling system is
therefore attractive to both the client and foundation designer. Apart from this the light
and compact drilling rigs other ancillary equipment, like grout mixer and grout
pumps, is very compact size. Micro installations can penetrate to hundreds of feet in
depth; each of the piles can support many tons of loads. Micro piles transfer loads
Micropile

2 Dept.of CE,SNGIST

through liquefiable soil to competent bearing strata to conform to design requirements.
This paper deals with a case study in which micro piles of 100 mm diameter and 4 m
long have been used to improve the bearing capacity of foundation soil and in the
rehabilitation of the total building foundation system. The micro piles were inserted
around the individual footings at inclination of 70 with the horizontal. Micro pile
technology is a reliable pile system that can withstand large capacity axial or lateral
loads with minimal disturbance to the existing structures. They became very popular
due to their ability to transfer loads efficiently through skin friction and due to their
many installations advantages over conventional pile system. Micro piles has the
capability of combining micro pile technology with one or more of the other ground
improvement techniques to meet unique or complex project requirements cost
effectively and efficiently.

3.MICROPILE CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM

3.1 CASE1 MICROPILE

Micro piles are generally classified firstly according to design application and
grouting method. The design application dictates the function of the micro pile while
the grouting method defines the grout/grout bond capacity. In the design application,
there are two general types of application. The first type is where the micro pile is
directly loaded either axially or laterally and the pile reinforcement resists the majority
of the applied load. This type of pile is used to transfer structural loads to deeper, more
competent or stable stratum and may be used to restrict the movement of the failure
plane in slopes. The loads are primarily resisted by the steel reinforcement structurally
and by the grout/grout bond zone geotechnical.

Micropile

3 Dept.of CE,SNGIST


Fig.1 Case 1 Micro Pile

3.2 CASE2 MICROPILE

Directly Loaded Micro piles Examples Second type of design application is
where the micro pile reinforces the soil to make a reinforced soil composite that resist
the applied load and known as reticulated pile network. This application of micro pile
serves to circumscribe and internally strengthen the reinforced soil composite. The
method of grouting is generally the most sensitive construction control over
grout/ground bond capacity and varies directly with the grouting method. The second
part of the micro pile classification is based primarily on the method of placement and
pressure under which grouting is used during construction.

Fig.2 Case 2 Micro Pile
Micropile

4 Dept.of CE,SNGIST


INT PRESENTATION