Technical Notes
Dec 23, 2017

Field Testing of Axial Performance of Large-Diameter Helical Piles at Two Soil Sites

Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 144, Issue 3

Abstract

Helical piles are being used extensively in engineering applications in western Canada. There are insufficient studies on the axial load-transfer mechanism (ALTM) for helical piles, which require successful instrumentation of the piles. A field testing program, including two axial compression and two axial tension tests, was carried out on helical piles installed at two test sites consisting of clayey and sandy soils, respectively. The ALTM was investigated using strain gauges measurements. The development of the shaft and helix resistance as the axial displacement proceeded was established. The zone along the shaft where the shear resistance was not developed was estimated to be 2.5–5 times the helix diameter.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are thankful to Almita Piling Inc. for the financial support and the technical support with the manufacture and installation of helical piles. The technical assistance of Gerry Cyre was much appreciated. The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada-Industrial Postgraduate Scholarship (NSERC-IPS) with the contribution of Almita for the first author is very much appreciated.

References

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Go to Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 144Issue 3March 2018

History

Received: Sep 12, 2015
Accepted: Aug 30, 2017
Published online: Dec 23, 2017
Published in print: Mar 1, 2018
Discussion open until: May 23, 2018

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Authors

Affiliations

Weidong Li
Graduate Student, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Univ. of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada T6G 2W2.
D. J. Y. Zhang
Formerly, Graduate Student, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Univ. of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada T6G 2W2.
D. C. Sego
Professor Emeritus, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Univ. of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada T6G 1H9.
Assistant Professor, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Univ. of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada T6G 1H9 (corresponding author). E-mail: [email protected]

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