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PressGrout Piles™ are steel piles with large diameter grout footings.
Used For:

• Increasing load-bearing capacity
• Transferring loads to competent lower strata
• Eliminating or reducing settlements
• Mitigating soil liquefaction
• Increasing pull-out resistance
• Improving shaft friction and for
• Angled (raked) piles with high lateral resistance
• Pile groups with high concentrated loads

Table of Contents

Background of Technique
Applications
Raked Piles
Pile Groups
Materials & Equipment
Summary

Background of Technique

PressGrout Pilesâ„¢ are steel piles with a grout footing (bulb) at the bottom of the pile to increase load-bearing capacity, as illustrated in Figure 1.

Either driving or drilling may be used for the installation of grouted piles, depending on soil conditions, site accessibility, and load-carrying requirements.

The installation of these piles does not require large machinery or equipment at the site itself, since routing equipment can be parked at a suitable location near the site.

 

Figure 1

The Basic Piles

For grouted pile installations, a steel pipe is first installed in position; then a predetermined amount of grout is injected to create a footing at the bottom of the pile. This grout footing has two main purposes: To compact the soils around the tip of the pile, and to act as a footing for the pile. Generally, a grouted pile consists of a small diameter pipe (nominal 2 to 4 inches) with a single bulb at the bottom, although other pile diameters and grout configurations are possible.

Applications

PressGrout Pilesâ„¢ are superior to comparable size piles for a number of reasons: First, they have a footing at the bottom of the pile for higher load bearing capacity. Second, they can be angled for higher lateral resistance. Third, they can be installed with minimal access or headroom. And fourth, they can be installed where there is a hard layer of soil, which overlays softer deposits.

• PressGrout Pilesâ„¢ are useful and cost effective in applications for new construction or existing structures, such as
• Residential or commercial structures on improperly filled ground
• Structures requiring improved seismic or wind resistance
• Structures with low concentrated loads or loads distributed over large areas underlain by very soft soils
• Structures where it is necessary to eliminate machinery vibrations
• Structures requiring a high pull-out resistance to reduce overturning moments, for example tie downs or tie backs, as shown in Figure 2
• Slabs supporting heavy machinery on poor bearing strata
• Inaccessible sites where the use of heavy equipment is not possible
• Sites where there are restrictions on vibration or noise
• Sites where it is necessary to transfer loads vertically or laterally to more favorable lower strata

 

Figure 2

Raked Piles

PressGrout Pilesâ„¢ can be installed at any angle to maximize load-carrying components. These piles have a particular advantage for structures that require a high component of lateral resistance because of seismic, wind, or hydrostatic soil/water loading, as shown in figures 1 and 3.

 

Figure 3

Pile Groups

Pile groups or clusters are used for high concentrated loads. Some of the piles can be vertical, while others can be angled. Figure 3 illustrates a typical configuration of a pile group.

Piles With Increased Shaft Friction

Although PressGrout Pilesâ„¢ are largely bearing piles, shaft friction contributes to the pile capacity. In the absence of a competent-bearing layer, the shaft (skin) friction plays a major role in pile carrying capacity; hence, an increase in teh friction force can be important.

Unlike conventional piles, friction capacity can be greatly improved by using multiple grout bulbs along the shaft, as illustrated in Figure 3.

Materials & Equipment

Galvanized steel pipe is usually used for PressGrout Pilesâ„¢, but in sites where corrosion is not a problem, black steel can be substituted for galvanized steel. A sand-cement mixture with water is used for the grout to produce a low slump, less than 2 inches (ASTM C-143). This grout is injected under pressure to displace the soil and form a bulb around the tip of the pipe.

The Pressure Grout Company Summary

The Pressure Grout Company can provide solutions to your soil and groundwater problems. If your project requires a unique application, our staff can help find a suitable grouting method and develop effective field applications. Our ideas in geotechnical stabilization can make the difference.

We have extensive experience in all types of geotechnical grouting for site development, new contruction, and the stabilization of existing structures. We work closely with owners, engineering firms, contractors, and public agencies through the United States. We

• Build, operate and maintain our own equipment
• Have one of the few research and development laboratories for grout materials and mixes
• Have a staff that includes engineers with extensive knowledge and experience in soils engineering
• Are licensed contractors and members of the Associated General Contractors and
• Have broad, in-depth grouting experience that extends over a period of more than 45 years.