Helical piles in expansive soils: application case

Abstract

This document aims to present a design and installation methodology of Helical Piles in an expansive
soil located in Juriquilla, Queretaro. This process is for the remediation work of a structure suffering from soil
volume change and its underpinning by means of a Helical Piles system. Helical Piles have been present on the
market for some time, but their use is not as common when compared with similar solutions (micropiles), it is a
very reliable system for load transfer to competent soil, a very fast installation procedure and it is a method that
generates few changes into the soil’s structure. This procedure is very good for foundation underpinning and the
construction of small structures. Geophysical studies were performed to identify the problematic soil type,
determining it to be an expansive soil with water infiltrations. This project was favored in the use of great capacity
piles to reduce their quantity, avoid any possible damage to underground utility lines and achieve the required
design torque at lower depths. This application had a positive result as the Helical Piles helped the structure have
a better support and avoid any further problems with the soil volume changes generated by the water infiltration.