MICROPILES-

PROSPECTS & CHALLENGES

SUBMITTED BY
SUMIT RAWAT
CIVIL ENGINEERING
4TH YEAR
1202700048
 CONTENT
1) INTRODUCTION
2) HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
3) CLASSIFICATIONS
4) CONSTRUCTION SQUENCES USING CASING
5) ADVANTAGES
6) DISAVANTAGES
7) APPLICATION
8) CHALLENGES
9) CONCLUSION
10) REFRENCES
 INTRODUCTION

A micropile is a small-diameter (typically less than 300 mm), drilled

and grouted replacement pile that is typically (up to 20% As/Ac)
reinforced.
A micropile is constructed by drilling a borehole, placing
reinforcement, and grouting the hole.
Micropiles can withstand axial and/or lateral loads.
 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
The use of micropiles has grown significantly since their conception
in the 195Os,
1952 - First introduced in Italy for foundation restoration
(underpinning) of WWII damaged buildings

1960s Widely used in Europe for underpinning old sensitive

structures

mid 70s First introduced in USA (New York &Boston)

1980s Being introduced in East Asia

 CLASSIFICATIONS

Based on Design Application

Based on Grouting method
 Based on Design Application

CASE 1 :- micropile elements ,which are loaded directly and where

the pile reinforcement resists the majority of the applied load.

CASE 2 :-micropile elements circumscribes and internally

reinforces the soil to make a reinforced soil composite that resists
the applied load.
Figure 1 - 1. CASE 1 Micropiles (Directly Loaded)
Figure2-2.CASE 2 Micropiles -Reticulated Pile Network with
Reinforced Soil Mass Loaded or Engaged
Figure 3 - 1. CASE 1 Micropile Arrangements
Figure 4 -2. CASE 2 Micropile Arrangements
 Based on Grouting method

The method of grouting is generally the most sensitive construction control

over grout/ground bond capacity . Grout-to-grout capacity varies with the
grouting method.
1) Type A: Gravity Grout
2) Type B: Pressure through Casing
3) Type C: Single Global Post Grout
4) Type D: Multiple Repeatable Post Grout
 Type A: Here the grout is placed under gravity head only using
sand-cement motors or neat cement .

TypeB:
1) In this type neat cement grout is placed into the hole as the
temporary steel casing iswith drawn.
2) Injection pressures varies from 0.5to 1.0 MPa. The pressure is
limited to avoid fracturing of the surrounding ground.
 Type C: This is done in two step process:
1) As of Type A
2) Prior to hardening of the primary grout, similar groutis injected
one time via a sleeve grout pipe at pressure of at least 1.0MPa.

Type D: This is done in two step process of grouting similar to Type

C with modifications to step 2 where the pressure is injected at a
pressure of 2.0 to 8.0MPa:
Figure 5: Based on method of grouting
 CONSTRUCTION SEQUENCES

Installation process in accordance with the requirements of NBN EN1536:1999

1) Positioning and drilling of the first section of the drill casing (recoverable
steel casing as temporary support during the boring process).

2) While drilling, the drill casing inside equipped with a drilling head fixed
on a rod - is oscillated into the soil. (back and forth movement / twisting in
place).
3.As the drilling process progresses, soil is removed from the borehole
by the excavating and additional sections of casing are jointed (added)
to protect the soil from collapsing into the borehole during drilling..

5.After reaching the design depth, clean-up of the borehole front,

removal drilling tool, drilling fluid (water) pumped out from the bore
Formation of the pile : insertion and lowering of the reinforcement
cage, pouring of the concrete

6. During the continuous concreting process, the temporary casing

elements are progressively withdrawn whereby the concrete forms the
pile shaft.
Figure 6:Micropile construction squences using casing
Figure 7: Micropile construction squences using casing
 CHALLENGES
COST
SLOW & TIME CONSUMING
RISKS

RM$150350 /meter
Price Depends on :
Reinforcement Type
Volume () of hole
Grouting Method (any post
grouting)
Location - Accessibility
Length/Quantity of piles
COST
High Steel (up to 20% As/Ac)
High Labour Cost Low Prod
Grout (NS) (+admixture)
expensive
Fabricate cage in-situ compared
tomass production for precast RC
pile
Specialist technology expensive
Few players in the market
 SLOW & TIME COSUMING
Although Drilling rate alone is high
(e.g. up to 1/min DTH thru granite)
Adding/Dismantling of Rods
manually
Installation/Extract of casing time-
consuming
Manual in-situ fabrication of cage
on-site
Fixing of couplers, spacers, welding
take time
Manual mixing of cement grout
High rig breakdown (mostly
hydraulic)
Estimation of soil / selection of drill
bit
difficult slow down during drilling Figure 8
 Risks

Figure 9: Damage to public properties Figure 10:Damage to own equipment:

While maneuvering / setting up/ drilling. Rod shears off &drop into hole
.Rod/DTH gets stuck in-hole.
 ADVANTAGES

Micropiles are often used to underpin the existing structure where

need of minimal vibration or noise is of prime importance.
Micropiles can be easily laid where low head room is a constraint.
Micropiles can be easily installed at any angle below the horizontal
using the same equipment used for ground anchors and grouting
projects.
Do not require large access road or drilling platforms
Figure 11: Applications
 APPLICATIONS

1) Supporting New Loads in Congested Areas.

2) Seismic Retrofit.
3) Arresting Structural Settlement.
4) Resisting Uplift/Dynamic Loads.
5) Underpinning.
6) Excavation Support in Confined Areas.
 CONCLUSION

Use of Micro piles is versatile in situ ground improvement technique

and has been used very effectively in many stability problems.
API pile system provides good compression performance in terms of
lateral stability and vertical movements.
Tension piles can be economically reinforced by a bars system.
Micropile can be costly option to support lateral load and bending
movement.
 REFERENCE

Armour, T, groneck, P, keeley, J and sharma, s. (2000). Micropile

design and construction guidance implementation manual. US
department and federal highway administration, FHWA-SA-97-070.
THANK YOU