Macropiles

Macropiles are ultra-high capacity micropiles, with high strength grout, steel r
einforcement, and increased diameter. These piles are drilled and typically bear
on or in rock, but can also bear on very dense soils.
Micropiles
Also known as minipiles, micropiles are deep foundation elements that can provid
e compressive, tensile or shear support as foundation or slope stabilization com
ponents and are constructed using low to high-strength structural elements - usu
ally small-diameter steel casing and/or threaded bar. This technique allows inst
allation in any type of ground and especially in restricted access areas, low he
adroom interiors, permitting facility upgrades with minimal disruption to normal
operations. Micropiles greatly alleviate the quality assurance concerns associa
ted with cast-in-place piling in weak soils. This technique has been used to sup
port buildings, tanks, modules, process equipment, pipe racks, bridges and other
structures.
Drilled Displacement Steel Piles (DDSP)
Drilled Displacement Steel Pile (DDSP) systems are deep, displacement, ground im
provement, and structural pile methods used to support heavy foundation loads. T
he DDSP offers a well-defined, full displacement, steel pile with or without con
crete filling with reliable, enhanced capacity and cost effectiveness to support
heavy foundation loads in soft to medium soils. The large cavity expansion effe
ct of the displaced soil produces the higher strength and ground improvement of
the system. DDSP construction produces low noise and no vibrations with almost n
o spoils from the displacement tool. A DDSP is used in the same way as a drilled
displacement pile; to support heavy structures on soft and weak soil. The DDSP
gains strength through soil layers to achieve high side friction capacity along
the pile shaft and at the tip of the pile as well as at deeper soil for high end
bearing capacity and side friction. DDSP strength is greatly enhanced by the di
splacement of soil laterally along the pile shaft and by pre-loading of the soil
at the pile tip. DDSP is essentially the "spoil-less" and higher structural cap
acity and integrity version of Full Displacement Drilled Piles (FDDP).
Expanded Base Piles (Franki Piles)
Also known as Franki piles or Pressure Injected Footings (PIFS), expanded base p
iles are high-capacity cast-in-place deep foundation elements constructed using
a drop weight and casing. This technique is a good choice in cohesionless soils
such as sands and gravels. Though they are not used very often presently, under
the right circumstances they can provide excellent foundation support. This tech
nique has been used to support buildings, process equipment, pipe racks and othe
r structures.