Centrifuge modeling of axial behaviour of helical piles

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Helical pile foundations are widely used in the construction industry across Canada. A helical pile consists of a steel tubular shaft and one or more helices attached to the end of the shaft. Helical piles have many advantages such as large capacities, reusability, and rapid installation, compared to conventional straight-shaft piles; these advantages make helical piles especially suitable for the construction industry of Canada. In recent years, innovative helical pile types have been developed by pile manufacturers of Canada to meet the increasing demand of the industry. These piles often have large diameters and are subject to large static or cyclic loads. The design methodology of the piles has not been well established or validated by loading tests. In fact, it is nearly impossible to conduct in-situ loading tests for large-diameter piles due to the large pile capacities and the prohibitive cost of in-situ tests. Hence, a research program is necessitated for a comprehensive study of the in-situ performance of helical piles. By partnering with Almita Piling Inc., Canada's manufacturer of helical piles, the research team at the University of Alberta will investigate the soil - helical pile interaction using geotechnical centrifuge model tests. Geotechnical centrifuge modeling is a laboratory test method for challenging geotechnical and structural problems. The proposed research will develop the technique and infrastructure for installing model helical piles on the centrifuge at the University of Alberta; the research will conduct loading tests of model helical piles installed in cohesive and cohesionless soils. The research will also conduct numerical modeling to calibrate the testing results. The outcome of the proposed research will benefit the industrial partner by providing a cost-effective and reliable laboratory testing method. The outcome will advance our understanding of the performance of helical piles and the soil - pile interaction. The research will benefit Canada's construction industry by providing a capable and economic foundation type.