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Field study on axial behavior of instrumented post-grouted steel pipe micropiles in tropical lateritic soil

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Abstract

This paper presents a field study on the axial behavior of new configuration of steel pipe micropiles in tropical lateritic soil. The micropiles were installed following a two-step grouting process with high injection pressures at a new experimental site located at the University of Campinas (Unicamp). The main innovation of the micropiles relies on the use of high-strength steel pipes as a drilling tool, casing protection, structural component and injection device. Full-scale pile loading tests were performed under compression and tension loads to investigate the axial behavior of the micropiles. The micropiles were instrumented along the shaft with electrical extensometers, and they were monitored during the progress of the loading tests. The load–movement responses, elastic moduli, axial load transfer mechanism, and unit bond stress relating to the micropiles and their interactions with the tropical soil were measured and evaluated. The bearing capacity of the post-grouted micropiles was considerably improved by the proposed post-grouting technique. The ultimate load capacity of the grouted steel pipe micropile under a compression load is approximately the same under a tension load. The average ultimate bond strength was 99 kPa and 100 kPa for the micropile under compression and tension, respectively. The distribution of unit bond stress along the shaft of the micropile under compressive and tensile load presented a post-peak softening behavior. The average ultimate grout-to-ground strength at the soil–micropile interface was 2.4 and 1.7 times greater than other nongrouted and non-injected piles installed in the same soil conditions at Unicamp.

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Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the support of the University of Campinas (Unicamp) and INCOTEP Anchoring Systems for the construction of the new experimental site and the National Council for the Improvement of Higher Education (CAPES) for the scholarships granted to the post-graduate students participating in the study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Urban Design, University of Campinas (Unicamp), 224, Saturnino de Brito St., Campinas, São Paulo, 13083-889, Brazil

    Luiz Felipe Goulart Fiscina, Yuri Barbosa & Paulo José Rocha de Albuquerque

  2. School of Agriculture Engineering, University of Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil

    David de Carvalho

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  1. Luiz Felipe Goulart Fiscina
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  3. Paulo José Rocha de Albuquerque
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Correspondence to Luiz Felipe Goulart Fiscina.

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Fiscina, L.F.G., Barbosa, Y., de Albuquerque, P.J.R. et al. Field study on axial behavior of instrumented post-grouted steel pipe micropiles in tropical lateritic soil. Innov. Infrastruct. Solut. 6, 56 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41062-020-00411-x

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