Why use CHANCE® Helical Piles?
CHANCE® Helical Piles/Piers have found increasingly widespread use as a direct result of the versatility and cost-effectiveness of the helical foundation system. The ability to utilize helical pile foundations in both compression and tension applications makes the manufactured foundation system an attractive alternative for deep foundation construction. Discover how you can get the performance of traditional deep foundation systems without the high mobilization costs, spoils and vibrations.Helical piles/piers have the built-in advantage of rapid installation with small equipment, immediate loading capabilities and cost efficiency when compared with traditional foundation methods. Helical piles also feature built-in quality control through real-time tracking of the torque-to-capacity ratio during installation. View the CHANCE® Helical Piles Brochure.
The Composition of a Helical Pile/Pier
A helical pile/pier can be a solid square steel shaft, a round shaft open steel pipe pile or a combination of both square and round with one or more helical plates welded to the pipe near the tip. Helical piers are installed by rotating the shaft of the pier. As the shaft rotates, the helical plate advances into the ground “pulling” the shaft with it. This action is much like a wood screw. A Helical Pier is generally used to resist compression and lateral loading.
Segments or sections of CHANCE helical piles/piers are joined with bolted couplings. Installation depth is limited only by soil density and practicality based on economics. A helical bearing plate or helix is one pitch of a screw thread. All helices, regardless of their diameter, have a standard 3” pitch. Being a true helical shape, the helices do not auger into the soil but rather screw into it with minimal soil disturbance. Helical plates are spaced at distances far enough apart that they function independently of each other as individual bearing elements; consequently, the capacity of a particular helix on a helical pile shaft is not influenced by the helix above or below it.
Working on a design project using helical piles and anchors? HeliCAP™ is a free civil engineering software platform that helps calculate capacity requirements for CHANCE® Helical products. Control for soil parameters, environmental variables, and other essential criteria to select the appropriate pile/anchor size needed for your individual project requirements.
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*All of the above information is sourced direct from Foundation Technologies' literature on CHANCE®,
https://www.foundationtechnologies.com/products/chance-helical-piles/
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