MICROPILES

Micropiles are deep foundation elements characterized by a diameter of 12 inches or less and a high steel to area ratio. Drilled and grouted in place, micropiles are classified by the FHWA as either directly loaded or indirectly loaded elements that can be constructed in a variety of different ways depending on the load requirements and the existing ground conditions.

Micropiles can be installed in almost any location, from crawl spaces beneath houses and small rooms to open job sites, low head room and in the bottom of caissons.

The two most common installation techniques are cased and uncased air flushed drilling or hollow bar grout flushed micropiles.

With individual pile capacities up to 300 kips, micropiles can be designed for axial loads in tension and/or compression.  Piles can be battered to increase lateral loading requirements.