Helical Piles

Book excerpt: An unbiased, comprehensive review of helical pile technology and applications Helical piles have risen from being merely an interesting alternative for special cases to a frequently requested, more widely accepted deep foundation adopted into the 2009 International Building Code. The first alternative to manufacturer-produced manuals, Howard Perko's Helical Piles: A Practical Guide to Design and Installation answers the industry's need for an unbiased and universally applicable text dedicated to the design and installation of helical piles, helical piers, screw piles, and torque anchors. Fully compliant with ICC-Evaluation Services, Inc., Acceptance Criteria for Helical Foundation Systems and Devices (AC358), this comprehensive reference guides construction professionals to manufactured helical pile systems and technology, providing objective insights into the benefits of helical pile foundations over driven or cast foundation systems, and recommending applications where appropriate. After introducing the reader to the basic features, terminology, history, and modern applications of helical pile technology, chapters discuss: Installation and basic geotechnics Bearing and pullout capacity Capacity verification through torque Axial load testing, reliability, and sizing Expansive soil and lateral load resistance Corrosion and life expectancy Foundation, earth retention, and underpinning systems Foundation economics Select proprietary systems IBC and NYC Building codes Covering such issues of concern as environmental sustainability, Helical Piles provides contractors and engineers as well as students in civil engineering with a practical, real-world guide to the design and installation of helical piles.