High-capacity Helical Piles for Storage Tanks – Case Study

Helical piles are widely used nowadays for variety of projects that span over a diverse range of industries which include electrical utility, oil and gas, commercial and residential, alternative energy such as solar and wind farms, and Municipal Infrastructure. Helical piles have several advantages over other conventional pile-types such as: can provide high compressive and uplift capacities at shallower embedment, quickest method of piling installation, suitability for construction in limited access areas, installation in different soil conditions, cost effectiveness and most importantly, helical pile installation is a vibration-free process. For storage tanks foundations application where operation loads are high and settlement is a concern, it is necessary to quantify the performance of the proposed pile design prior to construction commencement. This paper presents a full-scale axial compression load test executed on a high-capacity helical pile that is going to be used to support two sulphate storage tanks pads in an existing facility. The test setup and procedure are described. The results of the axial compressive pile load test and field monitoring of helical pile with quad helices installed in very stiff to hard clay shale soil are presented in this paper. A finite element model has been developed using Staad Pro software to study the load transfer mechanism. The data presented is therefore considered valuable to other researchers and engineers considering the use of helical piles to support high loads in urban areas. Based on the results of this study it was found that helical piles can develop a significant ultimate axial compressive resistance up to 3060 kN.