Installation effects of the post-grouted micropile in marine soft clay

Abstract

The grouted steel pipe micropile is widely used as structural support and in situ improvement in China. This paper presents measurement of the radial soil stress and excess pore water pressure during the construction processes of the grouted steel pipe micropile (with an enlarged driving shoe) embedded in marine soft clay. Comparative analysis was conducted between the predictions by cavity expansion method (CEM) and maximum stress values in situ. The results show that the existence of the enlarged driving shoe has an effect on the stress change in the surrounding soils during penetration. The maximum radial total stress and excess pore water pressure generated during micropile penetration are approximately 4–6σv0′ and 1.5–2.5σv0′, respectively. The maximum radial total stress and excess pore water pressure, which appeared near the pile wall during the process of post-grouting, are approximately 5–7cu and 4–6cu, respectively. The predictions of CEM for pore water pressure during micropile penetration and post-grouting are in reasonable agreement with the field test data.