Relationship between installation torque and uplift capacity of deep helical piles in sand

Abstract

The empirical torque correlation factor (KT), which relates the uplift capacity to the installation torque of helical piles, is routinely used as an on-site instrument for quality control with this type of foundation. This paper presents a theoretical relationship between uplift capacity and installation torque of deep helical piles in sand. An experimental program, including centrifuge and direct shear interface tests, was carried out to validate this expression. The experimental results were compared with the values predicted by the suggested approach and showed good agreement. As the developed model depends on the residual interface friction angle (δr) between the helix surface and the surrounding sand, results of δr, extracted from different sand samples, are presented for use in this suggested relationship on site. Also, the values of KT found in this work were compared with those of field and laboratory tests on helical piles in sand reported in the literature. From this analysis, it was found that the measured values of KT decrease with an increase in pile dimensions and, in most of cases, with an increase in sand friction angle. These results were explained by the presented model.