Post-grouted drilled shaft behavior

Abstract

Using post grouted cells at the tip of the piles form part of recommendations of construction application in several countries. The effect of this practice is valued ranging from a simple construction standard for improving contact between the pile tip and soil support, to the application of coefficients which enhance the load capacity of the pile as a whole. In the city of Córdoba, Argentina there is provided the use of a solution of large diameter piles with the execution of a cell of post grouted for the foundation an important highway viaduct. This foundation system is supported on a sand blanket between clean and silty, performing at the design stage an analytical estimate of the point resistance improvement as a consequence of post grouted execution. While it has international background of improving effects on the overall behavior of the pile through the implementation of these treatments, there is no specific application information in our environment for the case under analysis. This publication shows the prior analyzes conducted to estimate the contribution to the load capacity of the pile for treatment implementation. At the same time the process followed in the design of the testing and validation of the method of construction of the cells is described, and concludes in the description and analysis of load tests on piles made.