The use of micropiling techniques for the underpinning of structures with a particular reference to historical buildings

Abstract

Underpinning of structures is the process in which load is transferred from a weak-bearing soil to a deeper, more stable medium. Conventional piling techiques have been used for this purpose, however, installation of these piles may, at times, prove to be difficult due to restricted access and space. Micropiles have been developed in order to address this problem. Small drilling rigs have been designed to work in places with difficult access and restricted headroom and capable to pass easily through doorways. Micropiling involves small diameter drilling. Hence the intervention is less intrusive and will incur a limited damage to structure and the least disturbance to the soil beneath. The aim of this dissertation is to: 1. Give an insight of the different micropiling technique as applied to structures that experience subsidence in their foundations 2. Carry out an investigation on the relationship between ultimate frictional capacity and critical buckling capacity of micropiles in grounds with low soil modulus