Steel Screw Pile Foundation

A deep foundation system that is gaining popularity in areas with difficult soil, contaminated soil and due to its speed of construction is steel screw piles.

At first glance screw piles look like the typical helical pier.  However, there are significant differences that make a dramatic change in capacity.  First, the screw piles are installed as a single continuous piece in lieu of sections bolted together.  Second, the machinery used to install screw piles is larger and capable of producing a higher torque.

The components of a screw pile are simple; a steel shaft, steel helix at bottom of shaft, and a connection plate at the top of the shaft.  Screw piles can vary in size to accommodate different design loads.  The steel shaft size is a function of axial load, torsion during installation and thickness due to corrosion.  The helix is a plate that is shaped just like the threads of a wood screw and engages the soil to distribute the axial load and it locks into place to provide tensile loads as well.

One of the first questions people have is, “How long will it last until failure from corrosion?”  There are several factors that go into corrosion of steel; oxygen, moisture, dissolved salts and other corrosive chemicals.  Since there is very little oxygen in the soil, corrosion is limited and can be controlled by using thicker material to allow for expected corrosion.  The life of steel screw piles can be 50 years to an indefinite period depending on the type of structure and life span needed.

I designed foundations in Stapleton where the site was located over the old terminal and contaminated soil was discovered.  If typical straight shaft drilled piers were used the spoils from drilling the hole would have had to been bagged and disposed of properly.  To avoid bringing contaminated soil up to the surface steel screw piles were used.

I list a lot of PROS below and for good reason.  I have been very impressed with screw piles and the wide range of uses of them.  EVstudio was recently visited by Alpine Site Services for a lunch and learn.  Mike Oliveira discussed how screw piles are installed and the many advantages to their system over other typical foundation types.  What really impressed me was the speed of placement of screw piles.  Alpine can place 30 to 50 screw piles in one day!

Another great advantage to screw piles is that they can be placed at an angle to provide bracing and tension resistance that is aligned with the force of the tension.  An example is a typical counterfort that braces a foundation wall.  You can see the angled screw pile above.

PROS
Fast Installation
Can be Proof Tested
Negligible Uplift Pressure from Swelling Soil
High Capacity up to 500kips
High Tensile Resistance
Made from a reusable material (LEED point)

CONS
Specialized System
Large Equipment
Concerns with Corrosion

Learn more about different foundation types.