Field tests of full-scale screw micropiles with a diameter varying from 76 to 114 mm and a length varying from 1.6 to 3 m were undertaken to investigate the axial pile capacities, load-transfer mechanism, and end installation torques of the piles in cohesive soils. Forty tests were performed on piles subjected to axial compressive and tensile loads. Six tests were instrumented with strain gauges on the pile shaft. Results showed the piles reached the limit state before the displacement exceeded 10% of the shaft diameter. The majority of axial load was transferred to the threaded segment. The adhesion coefficient of the top smooth shaft at the limit state was less than 0.1. The failure mode along the cylindrical threaded shaft was cylindrical shearing along the edge of the threads; the threads increased the axial capacities of the segment. Axial capacities of the threaded tapered segment were 43% on average greater than that of a cylindrical segment with the equivalent volume. Compressive capacities of all test piles were estimated and the results agreed reasonably well with the measured capacities. A theoretical torque model was proposed to estimate the end installation torques based on the cone penetration test results; the theoretical results matched the measured end torques very well.Key words: field test, screw micropile, tapered, axial behaviour, installation torque.
In this research, nano-TiO 2 of various diameters is added to cellulose and pressboard is made to enhance its anti-thermal aging characteristics. After thermally aging of the pressboard samples, partial discharge inception voltage (PDIV), AC breakdown strength and relative permittivity are measured. The results show that the dielectric properties of the pressboard made with 10 nm TiO 2 has the highest AC breakdown due to closer match of the relative permittivity. The mechanical properties are higher than the unfilled cellulose samples. The change observed of the surface microstructure of the samples show that aging resistance of the filled samples are better than the unfilled samples.
Unlike conventional grouted micropiles, screw micropiles have been recently introduced to the foundation industry. Fullscale field tests of screw micropiles were carried out at a cohesive soil site. The screw micropiles have a diameter varying from 76 to 114 mm and a length varying from 1.6 to 3 m, and spiral threads welded on the lower half of the steel tubular shaft. Site investigation from cone penetration tests (CPT) and laboratory testing implies that the soil was medium to stiff, low plasticity clay. Six axial monotonic and three axial cyclic load tests were performed on three micropiles. One micropile was instrumented with strain gauges to investigate the shaft load distribution during loading. The axial cyclic loading was intended to simulate cyclic inertia load during vertical ground motions. Results showed that the micropiles behave as frictional piles during monotonic tests; the unit shaft resistance and adhesion coefficient were calculated and compared with results in the literature. The end installation torque was estimated using CPT shaft resistance and was shown to agree reasonably with the measured torque. Under axial cyclic loading, the micropiles underwent small cumulative displacements and the magnitude of the displacement decreased with increasing pile length and diameter. Cyclic loading redistributed the load transfer along different segments of the micropile. Negative skin resistance was observed along the smooth pile shaft when the pile underwent decreasing axial loading.
The performance and mechanisms of a microbial induced calcite precipitation (MICP)-assisted mature fine tailings (MFT) consolidation method was assessed. Mature fine tailings samples of 35 wt% and 60 wt% were treated with MICP by ureolysis. The undrained shear strength of treated MFT was measured to evaluate the effects of MICP on MFT consolidation. To investigate the surface interaction mechanisms involved in the process, the size and shape of MFT particles were observed using scanning electron microscopy. The results showed that ureolysis-driven MICP can accelerate raw MFT consolidation, leaving compact sludge with significantly enhanced shear strength within 24 h of the experiment.
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