DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14483/23448393.22038Published:
2025-08-01Issue:
Vol. 30 No. 2 (2025): May-AugustSection:
Civil and Environmental EngineeringThe Theoretical Analysis of the Use of Micropiles as Load-Recovering Elements via the Poulos and Davis Methodology
Análisis teórico del uso de micropilotes como recuperadores de carga a través de la metodología de Poulos y Davis
Keywords:
foundation, load, micropiles, settlements, strata (en).Keywords:
cimentación, carga, micropilotes, asentamientos, estratos (es).Downloads
Abstract (en)
Context: Micropiles have been mainly employed as soil reinforcement or supporting elements. As load-recovering elements, they have been used in pile groups where one of the elements has turned out to be defective or incomplete. This type of use has not been directly reported in the literature, so it is important to generate knowledge about the conditions to be considered when evaluating the use of micropiles as replacements for defective piles.
Method: This research verified and described the settlement behavior and load distribution of both piles and micropiles for five proposed models. The results were obtained through the analytical methodology by Poulos and Davis for pile group settlement, analyzing the influence of three variables on micropiles: position in the cap area, spacing, and quantity.
Results: The load distribution in the micropiles showed greater uniformity as their number increased. Likewise, a load increase was observed as the distance between the micropiles and the upper left corner of the cap decreased. With greater spacing and micropile count, the settlements decreased.
Conclusions: In order to use micropiles as load-recovering elements in existing foundations, it is convenient to consider variables such as quantity, position, and spacing, as they influence both the load distribution and the settlements of the structure.
Abstract (es)
Contexto: Los micropilotes han sido empleados principalmente como elementos de refuerzo del suelo o de apoyo. Como recuperadores de carga, se han utilizado en grupos de pilotes donde uno de los elementos resulta defectuoso o incompleto. Este tipo de uso no se ha reportado de manera directa en la literatura, por lo que es importante generar conocimiento sobre las condiciones de análisis que deben ser consideradas al evaluar el uso de micropilotes para reemplazar pilotes defectuosos.
Método: En esta investigación se verificó y describió el comportamiento en asentamientos y la distribución de carga de pilotes y micropilotes en cinco modelos propuestos. Los resultados se obtuvieron por medio de la metodología analítica de Poulos y Davis para el asentamiento en grupos de pilotes, analizando la influencia de tres variables en los micropilotes: la posición en el área del cabezal, la separación y la cantidad.
Resultados: La distribución de carga en los micropilotes presentó mayor uniformidad a medida que estos aumentaban en número. Asimismo, se observó un aumento de la carga conforme se reducía la distancia entre los micropilotes y la esquina superior izquierda del cabezal. Con una mayor separación y una mayor cantidad de micropilotes, los asentamientos disminuyeron.
Conclusiones: Para utilizar micropilotes como recuperadores de carga en cimentaciones existentes, es conveniente tener en cuenta variables como la cantidad, la posición y la separación, pues inciden tanto en la distribución de carga como en los asentamientos de la estructura.
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