This nomenclature refers to piles of small section and low to medium load capacity. The basic principle is to install these piles with small, light and manageable equipment, and to use them wherever conventional equipment is unable to operate; underpinning, strengthening, bracing, take-up of bending and tensile loads due to fill, resistance to negative friction, etc.

CHARACTERISTICS

• Diameter generally between 100 and 200 mm.
• Drilling in all grounds and materials (rock, masonry) cased or uncased, with fresh water or slurry, according to need.
• Any inclination.
• Tensile and compressive loads generally between 50 and 300 MPa taken by a metal tube, beam, rail or multiple bars (most often used are staggered bars to reduce material costs).
• Reinforcement protected by grout, mortar, or fine concrete, placed by gravity or grouting.
  
  
  
  

• Sealing is ensured by grouting, which may give the pile a capacity reaching 2000 kN.
• Essentially multiform, and adaptable to the problem in hand.
• Can be used in tension or compression.
  

  ---