Special Topic Micro Piles

Department of Civil and Structural Engineering, University Kebangsaan Malaysia 

Other names are also used to imply micropiles, such as Pin-piles, Mini-piles, Pali Radice (Root piles), Fondedile piles, Miga-piles, Pieux Racines, Wurzelpfahle and Estaca Raiz, but all essentially refer to small diameter drilled and grouted piles. The fundamental characteristic lies in its ability to be constructed with equipment used for anchoring and grouting, unlike conventional piles that need to be driven or bored (Bruce Nicolson 1988). 

As micropiles are essentially cast-in-place piles, the soil/pile interaction depends on the mechanical characteristics of the soil, specifically, the outer surface of the pile as well as on the installation procedures. Depending on the type and method of installation, certain type of micropiles can also be classified into displacement micropiles as well as non-displacement micropiles (Lizzi 2000). 

Sand/gravel formation with bouider and oid mansonries 

For instance, in the construction of steel shaft micropUes which involves driving of steel shafts into the soil that may cause a greater displacement of the soil. This has constantly been identified as displacement micropiles. 

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