Our engineers can design and install micropile supports and anchors in virtually any geological setting. Our specialized drilling equipment enables installation at sites with severe access limitations and hidden obstructions. We design foundations for wind turbines, towers, and transmission lines. When compared to traditional foundation designs, our designs can diminish costs, limit daily trips to construction sites, and reduce the time needed to complete the project.
Reticulated Supermicropiles™ – When existing structures and property lines are too close for traditional excavation Reticulated Supermicropiles™ offer an outstanding alternative solution.
Supermicropiles™ and Ground Anchors – Our engineers can design and install SupermicroPile™ supports and anchors in virtually any geologic setting. We design foundations for transmission lines, wind turbines and towers.
Launched Scour Micropiles and
Scour Hole Remediation
A NEW TOOL., A NEW CONCEPT, TO SOLVE AN OLD PROBLEM
Traditional micropiles are small diameter steel rods or pipes installed in concrete-filled drill holes. They are used most often in groups to transfer bearing loads to deeper regimes. Engineers
at SNL, Inc. have discovered that micropiles can be used to prevent scour at new constructions and remediate scour that develops after construction.
Beyond just the basic benefits of cost savings and avoiding or minimizing rip rap installations, this new scour micropile concept encourages the use of aquatic and terrestrial friendly
Open Bottom Boxes and bridges. Combine scour micropiles with GRS technologies and Open Bottom Boxes are feasible, even preferred. And with the use of the new Soil Nail Launcher, stream encroachment and other collateral damage is restricted practically to those areas of future disturbance. These are indeed significant factors in favor of this new idea.
Moreover, with the Soil Nail Launcher, there is no need for polluting drill rigs or fresh concrete around the the stream or riparian zone. Launched nails zip into the ground at 220 miles and
hour and set up as if they are in concrete. They are instantly ready for work! Launched nails achieve significantly higher pullout capacity than driven nails.
Looking at the drawing above, it can be seen that if a fraction of the alluvium is larger than the spacing of the launched scour micropiles that the 3 dimensional cage effect will contain the
particles, creating a barrier to scour. If the stream bed is fine grained, then placement of appropriately graded rock on the array and upstream is a solution. As the material scours, these
rocks will migrate down and fill into the matrix, creating this scour barrier. This 3 dimensional installation at about 60 degrees from vertical should create a ramp effect, allowing continued
access up and down for aquatic life.
Indeed, the Soil Nail Launcher and scour micropile technologies may be the best solution yet for repair of Scour Holes and Degrading Stream Beds. The Soil Nail Launcher can be mounted on a variety of platforms and reach about any location. This tool can eliminate expensive and damaging access roads and ramps. Extensive collateral damage that accompanies the
retrofitting of rip rap can be avoided. Once the scour micropiles are installed the scour hole, appropriately graded alluvium can be added to fill the hole and create a ramp, eliminating the
waterfall. Fish passage can be maintained, even in these severe conditions.
This Scour Micropile concept is included in a pending patent application by Al Ruckman and Bob Barrett. Soil Nail Launcher, Inc holds exclusive U. S. rights to the University of Cardiff patent
on the concept of launching soil nails.
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