We have a series of 16 inch frankies. Does anyone know typical structural capacity of these sections? Only so we can decide if its worth proceeding to more detailed investigation.
"Programming today is a race between software engineers striving to build bigger and better idiot-proof programs, and the Universe trying to produce bigger and better idiots. So far, the Universe is winning."
"Programming today is a race between software engineers striving to build bigger and better idiot-proof programs, and the Universe trying to produce bigger and better idiots. So far, the Universe is winning."
We just had a set designed in the Boston area and the foundation company sized them for 88 kips compression and 64 kips tension. They were also ~16" diameter.
It was my first experience with them. The terminology with this company was to call them 'pressure injected footings' and they discouraged the use of 'Franki Pile' as "outdated". Not sure why as it doesn't seem that uncommon. Perhaps it was regional.
We completed a project with 16" dia. frankie piles. I never agreed that they made sense for our light loads, but that was what the contractor wanted to do. The axial capacity for our 16" piles was in the range of 500 - 1000kN. The lateral capacity was about the same as any 16" diameter shaft pile.
If you have large axial loads, subsurface water problems and the equipment, I think they make a great deal of sense.
To try to answer azcat's query, Franki does a lot of different types of piling, so although the expanded base piles are commonly called Frankpiles, it could lead to confusion.