Orange County Branch Newsletter

December 2017

Geo-Institute

Fundamentals of Torque Down Piles

OC Geo-Institute hosted a dinner meeting on October 24, 2017, where Mr. Craig Shields, Principal of Rockridge Geotechnical, provided an overview of torque-down pile (TDP) technology.  The presentation first introduced the TDP technology, which involves advancing steel pipe piles equipped with a conical tip into the ground through downward crowd and torque. The presentation also discussed design nuances that differ from design of conventional piles, and covered advantages and disadvantages associated with the TDP technology to help educate attendees on the types of site conditions best suited for TDPs. Lastly, Mr. Shields presented several case studies and findings from projects in southern California where TDPs were used, including the results of pile load testing programs.