RAMJACK Webcast

Fortified Engineering Solutions Webcast

Webcast

Helical piles are a deep steel foundation system that is torqued into the soil to resist/support compression, tension and lateral loads. Because helical piles can be installed at any angle, they are extremely versatile and can be used for a wide range of new or existing structures. The helix plate diameters and configurations also can be adjusted to ensure the pile is bearing a sufficient load-bearing soil stratum to support the required loading.

During the last two decades, it became apparent that structures underpinned with helical piles that experienced a seismic event had little to no structural damage after the event. The theory was that the flexibility of the helical pile system created a damping effect that restricted most of the lateral forces from being transferred to the structure.

Full-scale seismic testing performed at the University of California, San Diego, proved this theory correct. This webcast will examine code requirements for designing helical piles, the seismic testing that was performed and how to use helical piles as a lateral restraining system for high-seismic areas. Helical piles have proven to be a valuable asset that every engineer should have in their toolbox.

Speakers:

Darin Willis, P.E., President/Owner - Fortified Engineering Solutions

Darin Willis, P.E, is the President/Owner of Fortified Engineering Solutions, which specializes in foundation and structural designs. Willis has 40 years of experience in designing, developing, installing and testing hydraulically driven steel and helical piles. He has designed foundation underpinning systems for residential, commercial and industrial projects throughout the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and Central America. His structural design experience includes tilt-wall, steel-framed, concrete, masonry and wood structures. He has designed structures up to 850,000 square feet (Rooms To Go Distribution Center, Arlington, Texas) to a 10-story dormitory for the Dallas Theological Seminary. Willis received his engineering degree from the University of Texas at Arlington and is a licensed engineer in the states of Texas, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Oregon and Washington. He’s a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and the Deep Foundation Institute (DFI). As a member of the DFI, he is also on the technical committee for Helical Foundations and Tiebacks.