The soils that are expansive also tend to be poor draining protect the Pier due to the clay they contain. If the soil becomes saturated, as in spring melt, or after heavy rains it can remain moist and cause damage to infrastructure within the soil.
Since helical piers are built of steel, we have an extensive understanding of how they interact with soil and how they will degrade over time. But, you may be surprised to discover the fact that the corrosion doesn't have to the most destructive
foundation repair Utah enemy of the one-time helical piling. If left for long enough, corrosion could eventually destroy an one-way helical Pier. But this doesn't mean that it is the most important issue.
The chemical reactions that lead to corrosion are complicated and diverse.
In actuality, the majority of the helical piers use in industrial and commercial applications will be construct of steel that's strong enough to allow corrosion to not even thought of when it comes to design element. For the vast majority of your projects corrosion for the expected time span for the building.
An engineer for helical piers will employ a variety of variables to determine the useful life span of the Helical Pier. These calculations are based on careful examination of the soil on the project site , and then evaluating the soil against established engineering standards.
If the soil is particularly corrosive, for example, industrial sites or landfills Designers can enhance the corrosion resistance of the helical pier. There are several ways to do this.
Pier from Corrosion
The thickness of the steel for shafts and helices
Hot-dip galvanizing the piers for corrosion protect the Pier resistance (though for commercial projects, sacrificial thickness is more efficient and cost-effective)
Cathode systems use DC current to slow or stop the process of corrosion (generally employed in extremely acidic soils)A thorough geotechnical analysis about soil condition is essential to understand how the helical pier is likely to interact with its surroundings as time passes
The science behind the protection of the helical pier from corrosion is an entire subject on its own, and is not necessary to be aware of it now. Keep in mind that for the vast majority of projects, helical-pier corrosion is not an important factor in limiting the project. If you're looking to know how to prevent corrosion on helical-piers, please visit our website and connect the foundation specialists at our company.
Okay, that's enough preamble. It's time to find what the solution to this question is:
What is the length of time the foundations of helical piers last?
Your Foundation Could Last HOW Long?
In summary our assumptions, here's what we're making about the circumstances our hypothetical helical-pier have to contend with:
In the soil of moderate to severe expanse and is prevalent throughout the U.S.
Soil contains a high amount of clay and is draining poorly.
The pH in the soil ranges from 7.0 to 7.0 (neutral pH)
Climate conditions include dry protect the Pier springs and cold winters dry summers and late summers.
Correctly installed by experienced Helical Pier ContractorsUnder those conditions, and taking into consideration that a variety of factors can affect the amount, a fair estimation of the time span of a helical pier...
More than the span of 180 years.
That's nearly 2 centuries. To make it more precise:
If you think that there is a new generation born each 25 years the 180-year period equals almost 8 generations worth of help. It means that long after you're gone, should the structure is still standing and your distant descendants are born in 2022 may still be able to see the evidence of your work.
The Carysfort Reef lighthouse, pictured here in 1962, is in use today, supported by wrought-iron "screw piles" (helical piers)
Consider your time and look at
Utah helical piers the Carysfort Reef lighthouse which is located in 4 1/2 feet of water just miles to the east from Key Largo, Florida for an example. It was built around the year 1852 on a base made of wrought-iron "screw piles" (helical piers). In the present, 170 years later the lighthouse remainson the Carysfort Reef. Through swells and storms as well as salty ocean water, its foundation has been able to stand the tests of time.
But it would be remiss of me if didn't mention some of the aspects that could affect the corrosion rate of the foundation of your steel helical pier. They're important to understand to get an understanding of how soil influences protect the Pier your foundation.
Soil Factors That Influence the Corrosion of Steel
Soil resistance (how conductivity of the electrical field in it is)
The soil's acidity (expressed by pH)
Moisture content
The amount of salts dissolved
The amount and type of minerals
Oxygen levels
The activity of organic matter such as bacteria, fungus, and so on.
