Analysis and design methods of screw piles: A review

Abstract

The focus of this review is the design of axially loaded screw piles. Through a comprehensive collation of all relevant literature regarding the design of screw piles, comparisons are made and relations are drawn which will ultimately be relevant to future efforts associated with the design of screw piles. Contemporary design approaches to screw piling are covered and the consequential relationships among the various geotechnical design parameters are asserted. The review is centred on vertically loaded axial piles in compression and tension in both cohesive and cohesionless soils. Through a rigid analysis of all viable design methods, in relation to the bearing capacity of helical piles, comparisons are made among the different design methods and attention is brought to the need for more research on the settlement of screw piles in order to allow for a more complete design.