Expanded-base Piles

Expanded-base piles are also known as Franki piles, pressure injected footings (PIF’s), or Compacto Piles. They are constructed like traditional bored piles or caissons except that the base of the shaft is expanded and compacted by placing zero slump concrete at the bottom and ramming it with a large hammer. This process forms a bulb-like shape at the base before placing the concrete backfill in the remainder of the shaft.

Advantages

• Expanded-base piles have a higher load bearing capacity in poor or non-cohesive soils compared to similar techniques due to the end-bearing capacity developed by addition of the expanded base.