The Comparison of Laboratory Tests and Numerical Analysis of Pressure and Tension Bearing Capacities of the New System of Microbulb and Micropile System on Clay in Shiraz, Iran

In recent years, the implementations of Micropiles have been increased extensively in large project constructions due to the unique advantages of this method comparing to concrete piles. The results of numerical analysis and centrifuge tests show that the efficiency and importance of micropiles can be considered as an effective solution. This research is designed to compare the newly designed system of microbulb with micropile applying a numerical modeling with finite element software Plaxis 3D foundation v1.6. We also used the FHWA code for a comparative study between micropiles and microbulbs. Then the effective factors were analyzed in order to decide which method is better between these two methods of micropile and microbulb. The results showed that the new microbulb system is an appropriate solution for improvement of mechanical properties of the soil, increase of bearing capacity and settlement decrease.