Geopier GP3 Rammed Aggregate Pier Installation in California.
The flagship Geopier system. Densely compacted aggregate columns that boost bearing capacity and cut settlement at a fraction of the cost of deep foundations.
The Geopier GP3 Rammed Aggregate Pier is the flagship Geopier system and the workhorse of modern intermediate ground improvement. A specially designed mandrel drives thin lifts of crushed stone deep into the subgrade, creating a column with very high stiffness and shear strength. The result is dramatically increased bearing capacity for conventional shallow footings, mats, and slabs over soft or weak soils.
Installation is fast, vibration is low, and there is no need for the heavy mobilization or schedule impact associated with driven piles or drilled shafts. On most commercial sites, GP3 piers are installed in days rather than weeks, allowing the structural team to proceed with conventional foundations on a tightened schedule.
GP3 is suited to a wide range of soil profiles, from soft clays and silts to loose sands and engineered fills. WGI applies the GP3 system to commercial buildings, distribution centers, hospitals, industrial facilities, tank foundations, retail developments, and embankments. As a certified Geopier installer, WGI delivers GP3 projects across California, Nevada, New Mexico, and Arizona.
Every GP3 installation follows a quality control program that includes modulus testing and as-built documentation. WGI's design team coordinates directly with the geotechnical engineer of record and the structural engineer to confirm capacity, settlement performance, and constructability before pier production begins.
Frequently Asked Questions
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GP3 is an intermediate ground improvement solution rather than a structural pile. It stiffens and strengthens the upper soil profile so that conventional shallow footings or mats can carry the building loads, eliminating the need for pile caps, grade beams, and the heavy equipment a pile program requires.
GP3 performs well in soft to medium-stiff clays and silts, loose to medium-dense sands, and engineered fills. WGI reviews the geotechnical report for each site to confirm GP3 is the right fit or recommends another Geopier technology when a different approach is more appropriate.
Most commercial GP3 projects are installed in a matter of days to a few weeks depending on site size and pier count. A single rig commonly installs dozens of piers per shift, and WGI mobilizes additional crews when the schedule requires.
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