Friction Reduction

“Negative skin friction” or “downdrag” are terms defining forces on piles installed through soil deposits undergoing consolidation.  These forces reduce the usable capacity of the piles installed, and should be seriously considered when the ultimate capacity of the pile foundation is evaluated.  The negative shaft resistance is the reverse of the usual positive resistance developed along a pile’s surface.  These negative forces increase the axial load on the pile and can be significant.

Our YELLOW JACKET™ and SLICKCOAT™ friction reduction products can be an affective means of reducing “negative skin friction” and “downdrag’ forces that may be of concern.  Years of research, study and application have provided a proven means of correcting this problem.

YELLOW JACKET™ is a jacketed means of reducing negative skin friction on piles embedded within MSE wall bridge abutments, while our SLICKCOAT™ product is an environmentally friendly water-based silicone epoxy applied to a pile’s surface prior to installation.  Both products provide similar friction reduction results in their respective applications.