HeliCAP^® Software: FAQ

Software Installation Questions | Output & Data Manipulation Questions | Help Menu Questions | Technical Questions

Software Installation Questions

Q - Can I put HeliCAP^® on more than one computer?

A - Yes, but you will need a new key-code for each computer. It is recommended that each user (computer) be registered with Chance Civil Construction so that we will have records of all users.

Q - My key-code doesn't work - how do I fix it?

A - It is likely that an error was made when the volume serial number was communicated, or when the key-code was generated (key-board error). Please double-check that the volume serial number given for the hard drive where the software has been installed is correct. Please contact CHANCE Customer Service.

Q - After getting a new computer my key-code isn't accepted - what should I do?

A - The new computer has a new volume serial number and therefore needs a new key-code. Contact CHANCE Customer Service or your local authorized CHANCE Distributor to obtain a new key-code for the new computer.

Q - Can HeliCAP^® be loaded on to a network?

A - Possibly, but it's not recommended. One reason is because the software checks the assigned key code against the local computer's C: Drive.

Output & Data Manipulation Questions

Q - Can the results obtained from HeliCAP^® be transmitted electronically and downloaded to someone else with the program on their computer?

A - Not directly. A common method used to transmit HeliCAP® results is to make a PDF of the Summary Report and send as an attachment.

Q - When I "print screen" the program doesn't capture the entire screen. Usually the torque chart is omitted completely. To capture the entire chart I have to use a "third party" screen capture. Printing to PDF does the same thing. Can I do anything to change that to capture the whole profile and chart section?

A - This is a problem with version 2.0 that needs to be fixed. However, using one or all of the provided print options will allow one to print the entire screen.

Q - Must data be entered incrementally?

A - Yes. HeliCAP^® requires soil data to be entered as separate layers with soil parameters input for each layer.

Q - Can you "overwrite" previously entered data?

A - Yes. Any input soil parameter can be overwritten over previously entered data. All soil parameters empirically determined by HeliCAP^® can be over-ridden.

Q - Can multiple borings be opened at the same time?

A - Yes, HeliCAP^® will tile up to 15 worksheets or borings so they are opened at the same time. However, HeliCAP^® will operate on only one boring or one worksheet at a time. Attempting to open a 16th file will cause a "Runtime Error" and you will be required to renew the session.

Q - How can I email the summary report?

A - The best option is to convert the file to a PDF format and email it. If this is not available to you, print and scan the document.

Q - Can you Email single pages of the report?

A - Only after converting the file to a PDF format.

Q - Can I access my Address Book from the program?

A - No. HeliCAP^® does not provide cross-functional compatibility with Microsoft Windows^® programs.

Q - Can HeliCAP^® results be cut and pasted into other documents?

A - Not unless a full version of Adobe Acrobat is available. If so, parts of the PDF file can be cut and pasted into other documents.

Q - When I try to re-open a HeliCAP^® file by double-clicking a completed project icon, the program initializes without opening the file. I would expect it to open the specific file.

A - HeliCAP^® must be opened first and then the desired file opened from the file pulldown menu.

Help Menu Questions

Q - Is there a tutorial for the program?

A - No, but HeliCAP^® has an extensive Help Menu that provides answers to most questions regarding data input and menu options. In addition, the software comes with a Quick Reference Guide that gives how-to instructions on basic program functions. The Quick Reference Guide is also available online at www.abchance.com.

Technical Questions

Q - When I have a job with poor surface soil, I receive the warning that I might need to select the Helical Pulldown Micropile or select a pipe shaft pile/anchor; then I see an option to not to be warned again unless the soil profile changes. Am I doing something wrong?

A - No. This is normal. HeliCAP^® is programmed to warn you if any soil layer has SPT "N" values of 4 blows per foot or less. This occurs in the compression application mode only.

Q - How do I know when I should use the Critical Depth feature? Does it apply for both cohesive and cohesionless soils? Are there certain soil conditions which require using the Critical Depth feature?

A - The Critical Depth feature is the point in the profile at which the overburden pressure does not change with depth. It applies to cohesionless soils (sands and gravels) and is used to limit the effective vertical stress on the helical pile elements. There is no clear directive as to what the critical depth should be for helical piles. Some design manuals for driven piles define critical depth as a function of pile diameter.

Q - If I want to model a combo pile, is it best to input an all square-shaft pile or an all pipe-shaft pile?

A - A pipe shaft, as it will have a more conservative relationship of torque to capacity.

Q - When you have site soils classified as silts, since there is no "Silt" soil type option in HeliCAP^®, is it generally best to model that in HeliCAP^® as Clay or Sand?

A - When the soil is referred to as silt it is best to select the clay option. If the description on the soil report refers to it as sandy silt, then the best option would be to select sand. If the soil description refers to the silt in terms of relative density (loose, medium-dense), again, then the best option would be to select sand. However, if the silt is described in terms of consistency (soft, stiff), then the best option would be to select clay.

Q - How do you input a soil that has a slope at the top of a tieback wall?

A - When entering soil data in the "PROFILE" window, go to the section titled "Profile above 0" and enter X-Y coordinates for points above 0 elevation. Be sure the Y coordinates are a negative (-) value. You will have to enter at least two points to define a slope. Also, you will need to assign a soil layer(s) for the section of the profile above 0. This is done by entering a soil depth with a negative (-) value.

Q - How do I enter the failure plane under the tieback section, and why does it matter?

A - The failure plane for tieback walls defines the active zone where soil movement will occur behind the wall. The failure plane is defined differently for varying wall types and engineer preferences but a commonly used failure plane behind a typical basement wall would extend from the edge of the footing to the ground surface at an angle of 45 + Φ/2 where Φ is the soils angle of internal friction. To create an assumed failure surface behind a tieback wall, double click in the soil display area below the zero depth mark. Click and drag the point to the desired location. Add other points by double clicking as well. These points will be the end points of straight-line segments, which will automatically connect to the previous segment to complete the failure surface geometry. You may remove a failure surface point by double clicking on the point. The failure surface segments are colored red. A conservative choice is to use a failure plane of 45 degrees. You can also click on the PROFILE button and go to the section titled "Failure Surface" and enter the X-Y coordinates for the points between the desired straight-line segments. You will have to enter at least two points to define the failure surface.

Q - How is the estimated installation torque calculated since it does not usually match the ultimate capacity divided by the torque correlation factor (Kt)?

A - The ultimate bearing capacity of each helix in tension or compression is calculated by taking the average of the capacities calculated at three points, either above or below the respective helix plate. The three points are at the helix plate, 1 helix diameter away, and 2 helix diameters away; in the direction of load application. Thus for tension loads, HeliCAP^® averages capacities at three points above the helix plate; and for compression loads, HeliCAP^® averages capacities at three points below the helix plate. The averages of all helix plates are then added to determine the total ultimate capacity.

The predicted installation torque is calculated as the sum of the individual helical ultimate bearing capacities calculated at the helix location only divided by the appropriate torque correlation factor based on shaft size. (There is no averaging over the 3 points). Torque correlation factors used in HeliCAP^® are 10 ft-¹ (33m-¹) for Type SS anchor/piles, 8 ft-¹ (26 m-¹) for Type RS2875 helical anchor/piles, 7 ft-¹ (23 m-¹) for Type RS3500 helical anchor/piles, and 6 ft-¹ (20 m-¹) for Type RS4500 helical anchor/piles.

Q - What is critical depth, and what depth should I use?

A - Critical Depth is the depth below which effective stresses remain constant with depth and is only applicable in cohesion-less soils. In other words, it is the depth in which the overburden pressure no longer increases with depth. This is important for helical anchors bearing in granular soils since the frictional component of the bearing capacity and skin friction equations are dependent upon the effective stress at the helix depth (bearing capacity component) or shaft depth (skin friction component). Typical critical depths generally range from 20 to 30 times the average helix diameter below ground surface, or insertion into a suitable bearing soil for bearing capacity determination.

Q - Where is the field to input a value for the critical depth?

A - The critical depth input field is found on the HeliCAP^® Work Page window that opens when an application icon (Tension/Compression/Tieback/Soil Screw) has been selected.