University of Salahaddin College of Engineering Civil Department
University of Salahaddin College of Engineering Civil Department
University of Salahaddin College of Engineering Civil Department
College of engineering
Civil department
Piles in construction
This type of test does not require the external reaction system, and so can have significant cost
advantages, especially when working over water. Piling Contractors has experience of this type of
test, having carried out four on the Gateway Upgrade project, two on preliminary piles and two
on working piles.
Dynamic Load Testing
Another alternative to static load testing is the use of Dynamic Load Testing. This was
developed by Pile Dynamics Inc of the USA, who manufacture the PDI-PAK system used
by Piling Contractors. The system comprises two to four strain gauges & acceleration
transducers, a portable field computer with signal processing electronics and a signal
conditioning system, together with software for monitoring and reporting. Analysis is
carried out using the signal matching computer program CAPWAP.
Dynamic load testing was introduced for driven piling, where it is carried out either
using the pile driving impact hammer on piles made of concrete (prestressed or
precast), steel or timber (or on composite piles). It has been developed to apply to cast-
in-situ piles, where a separate drop weight is required. Piling Contractors owns an 11
tonne weight fitted inside a custom made test frame which is equipped with an
hydraulic catching mechanism to hold and control the release of the weight.
In both types of test, we have the capability for real-time connection of the PDI-PAK on
site with an office based computer via a mobile phone and the internet. This allows
specialist expertise to control the test while trained technicians operate the equipment
even where the site is in a remote area.
Methods of pile driving
he process of forcing pile into the ground without any excavation is known as pile
driving. The equipment required for pile driving can be classified as follows:
1. Pile frames,
2. Pile hammers,
3. Leads,
4. Winches,
5. Miscellaneous
Equipment.
Methods of pile driving can be categorised as follows:
• Dropping weight
• Explosion
• Vibration
• Jacking (restricted to micro-piling)
• Jetting
1.Dropp hammer:
It is made from solid mass of C.I which is lifted and allowed to fall under
gravity on the pile head. It is provided with two lugs so that it may slide
on the leads. It also consists of a hook to tie the rope to it. Drop
hammer weighs 1 ton to 4 ton and has a free fall varying from about
1.5 to 6 m. It can deliver 4 to 8 blows per minute. The energy imparted
to the pile head by the hammer is dependent on fall and weight of the
hammer. Heavy hammer with short fall should be preferred than using
light hammer and large fall.
2. STEAM HAMMER:
A. SINGLE-ACTING STEAM HAMMER:
In this method, the hammer is lifted either with compressed air or steam but allowed to drop on pile head under
gravity only. Its weight is about 2 ton and fall or drops from 1 m. It can deliver about 60 blows per minute. It can be
open type or closed type. Single-acting steam hammer can be used for driving piles under water.
B. DOUBLE-ACTING HAMMER:
In this method, the hammer is lifted by steam or compressed air like single-acting hammer but during fall steam or
compressed air also aids the fall of the hammer in addition to the gravity effect. If compressed air is used for lifting
and dropping the hammer on the pile head, it is known as pneumatic hammer. Double acting hammer weighs
about 1/2 ton but because of added effect of steam pressure, it develops an effect of about 3 ton on the pile head.
It can deliver 100 to 300 blows per minute. This hammer is generally fully enclosed in a steel case and hence
equally useful for driving piles under water. In this hammer, energy per blow and number of blows per minute can
be regulated by adjusting steam pressure.
4. BY BORING:
Piles may be driven by first boring a hole with the help of auger, rotary well drills or by
any other method. Auger is used when the soil is soft and depth is very small. In case of
rock and hard soils boring may be done by well drill or other methods. A precast pile is
lastly put into the bored hole.
Essentially there are two types of pile:
Replacement piles: These are piles which are put into holes dug or
augured out of the earth. The concrete, or steel, simply replaces the
earth, clay etc…. which has been excavated.
Displacement piles: These are precast or pre-formed piles which are
driven into the ground by a huge piling hammer. These displace the
earth they are driven through.
Displacement piles and non displacement piles