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There is a wide variety of methods used for piling and every piling contractor has a number of variations
for their system improvements in method and equipment continues. The main classes only are
discussed below.
1 Driven piles
This method is used for piles of timber, precast concrete, prestressed concrete and the various types of
steel piles.
The pile is hammered into the ground by pile-driving plant shown in outline in Fig. 14.10 (a). Methods
of protecting the head of the pile from shattering are shown in Fig. 14.10 (b).
Driven piles are classied as displacement piles and, where the soil can enter during driving, as small
displacement piles (e.g. open ended tubular or other hollow sections often in steel).
The cast concrete is rammed into position by a hammer as the casing is withdrawn ensuring rm contact
with the soil and compaction of the concrete. Care must be taken to see that the cast concrete is not
over-rammed or the casing withdrawn too quickly. There is a danger that as the liner
tube is withdrawn it can lift up the upper portion of in situ concrete leaving a void or necking in the
upper portions of the pile. This can be avoided by good quality control of the concrete and slow
withdrawal of the casing.
Driven cast in situ piles can prove to be economic for sands, loose gravels, soft silts and clays particularly
when large numbers of piles are required. For small numbers of piles the on-site costs can however
prove to be expensive.
The relatively small on-site cost of bored piles means that smaller sites can be more economically piled
than they can using a driven piling system. The bored pile is not usually economic in granular soils
where loosening and disturbance of surrounding ground can cause excessive removal of soil and induce
settlement in the surrounding area. During piling operations the hole can be lined with a casing which
can be driven ahead of the bore to overcome difculties caused by groundwater and soft sub-soil but
sometimes difculties of withdrawing the casing after casting can prove expensive.
4 Screw piles
Screw piles of steel or concrete cylinders with helical blades attached are screwed into the ground by
rotating the blades. Their best application is in deep stratum of soft alluvial soils underlain by rm
strata. Due to the large diameter of the blades the piles have increased resistance to uplift forces.
Screw piles can be removed after use in temporary works.
5 Jacked piles
Jacked piles are used where headroom for the pile and pile driver are limited as in underpinning within
an existing building. The pile is jacked in short sections using the existing superstructure as a reaction
frame.
The pile diameters generally vary between 90 mm and 220 mm and can be used in most soils and with
restricted access/limited headroom. Where necessary, noise and vibration can be kept to a minimum
and piles can be driven within a few hundred millimetres of adjacent properties.
In underpinning they can be used to penetrate existing concrete or masonry foundations, and can be
bonded into the existing elements or form part of a new support system in conjunction with cast-in-situ
needle beams.
Slenderness of such small-diameter piles must however be taken into account and the need for good
quality control particularly with regard to lling such small bores with concrete.
The piles are not generally suitable in mining areas where surface movements and lateral strains may
be expected to distort or shear the piles.