4/26/2013 11:44:00 PM Various peoples in different parts of the world found it convenient to dwell by lake shores where food,

water and easy transport were readily to hand and where water levels remained reasonably constant. Evidence of piled settlements has been found on the borders of lakes in, for example, Switzerland, Italy, Scotland and Ireland .

The main additional factors that should be considered are the practical aspects of pile installation, including the potential need for a piling working platform, the design for which would be based on the properties of the shallow soils. n some remote overseas locations little published information may be avail- able and in this instance, more emphasis must be placed on the exploratory work. The second stage should include a site inspection in order to confirm, as far as is possible, the data collected during the desk study, and to make as many additional preliminary observations as possible.

The second stage is then based on the preliminary findings of the first. Good communications must exist between the site investigation contractor and client in order to tailor the exploration to the requirements of the foundation design and the practical aspects of pile installation vis-vis the prevailing soil conditions. Where a piled foundation is proposed for an extensive project, piling trials including pile testing can be cost effective and should be included as part of the investigation. Reference may be made to the ICE publication Specification for Ground Investigation with Bills of Quantities (1989) for additional guidance.

2.3 Groundwater conditions The investigation of groundwater conditions is particularly pertinent to piling works. The findings may influence the choice of pile type

In-situ test Vane test

Standard penetration test (SPT) Static cone test Pressuremeter (including self drilling types) Plate-bearing test (over a range of depths) Simple permeability tests 2.5.1 Stiff fissured clays Application to pile design For measurement of in-situ undrained strength in soft to firm clays. Results may be applied to the estimation of downdrag on a pile shaft. The re-moulded strength of sensitive clays may be relevant to overall stability problems associated with pile driving in soft clays. Investigation of thickness of bearing strata. Direct application of N value in empirical formulae for pile load capacity. Estimation of the angle of friction , in granular deposits, for use in pile design. Crude estimates of cohesion in stiff clays or matrix dom- inant fills. For estimation of approximate compressive strength of very weak rock. A tentative relationship between N value and modulus for use in pile/soil systems has been proposed. Direct application of sleeve friction and point resistance to the design of driven piles. Estimation of the shear strength of clays and production of detailed soil profiles. Estimates of modulus of soil for possible application in pile design, but results may not be strictly appropriate. Estimates of shear strength in weak rock. Gives shear strength and modulus in all soil types. The shear strength parameters are highly relevant to pile design, as sim- ilar volumes of soil are stressed. The modulus values may not be quite so relevant as the pile installation can markedly influence this parameter. Important that this test is done carefully. For estimation of flow in permeable gravels or fissured rock. This may be a factor relevant to the selection of pile type. The tests can also be used in weak rock, to indicate highly fissured or fractured zones.

The two basic methods of installing piles are well known, namely driving them into the ground, or excavation of the ground, usually by boring, and filling the void with concrete.

Prestressed Concrete Pile

Prestressed concrete piles have commonly closed-ended tubular sections of 400 mm to diameter with maximum allowable axial loads up to about 2 700 kN. Normal pile eleme up to about 20 m long and are usually welded together using steel end plates. Prestressing concrete piles has several benefits. Tensile stresses, which can be set up during driving, can be better resisted, and the pile is less likely to be damaged during h Bending stresses, which can occur during driving, are also less likely to produce crackin However, the ultimate strength in axial compression is decreased as the level of prestr

increased. Therefore, prestressed piles are more vulnerable to damage from striking ob during driving. They are also difficult to cut after installation, and special techniques ha employed. As a result they are most suitable for applications where the pile length is p and constant.

Prestressed concrete piles require high-strength concrete and careful control during ma Casting is usually carried out in a factory, where the curing conditions can be strictly re Special manufacturing processes such as compaction by spinning or autoclave curing c adopted to produce high strength concrete. This type of pile is generally less permeable than reinforced concrete piles and may be to exhibit superior performance in a marine environment.

Hard steel points (fixed or attachable driving shoes) can be used at the toe of jointed p protection when penetrating soils containing boulders, or in weak rock. Market Is Growing The benefits provided by these piles, and the economics of todays construction market, make a strong case for designers and contractors to learn about the potential and specify them more frequently. Although cement prices have been ris- ing, prices for other materials have risen considerably more, making precast concrete piles a strong economic competitor. Precasters are reporting more and more designers and contractors are finding applications for precast, prestressed piles as contract budgets are strained. This leads to a wider use of the piles and a better, higher-profile understanding of the many benefits they provide.

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