Concrete Pile Foundations create Stable Structures
Concrete piles are used to make sure that a foundation is deep enough, by being driven into the ground. The concrete piles connect to the footers of the foundation, so for some construction projects, many concrete piles are used. The concrete piles also maintain the stability of the building or structure by distributing the weight of it, once construction has been completed.
Deep concrete piling foundations are needed for a variety of different uses. If the building being constructed is on a large scale, then a deep foundation is crucial to ensure optimum stability. Deep piling is also required if the condition of the soil is poor, as it will be unable to support the weight of a building or structure so it is anchored to a bedrock as an alternative.
Concrete pile foundations can be installed using two different methods. The first option is to drill and cast the concrete pile on site. The other choice is by driving a pre-formed pile into the ground, using reinforced, pre-stressed or precast concrete.
Concrete piles are not only used for deep foundations; they can also be used to reinforce walls, temporarily or permanently. Concrete piles can also provide support for levees and other structures which could collapse.
Make your Retaining Wall stronger with Soil Nailing
Soil nailing is a technique which is used for retaining walls and other projects, as a way of reinforcing the soil. Soil nailing can be used as a solution for both permanent and temporary retaining walls. As part of soil nailing, the slope or wall which is required to be stabilised first needs to be predrilled. Long steel rods are then put in place and grouted in firmly to hold the soil in place. If the soil contains corrosive elements, then the steel rods need to be coated in anti-corrosives to protect them. To give the soil optimum stability, a covering later fixes the rods in place.
Soil nailing has a wealth of advantages. It is ideal when working on sites which have a limited amount of space, as there is little need of room to manoeuvre. Soil nailing can follow irregular and tight corners, as well as providing stability to the wall from the top to the bottom. This means that the soil can be secured whilst workers continue to dig down deeper.
After the soil nailing has been completed, shortcrete is commonly used to secure the reinforcing rods. There are also other options used by construction workers, such as creating a green or living wall. The type of retaining wall used depends on the environment of the construction.
Underpinning the Situation
Underpinning is the method that is used to make the foundation of a building or structure stable. This process is carried out when a new building is being constructed, an existing building is being changed or the supporting soil has undergone changes. This could be due to the roots of trees growing and disrupting the foundations. If a nearby building has lower foundations then surrounding structures may need to be lowered to ensure its stability. Foundations may also be widened in certain situation to make them more supportive.
Underpinning is skilled work and must always be carried out and/or supervised by a qualified engineer. It is important to follow health and safety guidelines as it can be dangerous work. There are different types of underpinning available. Beam and base underpinning involves the construction of a concrete beam above or to replace an existing footing. The beam then transfers the weight of the structure to concrete bases.
The option of mini-piled underpinning is suitable for when foundation loads require to be transferred to stable soils at depths of more than 5.0 metres. The mini-piles can be either augured or driven steel cased and implemented using specially designed rigs.
A Brief History of Pile Driving Equipment
The process of creating solid foundations on which to build stable structures has been around for many years. However, over time, as technology has become more and more advanced and pile driving equipment has evolved to become what it is today. Construction engineers are always using their high level of expertise to make improvements to equipment and processes.
Pile driving was originally done by workers using their own strength to force piles into the ground. This would take some effort! During the 19th century, steam pile drivers helped to take some of the strain of pile driving through the use of energy transfer. The build up of pressurised steam would force the pile into the ground. This led to the use of diesel hammers which used energy from burning fuel.
It was not until buildings began to need rebuilding, did the realisation become apparent that it was extremely difficult to remove piles which had been embedded into the ground. (At least we know it had been done properly!) Enter the vibratory pile driver/extractor. The vibrations loosen the pile and reduce the friction between the pile and surrounding soil.