CAISSON

WHAT IS CAISSON ?

Prefabricated hollow box or cylinder

It is sunk into the ground to some desired depth and then filled with concrete thus
forming a foundation.

Basically it is similar in form to pile foundation but installed using different way

Its a form of deep foundation which are

constructed above ground level, then sunk to the required level by excavating or
dredging material from within the caisson
Most often used in the construction of bridge piers & other structures that require foundation
beneath rivers & other bodies of water
This is because caissons can be floated to the job site and sunk into place
Used in moderate to high swelling soils.
Used when soil of adequate bearing strength is found below surface layers of weak materials
such as fill or peat
TYPES
Open Caisson
Floating or Box Caisson
Pneumatic Caisson
FLOATING OR BOX CAISSON
Box caissons are prefabricated concrete boxes with sides and bottom and are set down on
prepared bases.
They must be ballasted or anchored to prevent this until they can be filled with concrete
OPEN CAISSONS
Open caissons are similar to box caissons except that they do not have a bottom face.
They are suitable for use in soft clays (e.g. in some river-beds).
Open caissons used in soft grounds or high water tables, where open trench excavations are
impractical.
PNEUMATIC CAISSON
Compressed-air caissons have the advantage of providing dry working conditions which are
better for placing concrete.
They are also well suited for foundations for which other methods might cause settlement of
adjacent structures.
ADVANTAGES
Easily adaptable to varying site conditions (ie) lengths can be adjusted readily to fit soil
conditions
Minimal soil displacement or vibration that could damage adjacent structures .
Slightly less noise and reduced vibrations
High axial and lateral loading capacity
Economical
Minimizes pile cap needs
DISADVANTAGES
Extremely sensitive to construction procedures
Not good for contaminated sites
Lack of construction expertise & Qualified Inspectors
1- Builders construct a water-tight caisson,. It is made of oak timbers and covered with plate
iron.
2 - To sink the caisson, blocks are placed atop its roof. Wooden pilings guide its descent, and
a passageway is left in the middle for stairs. workboats are used to support the machinery and
maneuver the blocks into place.

3 - Once the caisson reaches sand, men enter the air chambers through the air locks and begin
to excavate the riverbed, shoveling sand into a sand pump that suctions it up through a shaft
and out through an opening at the top of the structure. Compressed air is pumped into the
chamber to keep water out the deeper the caisson sinks, the greater the air pressure needed.
4 - The increased air pressure in the air chambers makes it difficult for the men to work.
5 - Signs of bedrock reveal that the excavation is nearly complete. The caisson rests on the
bedrock and serves as the foundation of the mighty pier. To fortify this foundation, the air
chamber is filled with concrete and, as the men ascend to the surface, the core is filled behind
them.
EXAMPLES
The construction of the east and west piers of St. Louis Bridge which descend over 100-feet
below the surface of the Mississippi, takes seven months, 600 workers, and 40,000 tons of
concrete.
Brookyln bridge
METHODS
Jacking Caisson Method
Space System Caisson or Sand Island Method
JACKING CAISSON METHOD
Jacking caisson method is to sink large scale caisson thruster into ground by using
jacks with rods connected to earth anchor.
SPACE SYSTEM CAISSON
The gravel is filled between wall surface and ground, and the skin friction resistance is
reduced.
The SS caisson method gently and accurately install the caisson in non-loading.
The problem of the conventional open caisson method is solved.
FEATURES OF THE SS CAISSON METHOD
It is gently installed only at the dead weight at the good accuracy.
Subsidence and collapse of the ground in the circumference are not caused.
FOUNDATIONS OF ROAD AND RAILWAY BRIDGES
BRIDGES CONSTRUCTED AT THE WATER DEPTH OF 50 TO 60 M.
SUBWAY TUNNELS FACILITIES