NAME

METRIC NO

: AHMAD AMALLUDIN BIN AMRAN (1 SBEC)

: A13 BE0001

7) Briefly discuss with sketches the theories of pile Set Criteria and
the practices of Set taking for precast concrete pile for a multistorey building or civil engineering structure. (10 marks)

Piled foundations these can be defined as a series of columns constructed or

inserted into the ground to transmit the load of structure to a lower level of subsoil.
Piled foundations can be used when suitable foundation conditions are not present
at or near ground level making the use of deep traditional foundations uneconomic.
The lack of suitable foundation conditions may be caused by:
1. Natural law bearing capacity of subsoil
2. High water table giving rise to high permanent dewatering costs
3. Presence of layers of highly compressible subsoil such as peat and recently
placed filling materials which have not sufficiently consolidated
4. Subsoil which may be subject moisture movement or plastic failure
Reinforced Precast Concrete Pile
Theories
The normal reinforced precast concrete pile is made at a precast concrete
plant. There are basically cast in bed or vertical form. Some common shape for this
type of pile is square, round and octagonal. To handle the normal reinforced precast
concrete pile, it is important to resist different stresses caused by lifting and
handling. In addition, we have to resist stressed cause by driving.

Practice
This type of pile commonly use on multi-storey building. Basically, the normal
reinforced concrete pile will not use in a very high rise building because it does not
have very high strength and not capable to handle heavy loads. However, it is
suitable and commonly used for normal multi-storey building because it is cheaper
and easier to install if compared to other piles.
In the aspect of driving and installation, the piles have generally been driven
with a drop hammer of 3 to 4 tons, although in recent years, hydraulic hammers
have become very common for driving precast concrete piles. In some countries,
diesel hammers and occasionally also vibrators are used. Maximum allowable axial

loads can be up to about 1000 kN. Precast concrete piles are not suitable for soil
deposits containing a significant amount of boulders. In such cases, the pile may be
equipped with a pile shoe, which protects the pile tip during hard driving.

Normal RC Precast Concrete Pile

Pile Set Criteria

Pile set shall be decided through a test pile installation. Pile set is the criteria
the required working load shall be agreed and stoppage of pile driving. The
graphical set over 10-blows readings shall be obtained.
Subsequent calculation using agreed driving parameters shall determine
adequancy of driving. If pile penetration is the criteria, the outcome of the test pile
installation shall be a guide to the required depth of penetration.
Pile driving shall be recorded through an agreed format and shall detail all the
relevant information including times for driving and jointing. The records shall be
comprehensive so as to discount any uncertainly or reservations as to the piles
integrity to be part of the permanent structure.
In theory we could also say 10 blows/inch; however, if were driving to a
dense/hard layer, the decrease in set may take place within the span of the foot. So
the set could decrease substantially from the point where the pile toe entered the
foot in question to where it left (or driving stopped). Different set simply different
pile ultimate capacities, so whether youre using an inch, foot, 25mm or 300mm
could make a different.
On some sites cardboard set cards were attached to piles and a datum beam
held close to the pie allowing a pencil mark to be made during driving. On other
sites a chalk mark was made directly onto the pile.

Typical of graph that show set during driving

This graph shows that there are still have a large space for pile to be drived before
it reach
bed rock.

This graph shows that there are limited space that pile should be drive before
it will reach the maximum depth / bed rock .