Department of Technical Education

Andhra Pradesh
NAME : K.VASUDEVA RAO
Designation : Lecturer
Branch : Civil Engg
Institute : Govt.Polytechnic,Srikakulam
Year/Semester : IV Semester
Subject : Construction Practice
Subject code : C406
Topic : Classification of Buildings
and foundations
Duration : 50 min
Sub Topic : Pile and well foundation
Teaching Aids : Animations
Revised by : GVVL Satyanarayana
9C406.5 1
Objectives

Upon completion of this period, you will be

able to

• describe different types of deep foundations

9C406.5 2
 Recap
Shallow foundations are classified as

Shallow
foundations

Spread Grillage Mat or Raft

footing foundation foundation

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 Deep foundation

• When the foundation has to carry heavy structural loads

and if the Bearing capacity of soil is low at shallow

depths, the foundations are to be taken to deeper depths

until a hard stratum is reached. Such foundations are

called as deep foundations.

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 Types of deep foundations

• Pile foundations

• Well foundations ( or ) also called Caissons

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 Pile foundation

• A pile may be defined as a long vertical load

transferring element composed of timber, steel,
concrete or a combination of them

• The main function of pile is to carry the load of the

structure to deeper depth at which good bearing
capacity is available

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 Situations which demand pile foundations

• The live load and dead loads coming from the structure
are considerably large
• The construction of grillage or raft foundation is not
economical
• The seasonal variation of ground water table is
considerable
• When the loads from structure are to be transferred to
hard strata at deeper depth, through poor and
compressible soil strata.
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Situations which demand pile foundations

• When sandy soils are to be compacted to increase the

bearing capacity by means of compaction piles

• When the loads are to be taken to depth in a weak soil,

by virtue of skin friction developed along the length of file

• When the structures are to be protected against uplift

pressure or overturning moment

• In case, where large inclined forces are to be resisted

9C406.5 8
 Classification of piles
• The piles can be classified as follows
depending upon their function

• Bearing piles
• Friction piles
• Sheet piles
• Fender piles
• Anchor piles
• Batter piles
• Compaction piles
9C406.5 9
 Bearing piles

• These piles are driven through the soft overlay soil

and their bottom is made to rest on the hard rocky
strata or bed.

• The end bearing piles act as vertical columns or

piers.

• They form a medium to transmit the load of the

structure to hard underlying stratum.

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 Friction piles

• When underlying soft soil is extending for large

depths and it is not economical;

• Or rather possible to rest the bottom end of the piles

on the hard stratum,

• The load is borne by the piles through friction

developed between the surrounding soil and surface
of the piles .. Refer fig.1

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 9C406.5 12
Fig.(1)
 Classification of piles according to
material used

• Steel piles

• Cement concrete piles

• Timber piles

• Composite piles

• Sand piles

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 Cement concrete piles

• Cement concrete Piles may be mainly

classified into two types

• Bored Cast - in - situ piles

• Precast piles driven piles

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 Cast-in-situ piles

• These are cast with cement concrete at the site location

immediately after the bore hole is drilled and

reinforcement cage is placed in position.

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 Advantages of cast-in-situ piles

• There is less wastage of materials, as the pile of desired

length is only constructed
• The stresses of handling and driving are completely
eliminated and hence no extra reinforcement is provided
• The time spent on curing is saved
• The piles are more sound and there is no danger of its
breaking as they are not subjected to hammer blows for
driving.

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 Advantages of cast-in-situ piles

• Transportation cost of piles is saved

• Light weight casing shells are used which are easier

to handle and to drive into the ground

• They can take up heavier loads by improving their

cross-sectional profile e.g., by providing pedestal or

under-reams etc

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Disadvantages of cast-in-situ piles

• It is difficult to maintain proper compaction during

construction
• It is not possible to maintain the reinforcement in correct
position during construction operation
• The dry soil absorbs water from fresh concrete and thus
does not develop full strength
• The unreinforced pile may break with small moment of
soil in lateral direction

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 Precast cement concrete piles

• These are cast at a convenient place, cured and

brought to the site and then they are driven into the

ground by hammer blows by conventional method

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 Advantages of precast concrete piles
• The reinforcement is maintained in the correct
position
• The best quality of concrete can be produced for the
casting piles with little care
• Proper curing is done, hence concrete attains its full
strength before its use
• Driving of such piles is easier in soft or wet soils.
• The driving of adjacent piles does not produce any
additional stresses in the pile
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 Advantages of precast concrete piles

• These piles can be driven under water also

• A number of piles can be cast in advance at a

convenient place and a rapid driving progress can be
ensured at the site

• Defects of casting may be examined and repaired before

driving the pile

• Precast piles have higher resistance to biological and

chemical actions of the ground
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Disadvantages of precast concrete piles

• These piles are very heavy and difficult to transport

• The shocks and vibrations make them weaker

• A weak joint is formed due to over lapping to form

additional length . On the other hand the materials is

wasted if a long pile is to be cut to size

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Disadvantages of precast concrete piles
:

• Extra reinforcement is essential to take care of

handling and driving stresses

• Progress of work at the site may get delayed due to

inadequate supply of piles at short notice

• If proper care is not taken, the piles may be damaged

during transportation and driving

9C406.5 23
 Under-reamed pile foundation

• The under-reamed pile foundations are cast-in-situ

concrete piles having one or more bulbs called under-
reams formed by enlarging the bore hole of the pile
stem
• Single under-reamed pile has only one bulb at the
bottom
• When the number of bulbs at the base is two or more,
it is called multi under-reamed piles
• Suitable for Black cotton soils and other expansive
Soils
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 Under Reamed Pile
Fig.(2)
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 Pile caps

• Piles are not usually used singly but are formed into a

group . The load is distributed over the heads of the

piles in the group by means of a reinforced cast-in-

situ concrete pile cap

9C406.5 26
Well foundation

• Well foundation is a water tight structure made of

wood, steel, or reinforced concrete construction for

• foundation of bridges, piers, abutments in river or

lake,

• dock structure like shore protection, break waters etc

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 Types of shapes of wells in plan

• Circular

• Twin circular

• Double D

• Twin hexagonal

• Twin octagonal

• Rectangular

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Factors that govern the shape of the well

• Size of the base of pier

• Cost of sinking

• Easy in construction

• Tilt and shift during sinking

• Force consideration

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 Well Foundation
Fig.(3)
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 Component parts of a well foundation

Cutting edge
• A sharp edged steel structural angle is provided at the
bottom of the well steining to cut the soil below
foundation during sinking operation. It is called cutting
edge
Curb
• It is made of reinforced cement concrete and act as an
extension of cutting edge during sinking, and also
gives the support to the well Steining and bottom plug
9C406.5 31
 Component parts of a well foundation

• Steining: It is the main body of the wall made of brick

masonry or reinforced concrete. It act as a cofferdam

during sinking and a structural member to transfer the

load after construction.

• Bottom plug: It is made of concrete and its main use is

to transfer the load from Steining to the soil below.

9C406.5 32
 Component parts of a well foundation

• Sand filling: A sand filling is provided between

bottom plug and top plug to transfer some portion of
load directly from well cap to the bottom plug

• Top plug: It is made of cement concrete and it act as

a support to the well cap

9C406.5 33
 Component parts of a well foundation

Well cap:

• The shape of the well cap is similar to the shape of

the well with 150mm projection all round.

• It transfer the loads and moments from the pier to the

substructure

9C406.5 34
 QUIZ

1. Pile is an example of a

a. Deep foundation
b. Shallow foundation
c. Raft foundation
d. Footing

9C406.5 35
2. For expansive soil the type of pile foundation
most suitable is

a. Pre cast pile

b. Bearing pile

c. Under-reamed pile

d. Timber pile

9C406.5 36
3. Pick out the advantages of pre cast concrete
piles over cast-in-situ piles

a) Less steel is required

b) Less wastage due to hammering

c) Less time for casting

d) Quantity of concrete can be controlled

9C406.5 37
 Frequently asked questions

1. Explain well foundation with help of sketch?

2. What are the situations that demand a pile

foundation?

3. Differentiate bearing piles and friction piles ?

4. What are the advantages and disadvantages of cast-

in-situ concrete piles?

5. Draw a neat sketch of under-reamed pile with twin

bulbs.
9C406.5 38