CHAPTER 3: PILE

CONSTRUCTION

Ayalneh Wondimu, B.A.Sc.,

M.Eng. (Geotech)
Oct. 02 – 13, 2017
Presentation outline:

• 3 Pile Construction
– 3.1 General Introduction
– 3.2 Uses of Piles
– 3.3 Construction Method of Bored Cast-in-situ Bored Piles

• 3.3.1 Setting up at the pile location

• 3.3.2 Excavation and drilling with short temporary casing
• 3.3.3 Reinforcement Cage Installation
• 3.3.4 Concreting
Presentation outline:

• 3 Pile Construction (cont…)

– 3.4 Material Specifications
• 3.4.1 Concrete
• 3.4.2 Reinforcement Steel
– 3.5 Quality Control and Assurance
• 3.5.1 Compliance Specifications and Tests
• 3.5.2 Piling Reports
3 Pile Construction

• 3.1 General Introduction

– Several methods of pile installation are currently available

– site ground conditions dictate our piling methodology
– Some types of piles require that soil types be specific
– depth limitation and selective soil formation drastically
reduce the applicability of some methods of piling
3 Pile Construction

• 3.2 Uses of Piles

– application of piles can be as the main foundation system

– supports civil superstructure – bridges, large buildings,
wind farms, jetties
– transfer the loads from superstructures, through weak,
compressible strata or water onto stronger, more
compact, less compressible and stiffer soil or rock at
depth.
– piles can be used as part of a retaining wall system
• Soldier Pile wall (with shot-crete membrane) – No GW
• Secant Pile wall (GW present)
3 Pile Construction
• 3.3 Construction Method of Bored Cast-in-situ Bored Piles

The working sequence for the construction of cast-in-situ bored piles

with short temporary casing comprises the following key steps:
1. Setting up the pile location 4. Concreting
2. Excavation of the pile bore hole 5. Removal of temporary casing
3. Reinforcement installation
3 Pile Construction
• 3.3 Construction Method of Bored Cast-in-situ
Bored Piles (cont..)
3.3.1. Setting up the pile location

• site should be leveled and compacted (heavy machine – 50 tons)

• Pile points set out by qualified surveyor according to pile
coordinates
• pile center points will be marked by driving steel pins to the
ground
• clear marking of the pile number and location
• protective shield will be placed on the markings (points should be
rechecked if left unattended over some hours)
3 Pile Construction
• 3.3 Construction Method of Bored Cast-in-situ
Bored Piles (cont..)
3.3.1. Setting up the pile location (cont..)

• Positioning - Set up of the rig at the pile location so that the pile
point aligns with the appropriate tool center
• Using a short temporary casing can simplify the pile setting up
• two perpendicular reference offsets are measured and steel pins
driven to the ground (offsets – 1m plus half fcasing
• Casing is then positioned by measuring from the offsets to the
wall of the casing in two perpendicular directions
• checking the verticality of the casing with spirit levels, the casing
is pushed (or rotated) into the ground.
3 Pile Construction
• 3.3 Construction Method of Bored Cast-in-situ
Bored Piles (cont..)
3.3.2. Drilling of Borehole

• casing itself can be single or a double wall connectable type

• In unstable soil, the use of drilling mud can be considered if water
overpressure also fails – additional casing must be used
• telescopic lockable Kelly bar will be employed to advance the
borehole
• end bearing piles, the last portion of the drilling will require a
special rock coring tools
• pile will be cleaned by a bucket from loose material
3 Pile Construction
• 3.3 Construction Method of Bored Cast-in-situ
Bored Piles (cont..)
3.3.3. Reinforcement Cage Installation

• reference site datum level will be given to ensure the correct

positioning of the cage with respect to cut off level
• reinforcement cage itself will consist of longitudinal steel bars
fixed to helical sections
• reinforcement cage will be lowered into the borehole after the
approval of the Engineer
• central location of the cage and the minimum concrete cover will
be ensured by concrete spacers
3 Pile Construction
• 3.3 Construction Method of Bored Cast-in-situ
Bored Piles (cont..)
3.3.4. Concreting

• concrete is delivered to the site ready mixed

• Each delivery should have a ticket indicating the Class of Concrete,
project details, mix proportions, start of batching and any other
relevant data
• concrete shall be poured from the mobile mixer into the pile
borehole by using the tremie
• tremie pipe is made up of sections with sufficient length to reach
the toe of the pile and the joints provided with seals
• workability a high slump (170 - 220 mm) concrete will be used
3 Pile Construction
• 3.3 Construction Method of Bored Cast-in-situ
Bored Piles (cont..)
3.3.4. Concreting (cont…)

• tremie pipe can be cut minimum 2.0 m in fresh concrete

• During concreting the level of the concrete within the pile will be
monitored by use of an end weight tape measure.
• concrete will be to the working level or minimum 1.0 m above
cut-off level
• After concreting, the starter casing will be withdrawn by the piling
rig
3 Pile Construction
• 3.4 Material Specifications
3.4.1 Concrete

• Piling concrete – special highly workable concrete with high slump

in the order of 170 – 220mm
• Batched concrete (by weight) is best –
– Consistency
– Proper mixing
– No foreign material inclusions
3 Pile Construction
• 3.4 Material Specifications
3.4.1 Concrete (cont…)

• Starting point –
– Testing aggregates – if meet requirement
– Visual test – flaky not acceptable – reduce workability
– Mix design – after aggregates pass
– Trial mix – check workability and sample for cubes – strength
test
• Additives essential for piling concrete
3 Pile Construction
• 3.4 Material Specifications
3.4.1 Concrete (cont…)

• Typical Specification:
– 28 day cube strength Class C-25
– max. free water / cement ratio 0,45 - 0,50
– workability by slump test 170 - 220 mm
– min. cement content 360 - 400 kg/m3 (sulfate resistant if
necessary )
– max. aggregate size 25 mm
3 Pile Construction
• 3.4 Material Specifications
3.4.1 Reinforcement Steel

• Conform to design and specification

• Nominal diameter and yield strength should be checked
• Grade 60 for Longitudinal and Grade 40 spiral
• All reinforcement should be deformed –
• Minimum cover – 50mm (75 mm in aggressive soil or offshore)
3 Pile Construction
• 3.4 Material Specifications
3.4.1 Reinforcement Steel (cont…)
• Detailing:
– Stiffener rings – for rigidity
– Shear reinforcement – spiral
– Concrete spacers – donut shaped
– (for easy installation)
3 Pile Construction
• 3.5 Quality Control and Assurance
– A detailed work methodology for every task
• Piling
• Shoring - anchor, shot-crete, excavation
– clearly identify all the critical check points in terms of
compliance and quality

– devise appropriate internal procedures to ensure

compliance – adviseble to have independent QA/QC that
reports to Technical Manager

– for the sake of safety and own reputation

3 Pile Construction
• 3.5 Quality Control and Assurance (cont…)
3.5.1 Compliance specification and Tests
– Meeting design requirements
» Acceptable settlement at deign working load - piles

– In construction
» Setting out – deviation within tolerance
» Verticality – plumb
» Adequate sampling and testing of steel (new
delivery)
» Regular checks of workability (every truck)
» Cube sampling (~ depends on job size)
3 Pile Construction
• 3.5 Quality Control and Assurance (cont…)
3.5.2 Piling Reports

– all steps of the pile installation process should be carefully

recorded
» Drilling activity
» Reinforcement cage detail
» Concreting detail (indicating cubes taken, slump, etc)
3 Pile Construction
• 3.5 Quality Control and Assurance (cont…)
3.5.2 Piling Reports (cont…)

– Pile RECORDS – minimum data:

» Pile name, coordinates, RIG USED
» LEVELS – ground, cut-off, casing top, steel top
» Drilling – start-finish, log of soil, water-table type of tool
» Rebar – diameter, nos, lengths,
» Concrete – start-finish time, truck ticket and volume, slump,
cube (if)
Chapter 3 : Pile Construction

Thank You

END OF LESSON