Construction engineers use piling to secure the foundations of a construction site before building infrastructure on top. As a crucial step in the construction process, contractors use it to ensure the safety and reliability of a project by enhancing the safety and efficiency of the process. The process of piling can be regarded as a technical skill that requires a level of confidence as well as a collaborative team dynamic. In spite of this, it is not very easy to choose the right types of the pile. If you are looking for more information on how to choose the right piles for foundation, you have come to the right place.
Here, we are going to discuss some of the key factors to consider when choosing the right piles for foundation. Let’s start with me and continue until the end.
Why Uses Pile For Foundation?
Generally, the right piles for foundation are used to transfer loads from superstructures to stronger, more compact, less compressible, and stiffer soil or rock at depth, allowing the foundation to be larger and more resistant to horizontal loads at depth. They are typically used for large structures, as well as in situations where the soil is not suitable to prevent excessive settlement.
It is very important to design pile foundations carefully since they carry a lot of weight. It is the responsibility of a good engineer to determine the soil’s bearing capacity before piles are placed in it.
Each pile has an influence zone on the soil surrounding it. It is important to space piles far enough apart so that loads are not concentrated in a few places, but are evenly distributed over the entire bulb of soil.
Function Of Right Piles For Foundation
Right piles for foundations serve one of the main functions of a building, which is to transfer load from the surface to the deeper strata of soil or rock. Different reasons can lead designers to decide to transfer loads to deeper soil or rock strata depending on the circumstances.
The following is an example of this:
- In shallow depths, the soil is weak, i.e., it can’t withstand the load of the superstructure due to its weakness
- At shallow depths, the soil strata are very compressible, making structures more likely to settle. There is a greater risk of cracks in structures when there is more settlement.
- A water body (like a river, or sea) cannot be built on a shallow foundation.
- Some structures are designed to handle uplift loads. A tall building that is subject to wind and wave forces, for example.
- Due to shipping impact and waves, marine structures are subject to lateral loads
- Also, structures may be subject to both vertical and horizontal loads. For example, the foundation of retaining walls, bridge piers, and abutments, as well as the foundation of machinery.
How To Choose The Right Piles For Foundation?
With all the above points in mind, there are different types of pile foundations that can be used to meet the needs of different types of construction. Designers must consider all options in terms of the execution, cost, and feasibility of a design in order to make an informed choice.
As we know, pile foundations are suitable for large structures, and in situations where the soil is not suitable to prevent excessive settlement. Pile foundations are suitable for which soil we need to consider this.
The following is a list of the types of right piles for foundation that are available for various applications with different soil types and structural requirements:
- Steel H pile
- Steel pipe pile
- Precast concrete piles
- Mandrel driven piles
- Cast-in-place concrete piles
- Timber piles
The Pile Type Selection Process
There should be a comprehensive evaluation of each of the identified foundation alternatives for suitability for the intended application as well as their cost. When evaluating piles, it is important to take into account the following factors:
- Capacity,,
- Availability,,
- Constructability,, and
- Performance expectations of various types of piles.
There are a number of criteria that should be considered before evaluating alternatives other than piles.
Therefore, further studies will be limited to those alternatives for foundations that are reasonably feasible to implement.
There may also be a possibility that, during this initial evaluation, it is possible to eliminate obvious high-cost alternatives from consideration during this stage.
How To Select The Right Types Of Pile Foundation?
1. Adequate Depth
It is essential that the foundation is deep enough to prevent frost damage from occurring. When constructing a foundation for a bridge pier, the depth of the foundation must be sufficient to prevent the scouring of the foundation from causing it to be undermined.
2. Bearing Capacity Failure
In order for the foundation to be safe, it must be capable of bearing a failure of its bearing capacity.
3. Settlement
It is important that the foundation is not allowed to settle to such an extent that it damages the structure.
4. Quality
It is essential that the foundation is of adequate quality so that it does not deteriorate over time, as can be the case with a sulfate attack.
5. Adequate Strength
There must be sufficient strength in the foundation to withstand the loads applied by the superstructure in order for it not to fracture or break apart under the applied loads. Also, the foundation must be built in accordance with the design specifications in order to be properly constructed.
6. Adverse Soil Changes
A foundation must be able to withstand long-term adverse soil changes over the life of the building. For instance, expansive soil can expand and shrink, causing the foundation to move and the structure to be damaged. This is due to both expansion and contraction of the soil.
7. Seismic Forces
As a result, the foundation of the building must be capable of supporting the structure during an earthquake without causing excessive settlement or lateral movement.
In order to gain a deeper understanding of the table, let’s look at it.
| Types of Pile | Suitable Conditions | Unsuitable Condition |
| Timber Pile | Suitable for temporary works or when there is only a small load to be carried. | It is not suitable for use when there is a high load. The timber may decay if the water level fluctuates, and it is not suitable for heavy-driven operations because unseen splitting may occur when the water level fluctuates. |
| Concrete Pile | Adding reinforcement to the pile makes it capable of withstanding driven forces. However, it takes time after casting for the pile to gain strength, resulting in a gap between casting and driving. It may also suffer unseen damage because of driven forces. | It can withstand all loads and corrosive soils. |
| Steel Pile | Due to its versatility, it is suitable for all loading conditions, it is not damaged by driven forces, and it can be extended and cut down. By welding on additional length, it is possible to use a considerable amount of long driven pile. | Above soil level, it is susceptible to corrosion, and therefore needs protection, and long piles may fall off during driving. |
| Withdrawable Tube Driven and Cast in Place Pile | In comparison with the other type, it is cheaper. | Using it in water-bearing sand and squeezed soil is not a good option. |
| Un-withdrawable Tube Driven and Cast in Place Pile | This method is suitable for squeezing sand and soil that bears water, and for driving piles after ground movement. | In comparison with other types of piles, this one is more expensive. |
Consideration Before Selecting Right Piles For Foundation
1. Load Capacity And Pile Spacing
One of the most important factors to consider is the pile’s load-bearing capacity. When it comes to determining the capacity of a pile foundation, it is important to consider both the spacing between the piles along with the capacity of each pile in isolation. Furthermore, the lateral load resistance of the piles may also be an important factor since lateral loads can cause piles to undergo high bending stresses as a result.
2. Constructability
It is essential to consider how anticipated subsurface and surface effects will affect the construction process. As a result, piles that are vulnerable to damage during hard driving are less likely to penetrate areas of gravel and boulders as well as hard strata.
There is a possibility that soil disturbance or the transmission of driving vibration may cause damage to adjacent piles or structures during construction. In order to avoid interference with other structural components during driving, the spacing between piles and batters must be selected carefully.
Constructability can also be affected by how easy it is to cut or splice a pile.
3. Performance
A pile foundation is designed to perform for the life of a structure in accordance with its design specifications. An important aspect of pile performance is that of structural displacements, which can have just as serious an impact on a structure as a pile failure itself in the long run.
In the case of falling piles, the load capacity of those piles should not be reduced over time due to the deterioration of the pile material.
4. Availability
A pile must be available in the lengths required for the project, or else it will have to be spliced or cut off. It is important to consider the lead time when scheduling a project because some piles may take up to 6 months to arrive from the time they are ordered.
5. Cost
Once a pile type has met all other criteria, a major consideration becomes the relative cost of the pile type. When comparing pile types, it may be appropriate to compare the pile costs per load capacity as a means of making comparisons between them.
Compared with unit capacity costs, it is possible to foresee that certain types of piles would be excluded from the comparison. During the cost evaluation, it is important that all expenses related to and dependent on the pile foundation are included. Additional expenses for storage or splicing may be included in such costs.
There are a number of pressure-relief systems which are used to reduce uplift pressures and thus control pile loads by reducing this pressure. Additionally, any modifications that are required to the structure in order to accommodate the piles should also be included in the comparative cost estimate.
As an example, an increase in the thickness of the base slab may be required as a means of providing additional embedment for the tops of the piles.
Final Selection Of Pile Type
In order to make a final evaluation and selection, it should primarily be based on the relative costs of the remaining alternatives. The cost of structural or site modifications that are required to accommodate the foundation type should be included in this evaluation.
As part of the selection process, the cost may be one of the most important factors.
The delivery or installation schedules, the reliability of the performance, as well as any potential construction complications, may need to be considered.
If a pile foundation is to be compared with another type of foundation, it will be necessary to develop a preliminary layout of the piles so that a reasonable estimate of the number of piles can be made.
Final Thoughts
In the end, you will learn how to choose the right piles for your foundation. There is a great deal of importance in selecting the right piles for foundation for a high-rise building. Please feel free to contact us if you would like to learn more about the right piles for foundations for houses or any other type of construction.
We provide a wide range of foundation services for residential and commercial clients, including piling installation, pier and beam foundations, and helical foundations. Please do not hesitate to contact us as soon as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I choose the right piles for foundation?
In order to select a pile foundation, there are a number of factors to consider. Such as:
- Soil conditions.
- Loads from structures.
- Nature of the load.
- The number of piles to be used.
- Cost of construction.
What type of soil pile foundation is best for a building?
In general, clay and silt-rich soils are the most common types of soils that require piling as they are fine-grained soils that are prone to erosion.