Construction Technology &

Equipments

Unit- Construction Equipment & Management

Lecture – 06
 Pile Driving Equipments
• The process of forcing a pile into the ground
without excavation is termed as ‘Pile Driving’.
• A pile is supposed to reach a hard stratum
when it does not settle more than 10mm with
10 blows of a 30kN hammer falling through a
height of 800mm.
• The equipments used for pile driving include-
(A) Pile frames
(B) Pile Hammers
(C) Leads
(D) Winches
(E) Miscellaneous
 Pile Frames
• Pile frames also known as Pile Driving Rigs are
frames, generally made of steel, having height
varying from 10-25m.
• The pile frame is supposed to be light and
easily transportable.
• It usually consists of platforms for supporting
drivers, engines,winches,etc.
• The leader can be sloped forward and
backward using screw or hydraulic adjustment
and attachment at the base of the equipment.
• It is possible to install a series of piles, without
the need to move the equipment, through
turning around base machine and positioning
leaders.
Fixed lead pile frame
 Pile Hammers
• The function of a pile hammer is to impart
energy required to drive a pile.
• The common types of pile hammers include-
(a) Drop Hammers
(b) Single acting steam hammers
(c) Double acting steam hammers
(d) Diesel Hammers
(e) Vibratory Hammers
• Drop Hammer -
Pile hammer
Application Advantages Disadvantages
description

The height of
hammer dropping
cannot be
it is a forged steel Its application
controlled
with solid mass removes the need
properly at
ranges from 1000 to employ steam
project site, and it
to 5000Kg, and it Applied to install boiler or air
is possible to use
is fitted with test piles compressor to
substantial
lifting eye and lugs power the
dropping when
for sliding in the hammer, so it is
driving becomes
leaders economical choice
tough and hence
the pile damage is
possible
• Single Acting Steam Hammer -

Description Application Advantages Disadvantages

Consist of massive
weight ranges from
2500 to 20000Kg with
Used for placing
a cylinder shape, and
piles with
the power source
different weights Drop height and
would lift the hammer Pile fracture is
in different types frequency of each
to specified height possible is the
of soils and drop can be
then the power is cut specified hammer
suitable for pile controlled by
to drop the hammer height is exceeded
installation in operator,
and hit pile helmet.
marine
Maximum hammer
environment
height is 1.37m and no
higher 1.2m in case of
heavy pile
• Double Acting Steam Hammer -

Description Application Advantages Disadvantages

Double acting pile

hammer is It is specifically
Applied to install
powered by steam designed to impart
sheet piles and
or compressed and numerous blows at
suitable for
its mass rages from short time. 300
providing rapid It is needs
90 to 2300Kg. blows per minute
succession of maintenance and
Vulcan hammer is for lightweight
blows. It can be lubrication
an example of hammer and 100
used to demolish
double acting blow/ minute for
rocks for extracting
hammer. The pile is heavyweight
piles
guided by timber hammer
frame.
• Diesel Pile Hammer -

Description Application Advantages Disadvantages

It is powered through
self-ignition of
compressed fuel and
air mixture. There are
It might damage
various types of such
It is economical and precast concrete
hammer with different
self-contained. It pile when strong
weights ranges from It properly drives
provides sustained layer come up while
4500 to 15000Kg. pile in soft soil
blow which more driving through soft
Lastly, it is condition
efficient that ground It is not
considerably reliable
ordinary blows suitable for all
type of hammer and
ground condition.
different pile types
such as sheet pile,
batter pile, and
H-beams.
• Vibratory Hammers –
If the vibration of a pile is carried out, it will
result in the sinking of a pile especially
through cohesionless soils.
The vibratory hammers are used to develop
vibrations in the pile. The vibration may be
used in combination with other techniques
such as jetting, placing of weights ,etc.
The frequency and amplitude of these
hammers is properly adjusted in relation to
the pile material.
 Leads / Hanging Leaders
• Hanging leaders are specifically designed to be
hanged from the jib of a crane. A steel strut, which its
length can be varied as per requirements of
construction site, provides a stiff connection from the
leader foot to the machine bed frame.
• It is substantially crucial to practice utmost
precaution to hanging leader stiffness particularly in
the case of long sloped pile driving since intolerable
deformation would lead to eccentric hammer blow
and possibly cause pile fracture.
 Winches
• The prime goal of piling winches is to lift the
hammer and piles in addition to support tools
that are responsible for leader raking and
rotation.
• It functions with pile frames and different
powering sources such as hydraulic power,
stream; diesel; or petrol engines, and
occasionally electric motors could be applied
for powering winches.
 Miscellaneous
• Helmet,
• Driving Cap,
• Dolly cum Packing
• Helmet is a cast steel that placed over the pile
to hold the dolly that placed between the pile
and the hammer to avoid pile head
deterioration that may cause by pile driving
hammer.
• Dolly, which is square at the bottom and
round at the top, is placed in a square recess
at the top of the helmet.
• Regarding driving cap, it is provided as a
protection for steel bearing piles. It is
necessary to place the driving cap tightly
otherwise the pile cap would suffer
deterioration. That is why it is fitted with a
recess for hardwood or plastic dolly and with
steel wedges to fix the cap tightly on its
position.