subject: Types of Piles [print this page] Types of Piles Types of Piles
A Sheet pile comprising a tapered steel tube of convex polygonal cross-section driven into the ground and then filled with concrete provides high load carrying capacity even in cohesive soils.It has been found that the piles of this invention can provide a surprisingly high load-carrying capacity even if the pile driving is stopped when the tapered body is largely embedded in cohesive soil (such as clay or cohesive silt) rather than in granular soil. At that stage the energy needed for further driving (as measured by resistance of the pile to movement under the blows of the pile-driving hammer) is relatively small but the actual load-carrying capacity, as measured by load tests, can be much higher than that expected for such a small driving energy. This discovery makes it unnecessary, for instance and in many cases, to continue driving through the cohesive soil down into an underlying layer of granular soil. Examples 1, 2 and 3 below illustrate the driving into cohesive soil. It will be understood that, after the driving described in each of these Examples, a supported structure (such as a conventional pile cap and a building supported thereon, or the base slab of a fuel tank) is placed on the pile while the tapered body is still largely embedded in the cohesive soil layer.
Steel sheet Piles are an important part of construction. There are different kinds of piles that are designed to carry the weight of the structures above them. The choice of piles can be determined by the geography in which the construction takes place or the force under which it will it will be subjected, such as being hit from the side by a ship. Piles can also be designed to displace the earth or material in which they're constructed, or to displace as little material as possible.
Pipe piles can be open or plugged at one end. When sheet piles are open, they do not displace a lot of material. When they are plugged at one end with concrete, they displace the material in which they are inserted. Open pipes are generally used in situations where not only a lot of piles are required but the piles are spaced far apart as well. These piles can be 125 feet long or more.Timber Piles are generally 8 to 12 inches in diameter as well as up to 50 feet in length. The wood is generally pressure treated so as to withstand the elements. The species of wood is often Douglas fir or southern pine.
Pre-stressed Cylinder Piles are generally hollow and made of concrete that's been pre-stressed. Pre-stressed refers to the combination of steel tenons and concrete, which allow the concrete to take up less space yet still be strong. Cylinder piles are often created to order according to the project's requirements. Because the sheet pilings are made of pre-stressed concrete, they stand up well in environments that are corrosive. Despite being hollow, these piles displace material because they are filled with concrete after being placed.
