Pile Driving Pile Driving EquipmentEquipment

2011 PDCA Professor Pile Institute

Patrick Hannigan

GRL Engineers, Inc.

Pile Driving System Pile Driving System ComponentsComponents

PrimaryPrimaryComponents:Components:

CraneCraneLeadsLeadsHammerHammerHelmetHelmetCushionsCushionsPile GatePile Gate

Components Components Required inRequired inSpecial Cases:Special Cases:

TemplateTemplateFollowerFollowerJetting EquipmentJetting EquipmentDrilling EquipmentDrilling EquipmentSpudding EquipmentSpudding Equipment

Pile

Hammer

Lead

Helmet

Boom

CraneSpotter

Pile Gate

Pile Driving Pile Driving SystemSystem

Monkey

Boom

Crane

Pile

Hammer

Lead

Helmet

Pile GateStabbing Points

Swinging LeadSwinging Lead

American or Box LeadAmerican or Box Lead

Hammer

Lead Platform

Swinging LeadSwinging Lead

European or Truss LeadEuropean or Truss Lead

Hammer

Lead

Swinging LeadSwinging Lead

Pile

Hammer

Lead

Helmet

Boom

Crane

Spotter

Pile Gate

Fixed LeadFixed Lead

Boom

Crane

Pile

Hammer

Lead

Helmet

Template Barge

Guide

Offshore LeadOffshore Lead

TemplatesTemplates

Prefabricated or site constructed steel frame Prefabricated or site constructed steel frame

into which piles are set to hold piles in the into which piles are set to hold piles in the

proper position & alignment during driving.proper position & alignment during driving.

Typically used when offshore leads or Typically used when offshore leads or

swinging leads are used over water.swinging leads are used over water.

Hammer Hammer TypesTypes

DropDrop

AirAir

DieselDiesel

HydraulicHydraulic

Double actingDouble acting

Single actingSingle acting

Differential actingDifferential acting

Double acting (closed end)Double acting (closed end)

Single acting (open end)Single acting (open end)

Double actingDouble acting

Single actingSingle acting

Most CommonMost Common

Drop Drop HammersHammers

FeaturesFeatures

CommentsComments

• Low equipment cost

• Simple

• Slow operation

• Inconsistent stroke

Ram raised by crane line

Efficiency of drop controlled by operator and system

Single Acting Single Acting Air HammersAir Hammers

FeaturesFeatures

CommentsComments

Air pressure, volume, and soil

resistance can influence actual stroke

by as much as 3 to 6 inches

External compressor supplies power

Stroke controlled by 1 or 2 slide bar

setting: 3 ft, 3 or 5 ft, 2 or 4 ft

Relatively heavy ram, short stroke

HelmetHelmet

RamRam

PistonPiston

Single-Acting Air/SteamSingle-Acting Air/SteamHammer OperationHammer Operation

PilePile

Double Acting Air HammerDouble Acting Air Hammer Differential Acting Air Differential Acting Air HammerHammer

FeaturesFeatures

CommentsComments

Stroke depends on:• fuel input• pile stiffness• soil resistance

Variable fuel settings

Potential energy = Wh

Single Acting Diesel HammersSingle Acting Diesel Hammers

Most common hammer type

Relatively light ram, long stroke

Single Acting Diesel Hammer OperationSingle Acting Diesel Hammer Operation

a) Trippinga) Tripping b) Fuel b) Fuel InjectionInjection

c) Compression c) Compression - Impact- Impact

Single Acting Diesel Hammer OperationSingle Acting Diesel Hammer Operation

d) Explosiond) Explosion e) Exhauste) Exhaust f) Scavengingf) Scavenging

Controlling fuel quantity can help adjust stroke height.Controlling fuel quantity can help adjust stroke height.

Fuel Input ControlFuel Input ControlContinuously variableContinuously variable Fixed settingsFixed settings

Ram - strokeRam - stroke

H [ft] = 4.01 (60 / BPM)H [ft] = 4.01 (60 / BPM)22 – 0.3 – 0.3

Double Acting Double Acting

Diesel Diesel

FeaturesFeatures

CommentsComments

Most models have energy readout

External hydraulic power source

Hydraulic HammersHydraulic Hammers

Increasing in usage

Relatively heavy ram, short stroke

Variable and controllable stroke

Some models work underwater

Single ActingSingle Acting Double ActingDouble Acting

Hydraulic Hydraulic

Hammer Hammer

SchematiSchemati

cscs

Observe strokeObserve stroke

Hydraulic HammersHydraulic Hammers

Most hydraulic Most hydraulic

hammers have hammers have

built-in monitorsbuilt-in monitors

Most hydraulic Most hydraulic

hammers have hammers have

built-in monitorsbuilt-in monitors

Hydraulic Hydraulic

hammer hammer

designed for designed for

low headroom low headroom

operationoperation

HelmetsHelmets

• Configuration and size depends upon the Configuration and size depends upon the lead type, hammer type & size, as well as lead type, hammer type & size, as well as the pile typethe pile type

• Helmets should fit loosely, approximately Helmets should fit loosely, approximately 2 to 5 mm (0.1 to 0.2 inches) larger than 2 to 5 mm (0.1 to 0.2 inches) larger than pile diameterpile diameter

Striker Plate

Adapter

Helmet

Pile Cushion (concrete pile)

Hammer Cushion

Box Lead Guideway

Helmet ComponentsHelmet Components

One Piece Pipe Pile One Piece Pipe Pile HelmetHelmet

Hammer CushionsHammer Cushions

Materials placed between the pile hammer

ram and the helmet to relieve impact

shock and thereby protect the hammer

while at the same time transmit consistent

energy to the pile

Conbest (Phenolic fiber) Conbest (Phenolic fiber) and aluminum platesand aluminum plates

Conbest (Phenolic fiber) Conbest (Phenolic fiber) and aluminum platesand aluminum plates

Aluminum and MicartaAluminum and MicartaAluminum and MicartaAluminum and MicartaBlue NylonBlue NylonBlue NylonBlue Nylon

Hammer Hammer CushionsCushions

H-pile Helmet and H-pile Helmet and Hammer Cushion Hammer Cushion

SectionSection

Pile CushionsPile Cushions

• Concrete piles require a pile cushion between the Concrete piles require a pile cushion between the helmet and the pile leadhelmet and the pile lead

• Typically made of plywood, hardwood, plywood & Typically made of plywood, hardwood, plywood & hardwood composites, or other man-made hardwood composites, or other man-made materialsmaterials

• Typical thickness 4 inches (min) to 12 inches or Typical thickness 4 inches (min) to 12 inches or moremore

Can stop driving Can stop driving

and replace pile and replace pile

cushion if need to if need to

continue drivingcontinue driving

Can stop driving Can stop driving

and replace pile and replace pile

cushion if need to if need to

continue drivingcontinue driving

Pile Pile Cushions Cushions

Pile Pile Cushions Cushions

Pile cushion Pile cushion

deteriorating after deteriorating after

2,000 blows2,000 blows

Pile cushion Pile cushion

deteriorating after deteriorating after

2,000 blows2,000 blows

New = 8 inchesNew = 8 inches

Pile Pile Cushions Cushions

Pile Pile Cushions Cushions

1400 blows later1400 blows later

= 5.5 inches= 5.5 inches

Pile cushion Pile cushion thickness changes thickness changes during drivingduring driving

Pile Hammer SelectionPile Hammer Selection

• Important for the Contractor & Engineer to Important for the Contractor & Engineer to establish establish optimumoptimum hammer size for a job hammer size for a job

• Too small a hammer may not be able to drive Too small a hammer may not be able to drive the pile to the required capacitythe pile to the required capacity

• Too large a hammer may damage the pileToo large a hammer may damage the pile

• Best tool for hammer selection is a wave Best tool for hammer selection is a wave equation analysis.equation analysis.

Installation AidsInstallation Aids

FollowersFollowers

JettingJetting

PredrillingPredrilling

SpuddingSpudding

Used to save pile lengthUsed to save pile length

Used to penetrate dense granular layersUsed to penetrate dense granular layers

Used in cohesive soils / embankmentsUsed in cohesive soils / embankments

Used in debris fillsUsed in debris fills

FollowersFollowers

• Is a member interposed between a pile hammer Is a member interposed between a pile hammer

and a pile to transmit blows when the pile head is and a pile to transmit blows when the pile head is

below the reach of the hammerbelow the reach of the hammer

• Use of a follower is accompanied by a loss of Use of a follower is accompanied by a loss of

energy delivered to the pile due to compression energy delivered to the pile due to compression

of the follower & losses in connectionof the follower & losses in connection

JettingJetting

• The use of a water or air jet to facilitate The use of a water or air jet to facilitate pile driving by displacing parts of the soilpile driving by displacing parts of the soil

• Jetting is useful in driving piles through Jetting is useful in driving piles through very dense granular materialvery dense granular material

Internal Internal Pile Pile

CleanoutCleanout

PredrillingPredrilling

• Soil augers or drills used where jetting is Soil augers or drills used where jetting is inappropriate / ineffective toinappropriate / ineffective to

- Penetrate obstructions, boulders, debris fills- Penetrate obstructions, boulders, debris fills

- Facilitate pile placement through embankments- Facilitate pile placement through embankments

- Reduce ground movements- Reduce ground movements

• Predrilled hole diameter 4 inches less than Predrilled hole diameter 4 inches less than diagonal of square pile, or 1 inch less than diagonal of square pile, or 1 inch less than diameter of round pilediameter of round pile

SpuddingSpudding

• The act of opening a hole through dense The act of opening a hole through dense material by driving or dropping a short & material by driving or dropping a short & strong member & then removing itstrong member & then removing it

• Used as an alternate to jetting or Used as an alternate to jetting or predrilling in upper soil consisting of predrilling in upper soil consisting of miscellaneous fillmiscellaneous fill

Any QuestionsAny Questions