Section 9

Driven Piles
9.1 ODOT Video, Part 7/12: Pile Foundations

Condensed Driven Pile Foundation Inspection

Course; Modified From NHI

Pile Driving Equipment

Hammer Approval Letter

23

Construction Documents

25

Pile Record Book

26

Driven Piles

Section 9.1

Bridge Construction Inspector Training

Inspector Quality Assurance Program

View ODOT Video, Part 7/12

Pile Foundations

ODOT Bridge Engineering Section

Driven Pile Foundation

Inspection Course

Federal Highway
Administration

National Highway
Institute

Modified From NHI Course 132069

January 2012

Driven Piles

Section 9.1

Bridge Construction Inspector Training

Inspector Quality Assurance Program

Contents
1.
1
2.
3.
4.
5.
6
6.
7.
8.
9.

Basic
B
i Pil
Pile D
Design
i &C
Construction
t ti F
Fundamentals
d
t l
Pile Driving Equipment
Pile Types
Subsurface Information
Methods for Determining Pile Bearing Capacity
Construction Documents
Pile Inspection
Pay Items
Safety

What Is a Driven Pile?

AD
Driven
i
Pil
Pile iis a d
deep
foundation that is
constructed by driving a
concrete, steel or timber
pile to support the
anticipated loads in
competent subsurface
material.

January 2012

Driven Piles

Section 9.1

End Bearing and Friction Piles

FRICTION
LOAD

END BEARING
LOAD

SANDS

L
O
A
D

SOFT
CLAYS

ROCK

SANDS
SANDS

L
L
O
O
A
A
D
D CLAYS
CLAYS

SAND

Q
u

z1

RS1

z2

RS2

Layer 2

z3

RS3

Layer 3

z4

RS4

Layer 4

Layer 1

Qu = RSN + RT

RT

January 2012

Driven Piles

Section 9.1

Displacement or Low-Displacement?

Displacement piles are piles that

actually displace the material they are
driven into.

Low (Non) Displacement piles are

piles that displace very little of the
material they are driven into.

Bridge Construction Inspector Training

Inspector Quality Assurance Program

Rebound
The
Th upward
d movementt off a pile
il d
during
i d
driving
i i
High displacement piles increase potential for rebound
Highly plastic and expansive clayey soils present
increased potential for rebound

January 2012

Driven Piles

Section 9.1

Bridge Construction Inspector Training

Inspector Quality Assurance Program

Pile Strength Vs. Time

Strength
St
th Gain
G i (pile
( il setup
t or freeze)
f
)
Piles can gain strength over time after they are driven in
certain cohesive soils like stiff clays and clayey silts. This
is due to the slow dissipation of excess pore water
pressure that is created during pile driving.
Strength Lose
Piles can lose strength after driving in certain soils like
very dense sands and gravels due to relaxation of the
soil. Relaxation has to do with a change in soil structure
after driving. The Geotechnical Engineer will determine if
this effect applies at a given site.

Bridge Construction Inspector Training

Inspector Quality Assurance Program

Pile Driving Equipment

Crane
C
Hammer
Cushions
Leads
Template
Special Tools

January 2012

Driven Piles

Section 9.1

Bridge Construction Inspector Training

Inspector Quality Assurance Program

Crane

JIB GANTRY
JIB

JIB LINES

BOOM LINE
(PENNENTS)
MAIN LINE
BOOM STOPPERS

BOOM

WHIP LINE

YOKE
SPLICE

TOPPING LIFT
BOOMGANTRY
CAB
COUNTER
WEIGHT

TURN TABLE
OUTRIGGER
PADS
RADIUS

HEADACHE
BALL
MAIN LOAD
BLOCK

Bridge Construction Inspector Training

Inspector Quality Assurance Program

Hammers
Drop
(Gravity Hammers)

Air/Steam
Single
Acting

Double
Acting

Vibratory

Diesel
Single
Acting

Double
Acting

Hydraulic
Single
Acting

Double
Acting

Differential
Acting

January 2012

Driven Piles

Section 9.1

Open End Diesel Hammers

Single-Acting
Advantages
Very simple
No additional support equipment
required
Lightest net weight per ft.-lb. of
energy
Readily available (common)
Disadvantages
Delivered energy variable
Less efficient energy transfer
Produces higher pile stresses
Dirty exhaust spray and smoke
Difficult to spot operation problems

Vibratory Hammer

Generally
G
ll used
d ffor d
driving
i i
and extracting sheet piles,
low-displacement H-piles,
and pipe piles.
Not impact hammers.

January 2012

Driven Piles

Section 9.1

Hammer Cushions

Hammer
Ram & Anvil
Striker Plate
Hammer Cushion
(Cap Block)
Helmet
Pile Cushion

Used on all impact

hammers except gravity
(drop) hammers
Must be made of
durable manufactured
(man-made) materials
Wood, wire rope and
asbestos not allowed
Striker plate must be
used

Concrete Pile

Hammer Cushions (continued)

Hammer
Ram & Anvil
Striker Plate
Hammer Cushion
(Cap Block)
Helmet

Inspected when
beginning driving
Inspected every 100
hours of driving
Replaced when there is
a reduction of thickness
exceeding 25% of
original thickness

Pile Cushion
Concrete Pile

January 2012

Driven Piles

Section 9.1

Hammer Cushions (continued)

Helmet (Cap Block)

Hammer
Ram & Anvil
Striker Plate
Hammer Cushion
(Cap Block)
Helmet

Guided by leads, not

free-swinging
free
swinging
Must maintain proper
alignment of hammer
and pile
Minimum 1 inch larger
than pile

Pile Cushion
Concrete Pile

January 2012

Driven Piles

Section 9.1

Helmet (continued)

Pile Cushion

Hammer
Ram & Anvil
Striker Plate
Hammer Cushion
(Cap Block)

Minimum original
thickness not less
than 4 inches

Pile Cushion

Replaced if
compressed to more
than one-half original
thickness

Concrete Pile

Replaced if starts to
burn

Helmet

January 2012

Used with concrete

piles

10

Driven Piles

Section 9.1

Pile Cushion (continued)

Pile Driving System Components Leads

Crane
Hammer
Cushions

Leads
Template
Special Tools

January 2012

11

Driven Piles

Section 9.1

Fixed Lead System

Higher cost
M
Maximum
i
controll
of pile alignment

HAMMER
BOOM

LEAD

BRACE

Fixed at top
and bottom

CRANE

PILE

Semi-fixed Lead System

Low cost
Simple, mobile

HAMMER
BOOM

Some control of
pile alignment
LEAD

Fixed either
at top or
bottom but
allowing vertical
movement

January 2012

PILE

CRANE

12

Driven Piles

Section 9.1

Swinging Lead System

Low cost

CABLE

Simple,
Simple mobile
Less control of
pile alignment

HAMMER

BOOM

Must be approved
by the Engineer
LEAD

Not fixed at top

or bottom

CRANE

PILE

Templates
R
Required
i d ffor
offshore leads.
Maintains the pile
and hammer in the
correct location and
p
position.

January 2012

13

Driven Piles

Section 9.1

Templates (continued)
As-built C
L

C
L Plan

15

Pile in
incorrect
position

C
L Plan
Template Elev. is 5 ft.
above Pile Cut-off Elev.

Pile Cut-off Elev.

Pile in
correct
position

Special Tools
Jets
Drills (Preboring)
Punches
Followers

January 2012

14

Driven Piles

Section 9.1

Jets
Permitted when in the
plans
l
or approved
db
by
the Engineer in writing.
Jetting plant must
provide pressure equal
to 100 psi at two inch
jet nozzles.
Jets must be removed
for the final 5 feet of pile
penetration.

Preboring

Used only when specified or

with approval of the Engineer

January 2012

15

Driven Piles

Section 9.1

Punches

Aids for advancing pre-drilled

holes through hard materials

P
Punch
h

Combination Jet/Punch

Followers

G
Generally
ll used
d ffor water
t
projects.
Only when authorized in writing
by Engineer or in contract
documents.
Th
The first
fi t pile
il iin each
hb
bentt and
d
every tenth pile thereafter must
be driven without a follower.

January 2012

16

Driven Piles

Section 9.1

Bridge Construction Inspector Training

Inspector Quality Assurance Program

Pile Types

Steell Pi
St
Pipe Pil
Piles
Steel H-Piles
Concrete Piles
Timber Piles
Cylinder Concrete Piles
Composite Piles
Steel Sheet Piles

Steel Pipe Piles

M
Mostt commonly
l
used in ODOT
Driven either open or
closed end
Can be filled with
concrete
t

January 2012

17

Driven Piles

Section 9.1

Steel H-Piles
End Bearing Piles
LowL
Di l
Displacement
t
High Bearing

Timber Piles

Low
L
b
bearing
i piles
il
High-displacement
Used typically for
temporary
structures

January 2012

18

Driven Piles

Section 9.1

Sheet Piles
Utili
Utilized
d mostly
tl ffor
temporary retaining
systems, such as shoring,
cofferdams and bulkheads
Driven using either impact
or vibratoryy hammers

Pile Tip Attachments

Steel H-Pile

See Section 02520.10 (e)

Reinforced Pile Tips

January 2012

19

Driven Piles

Section 9.1

Pile Tip Attachments

Steel Pipe Pile
See Section 02520.10 (e) Reinforced Pile Tips

Typical Pipe Pile End Plate

Fillet
Weld

Flat End Plate

January 2012

20

Driven Piles

Section 9.1

Bridge Construction Inspector Training

Inspector Quality Assurance Program

Subsurface Information
S b f
Subsurface
i f
information
ti available
il bl to
t th
the Contractor:
C t t
Foundation Reports
Foundation Data Sheets
Drill Logs
Groundwater Conditions
Soil & Rock Unit Descriptions
Material Engineering Properties

General Materials Classification

Course Grained Materials
granular soils
(sand, gravel, cobbles and boulders)
Fine Grained Materials
clay (plastic or nonplastic)
silt; may be plastic (clayey silt) or
non-plastic (sandy silt)
Intermediate Geomaterials:
weathered rock
glacial till
cemented soils
Rock

January 2012

21

Foundation Data Sheet

Driven Piles

Section 9.1

Pile Hammer Acceptance Process

Contractor prepares Pile
Driving and Equipment Data Form and
submits
b it to
t Engineer
E i
for
f Approval,
A
l no
later than 2 weeks prior to driving
first pile. (00520.20 (d))

Review

Changes to Contractor

Contractor resubmits to
Engineer

Changes
Review
Acceptance

Engineer accepts Pile

Driving & Equip. Data Sheet
and issues Hammer
Approval Letter with final
pile driving criteria.

January 2012

Changes

No changes may be made

without the Engineers approval

22

PILE AND DRIVING EQUIPMENT DATA

HIGHWAY

MILEPOST

CONTRACT NO

STRUCTURE NAME AND NO.

PROJECT NAME (SECTION)

PROJECT MANAGER
COUNTY

CONTRACTOR
PILE DRIVING SUBCONTRACTOR (Piles Driven By):

TYPE OF LEADS:

Fixed

Semi-Fixed

Swinging

OTHER (Provide Description):

LEAD DIMENSIONS

Depth

Width

MANUFACTURER

MODEL

SERIAL NO.

OWNER:

RATED ENERGY

TYPE

@ LENGTH OF STROKE

(KN-m)

RAM WT.

(m)

(KN)

MODIFICATIONS

MATERIAL

THICKNESS

AREA

(mm 2)

(mm.)
MATERIALS
TOTAL THICKNESS

AREA

2
(mm )

(mm.)
MODULUS OF ELASTICITY (E):

(MPa)
COEFFICIENT OF RESTITUTION (e)

ALL
COMPONENTS

WEIGHT

MODIFICATIONS

(KN) `

CUSHION MATERIALS

AREA

(mm 2)
NO OF LAYERS

THICKNESS (EACH)

TOTAL THICKNESS

(mm.)
MODULUS OF ELASTICITY (E):

(mm.)

COEFFICIENT OF RESTITUTION (e)

(MPa)
PILE TYPE & SIZE

Weight

(KN/m)
LENGTH IN LEADS

(m)
WALL THICKNESS

TAPER

(mm)
NOMINAL PILE RESISTANCE

ACCEPTANCE BY WAVE EQUATION

(KN)

Yes

No

DESCRIPTION OF SPLICE

TIP TREATMENT DESCRIPTION (TYPE, MANUFACTURER, MODEL NO., ETC.)

NOTE: If mandrel is used to drive the pile, attach separate manufacturer's detail sheet(s)
including weight and dimensions.
SUBMITTED BY:

734-2608 (8-2009)

DATE

Driven Piles

Section 9.1

Bridge Construction Inspector Training

Inspector Quality Assurance Program

Hammer Approval Letter

After reviewing the Contractors hammer submittal, the
Geotechnical Engineer will provide a letter to the Project
Manager summarizing the following:
Hammer approval (or reasons why the hammer is not
approved)
Driving criteria (stroke vs. required blow count and Inspectors
Graph)
Any pile driving issues such as:
Pile freeze (set-up criteria)
Hard driving conditions (high pile stress conditions)
Details on preboring requirements

January 2012

23

Driven Piles

Section 9.1

Saximeter
Method
M
th d tto
determine hammer
stroke in the field

Calculating Stroke Heights

(Air-Steam Hammer)
Blows per minute
height = [14,400/[bpm2]] 0.3

(Open-End Diesel Hammers)

Seconds per blow
h 0.0402
h=
0 0402 (T2) 0.3
03

Example: bpm= 36

h = Stroke Height in Feet

14,400/1296 = 11.11

T = Time in Seconds for 10 blows

11.11 0.3 = 10.81 ft

EXAMPLE
Took 16 seconds for 10 blows,
therefore:
h = 0.0402 x 256 0.3
h = 9.99 or 10 ft.

January 2012

24

Driven Piles

Section 9.1

Bridge Construction Inspector Training

Inspector Quality Assurance Program

Construction Documents

Items to Locate in the Plans

Pile Foundation Layout

Pile Type, Size & Loads
Required (Minimum) Tip Elevation
Foundation Data Sheet
Driving Criteria (Gates Equation or WEAP)
Tip Reinforcement, Splicing & Welding Details

Items to Locate in the Specifications

Pile Material Specifications
Estimated Pile Lengths (or order lengths)
Environmental Restrictions
In-Water Work Periods
Pile Isolation (bubble curtains)
Pile Freeze or other special requirements (preboring, jetting)
Pay Items & Quantities

January 2012

25

General
Notes

Plan & Elevation Sheet

General Notes

Plan & Elevation Bent 2 (Pile Layout)

Bent 2 Elevation

Foundation Data Sheet

Driven Piles

Section 9.1

Record Keeping
Pil
Pile R
Record
d
Book
General Daily
Progress
Report
P
Personall Fi
Field
ld
Diary

January 2012

26

Pile Record Book

Driven Piles

Section 9.1

Bridge Construction Inspector Training

Inspector Quality Assurance Program

Piling Set Check

Within
Withi 2 ft off estimated
ti t d pile
il length.
l
th
Wait for 24 hours to see if freeze will occur and bearing
can be reached.
Conserves piling and maximizes the friction ability of the
soil.

Is there a potential for damage to adjacent structures?

This distance
monitor structures
Pile

This distance
survey and
monitor structures

D .25 Hammer Energy ( Ft lbs .)

January 2012

27

Driven Piles

Section 9.1

Bridge Construction Inspector Training

Inspector Quality Assurance Program

Pre-Production Program
(test piles)
Determine Pile Lengths Required for Production
concrete and timber pile order lengths
Check Drivability of Proposed Hammer System
Check Performance of Contractors proposed Driving
System
Determine Required Driving Resistance

Check the Driving System

January 2012

Manufacturer
M
f t
Model
Type
Serial Number
Energy Rating
Ram Weight
Ram Stroke

28

Driven Piles

Section 9.1

Check the Driving System

Are the
A
th leads
l d
the proper type
and
configuration
for the job?

Does the helmet and hammer cushion meet the

requirements of the Driving Criteria Letter?
Pile Drive Head (Helmet):
Axially aligned with the hammer and pile
Guided by the leads
Not free-swinging
Cut squarely for steel and timber
Plane and perpendicular to longitudinal axis for
concrete piles
Hammer C
H
Cushion:
hi
Required for all impact hammers except gravity (drop)
Made of manufactured materials
Wood, wire rope and asbestos not allowed

January 2012

29

Driven Piles

Section 9.1

Steel Piles
Check the Pile Certifications. Do the heat numbers on the
piles match the Certificate of Analysis for the piles?
Depth & Width

Weight per foot of pile

pile,
in pounds

Bearing
Pile

Steel Pipe Piles

Compare di
C
diameter,
t
length and wall thickness
to plan details.

OD (outside dia.)
ID (inside dia.)

Wall Thickness

January 2012

30

Driven Piles

Section 9.1

Steel Pipe Piles

V
Verify
if Open
O
End
E d or
Closed End.
Closed End
Verify the bottom
plate is the correct
diameter and
thickness and welded
per the plans.

Steel H Piles
Measure th
M
the Pil
Pile
Depth and Flange
Width for comparison
to plan details.

Pile Depth
10 in.

Flange Width
10 in.

January 2012

31

Driven Piles

Section 9.1

Steel H Piles

Pile Splices
The Project Plans and Specifications detail the splicing
requirements for piles. For Steel Pipe Pile a full penetration
butt weld is required with a backing ring.
Backing Bar
(rings)

January 2012

32

Driven Piles

Section 9.1

Marking Piles

Monitoring Driven Pile Lengths

50

Cutoff
Elevation = +5.00
Reference
Elevation= +2.00
Ground Surface
Elevation= +0.00

45

Length Driven is the length of pile

below the cutoff elevation!

40
35
30

Pile Marker @ 29 penetration

25
20
15
10
5

Tip Elev. = - 27.00

January 2012

33

Driven Piles

Section 9.1

Bridge Construction Inspector Training

Inspector Quality Assurance Program

Horizontal Tolerance for Driving

Withi 6 inches
Within
i h off Plan
Pl position
iti
Maximum
6 inches

Plan Location

Common Problems Open End Diesel

Common Problems
Water in fuel

Hollow sound,, white smoke

Fuel lines clogged

No smoke or little gray smoke

Fuel pump malfunctioning

Inconsistent ram strokes, little gray smoke or black smoke

Fuel injectors malfunctioning

Inconsistent ram strokes, little gray smoke or black smoke

Oil low

Blows per minute rate is lower than specified

Oil pump malfunctioning

Blows per minute rate is lower than specified

Water in combustion chamber

H ll sound,
Hollow
d white
hit smoke
k

Piston rings worn

Low strokes
Pawl does not engage piston
Pawl engages but doesn't lift piston
Paint and oil on cooling fins start to burn/sound changes

Tripping device broken

Over heating

January 2012

Indicators

34

Driven Piles

Section 9.1

Steel Piles

Steel Piles
Typical causes
of damage

Possible indicators
during driving

Transporting
and Lifting

Pile moving out of position

during driving

Low Steel
Strength

Abrupt blow count change

Types of
damage
Bending
Buckling

Hard Driving
(C
(Compression)
i )

Accordion
Observed pile damage
near the pile head

Splitting

Welding
Splices

January 2012

35

Driven Piles

Section 9.1

Timber Piles
Banded to
prevent brooming

Bridge Construction Inspector Training

Inspector Quality Assurance Program

Timber Piles
Typical causes
of damage
Transporting
Knots and
natural defects
Handling
Driving

January 2012

Possible indicators
during driving

Types of
damage

Pile moving out of

position during driving

Splintering
Cracking

Abrupt blow count

h
change

g
Shearing

Appearance

Brooming
(head & tip)

36

Driven Piles

Section 9.1

Safety

Where is
that Pile
Data Table?

Bridge Construction Inspector Training

Inspector Quality Assurance Program

Safety Summary
If you d
dontt need
d tto b
be close,
l
d
dont
t gett close.
l
Determine a safety radius.
(100 ft pile can fall 100 feet in any direction!)
Always know your escape route.

January 2012

37

Driven Piles

Section 9.1

Common Problems Piling

Hammer

H d
Head

Cushion
Pile

January 2012

38