What To Know About Marine Pile Drivers

By Peter Adams


A pile in the field of construction refers to an assembled element that is set up by driving it into the ground. It is usually made from a number of materials including concrete, timber and steel. It is usually driven into the ground using a pile driving hammer which is also known as a pile driver. A pile driver is used for driving piles into the soil so that it may provide foundation support to structures like buildings. Here are facts regarding marine pile drivers.

Another term used to refer to the construction crew handling the hammering tools is pile driver. Suitability of piling is to support lateral and compressive loads. Generally, piles offer less load support compared to drilled shafts. As such, for piles to support heavy loads, they must be grouped under footings. East Texas is among areas in the United States where the process of pile driving is done most.

Piling activity is most suited for softer soils that are easier to penetrate without causing damage to piles. That means that hard soils and rocks are not suitable for piling activities. Load capacity gained by piling comes from skin friction. Also, end bearing of the piling can be significantly increased if its tip is placed inside a rock layer or packed soil. That means that such piles support more weight better.

The driving system is composed of several components that serve different functions. These components are leads, power hammer, helmet connects, and the cushioning. The function of the leads is to hold the hammer and piling in place to ensure that the two components are aligned with each other. It would be catastrophic if the hammer missed the tip of the piling when it is coming down. In fact, the force of the hammer would damage the piling badly.

The work of the power hammer is to lift and drop heavy rams which in turn drive the piling deeper into the soil. The source of power of the power hammer is air pressure or diesel. The helmet connects the top of piles to the hammer. Thus, helmet ensures the descent of the hammer makes contact with the pile.

The whole operation involves huge forces which may cause damage to the hammer and the pile. A cushioning is therefore placed in between the two to prevent damage. The function of the cushion is to prevent excess stress and absorb some energy. This ensures the system can last for a long time.

The condition of the cushion needs to be checked every time when working. When the cushion gets damaged, the damage may extend to the hammers and the piles. This can however be prevented by ensuring that the same cushion block is not used to drive more than three piles. The cushion needs to be inspected regularly before, after and during the operation. It should also be replaced regularly.

It is very important to match the size of the piling with the size of the hammer. If the hammer is too small for the piling, then the necessary penetration will not be achieved. However, it is important to know that very large hammers can cause high tensile forces and high comprehensive forces too if used inappropriately.




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