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pile driver

used to drive pile into soil, the pile driver is used to drive steel, Concrete and wood pile in the first step in forming structural foundations. These piles may be driven on land or water.

Piles are driven into the ground or water as a prelude to a structural event. They are used to prevent soil from collapse, or to stabilize a structure that will be built on top of it. The pile rig drives the pile with a hydraulic hammer. Just like driving a nail into a board, the hammer beats the pile into the soil.

The site is prepared for the pile driver by clearing the area and achieving a certain elevation. The machine is introduced into the site, and the piles are driven vertically into the soil. The pile has a depth that must be reached, or it will reach “POR” Point of Refusal.

Pile Driver elements identified

In the photo below, timber piles are being driven into the soil for a structural element to be constructed on top of it. The piles have a depth that they need to be driven, as determined by the engineer. The load of the structural element will sit on top of the pile.

Soldier Pile and lagging

The photo above demonstrates a typical Soldier Beam and Lagging. Steel is pile driven into the soil prior to any of the excavation taking place. As the excavation removes soil from the site, lagging boards are placed in between the steel. As the excavation goes deeper and deeper, lagging boards are added, retaining the earth behind the beams. In this way, the street above, and all the utilities below them remain in place, avoiding catastrophic failure.


Sheet Pile with Bracing Detail - the braces keep the pile from folding in and failing. This is very common in small excavations, or deep excavations with poor soil

Coffer Dam

The photo above shows how pile is utilized when working in water. Sheet pile is driven into the bed of the waterway, and pumped out so that structural elements can be constructed. Bracing has been installed in this coffer dam to prevent failure.

Coffer dam being constructed at the bank of the waterway








Driving in Steel Casing for a bored pile (caisson)

Bored Piles aka Caissons

Bored piles are favored in areas where a large bearing capacity is required (high rise footing) in a small footprint. Bored piles can replace the need for large pile caps, or smaller piles/micro piles. They can be used in any soil type, and drilling can extend into bedrock

Bored Piles

Hydraulic Hammers ready to go to work

Concrete Pile Cut sheet

Detail of Hydraulic Hammer Assembly

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Pile driving steel caissons in a waterway on a barge. The concept is the same as on land, except it gets a little more complicated, and a lot more expensive.