8.

PILE FOUNDATION
What is Pile?
Pile is a relatively small diameter shaft (long and slender structural member) either driven or cast-in-situ
used to transfer loads through weaker soil or water to deeper soil or rock strata having a high bearing
capacity. It may be subjected to vertical or lateral loads or a combination of both.
What is Pile Foundation?
Pile foundation is a form of foundation using piles to transfer the loads of a structure down to a firm soil
stratum with sufficient load-taking capacity. It is a deep foundation.
Uses/Purposes of Pile Foundation
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Useful in transmitting load through soft/poor soil or water to stronger and/or less compressible stratum.
Transmit loads in weak and soft soils through friction along the length of the pile.
Compact loose granular soils.
Provide foundation below the scour depth.
Resist horizontal and inclined loads from the retaining walls, bridge abutments, etc.
Resist uplift loads.
Stiffen the soils beneath the machine foundations to control both the amplitude of vibration and the
natural frequency of the system.
Reduce the differential settlement.
Provide the anchorage against the pull.
Increase the stability of the tall structures having the large eccentric loads, inclined loads and moments.
For structures near flowing water (bridge abutments, etc.) to avoid the problems due to erosion.
To protect the offshore structures.
To provide the foundation in the presence of expansive and collapsible soils.
Design Criteria of Pile Foundation
Material of the pile itself must not be over-stressed.
Must be a sufficient factor of safety against a shear failure.
Settlements must be within the permissible limits.
Types of Piles, Advantages and Disadvantages
Broadly there are four types of piles. They are1. Displacement (or Large-displacement) Piles
2. Small-displacement Piles
3. Non-displacement Piles
4. Composite Piles

1. Displacement (or Large-displacement) Piles

In loose cohesionlesssoils
Densifies the soil up to a distance of 3.5 times the pile diameter (3.5D) which increases
the soils resistance to shearing.
The friction angle varies from the pile surface to the limit of compacted soil
In dense cohesionless soils
The dilatancy effect decreases the friction angle within the zone of influence of
displacement pile (3.5D approx.). pp(pp)
Displacement piles are not effective in dense sands due to above reason.
In cohesive soils
Soil is remolded near the displacement piles (2.0 D approx.) leading to a decreased value of
shearing resistance.
Pore-pressure is generated during installation causing lower effective stress and consequently
lower shearing resistance.
Excess pore-pressure dissipates over the time and soil regains its strength.
They comprise solid-section piles or hollow-section piles with a closed end, which are driven or jacked
into the ground and thus displace the soil. All types of Driven and Cast-in-situ Piles come into this
category.
Typical Driven displacement piles are:
1. Timber (Round or Square Section, Jointed or Continuous)
2. Precast Concrete (Solid or Tubular Section in Continuous or Jointed Units)
3. Pre-stressed Concrete (Solid or Tubular Section)
4. Steel Tube (Driven with Closed End)
5. Steel Box (Driven with Closed End)
6. Fluted and Tapered Steel Tube
7. Jacked-down Steel Tube with Closed End
Typical driven and cast-in-place piles are:
a. Steel Tube Driven and Withdrawn After Placing Concrete
b. Precast Concrete Shell Filled with Concrete
c. Thin-walled Steel Shell Driven by Withdrawable Mandrel and then Filled with Concrete
2. Small-displacement Piles: are also driven or jacked into the ground but have a relatively small crosssectional area.

Typical Small Displacement Piles are:

1. Precast Concrete (Tubular Section Driven with Open End, or Cruciform Section)
2. Pre-stressed Concrete (Tubular Section Driven with Open End, or Cruciform Section
3. Steel H-section
4. Steel Tube Section (Driven with Open End and Soil Removed as Required)
5. Steel Box Section (Driven with Open End and Soil Removed as Required)
6. Screw Pile
7. Screw Cylinder
3. Non-displacement Piles: are formed by first removing the soil by boring using a wide range of drilling
techniques. Concrete may be placed into an unlined or lined hole, or the lining may be withdrawn as
the concrete is placed. Preformed elements of timber, concrete, or steel may be placed in drilled
holes.
Typical Non-Displacement Piles are:
1.

Concrete placed in hole drilled by rotary auger, baling, grabbing, airlift or reverse-circulation
methods (bored and cast-in-situ)

2.

Tubes placed in hole drilled as above and filled with concrete as necessary

3.

Precast concrete units placed in drilled hole

4.

Cement mortar injected into drilled hole

5.

Steel sections placed in drilled hole

6.

Steel tube drilled down

4. Composite Piles: In addition numerous types of composite construction may be formed by combining
units in each of the above categories, or by adopting combinations of piles in more than one
category. Thus composite piles of a displacement type can be formed by jointing a timber section to
a precast concrete section, or a precast concrete pile can have an H-section jointed to its lower
extremity.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Displacement Piles

Advantages
Pile material can be inspected for
Quality before driving
Tend to compact surrounding loose
Soils there by improving bearing
Capacity and stiffness
Can be driven in very long lengths
Construction operation not affected
By ground water
Soil disposal is not necessary

Disadvantages
May break during driving
Ground displacement may cause
Movement of, or damage to,
Adjacent piles, structures, slopes or
Utility installations.
Cannot be driven in condition of
Low headroom
Noise may prove unacceptable
Noise permit may be required
Vibration may prove unacceptable
Due to presence of sensitive
structures, utility installation or
machinery

Advantages and Disadvantages of Non-displacement Piles

Advantages
Less noise or vibration problem
Equipment can break up practically all
Kinds of obstructions
Can be installed in conditions of low
headroom
No ground heave
Depth and diameter can varied easily
Driven Piles
Advantages
Displacement pile improvessoil
Installation process provides feedback on capacity
Good control over structural integrity
Potential high end bearing on rock or strong layer
Group efficiency almost always >100%

Disadvantages
Concrete cannot be inspected after
installation
Liable to squeezing or necking
Raking bored pile are difficult to
construct
Drilling a number of pile groups may
Cause ground loss and settlement of
Adjacent structures
Cannot be extended above ground
Level without special adaptation
Disadvantages
Potential for noise/vibration concerns
Handling of long piles
Inability to penetrate hard shallow layer w/o
driving aids
Measured capacity at or shortly after end of
driving underestimates capacity

Driven and Cast-in place Piles

Advantages
Can be driven to a predetermined set.

Disadvantages
Heave of neighbouring ground surface, which
could affect nearby structures or services.
Pile lengths are readily adjustable.
Disturbance of the soil, which could lead to
reconsolidation and the development of negative
skin friction forces on the piles.
An enlarged base can be formed which can increase Lifting of previously driven piles, where the
the relative density of a granular founding stratum penetrationat the toes of the piles into the bearing
leading to much higher end bearing capacity.
stratum has not been sufficient to develop the
necessary resistance to upward forces.
Reinforcement is not determined by the effects of Displacement of nearby retaining walls.
handling or driving stresses.
Can be driven with a closed end so excluding the Cannot be driven where headroom is limited.
effects of ground water.
Noise and vibration can be reduced in some types, Cannot be driven with very large diameters nor
eg. By driving on a plug at the bottom of the pile.
can very large end bulbs be formed.
Noise, vibration and ground displacement may
cause a nuisance or may damage adjacent
structures.
Limitation in length owing to lifting force required
to withdraw casing.
Light steel sections or precast concrete shells may
be damaged or distorted by hard driving.
Concrete may be weakened if artesian flow pipes
up shaft of piles when tube is withdrawn.
Concrete cannot be inspected after completion.
Damage to piles consisting of uncased or thinly
cased green concrete due to the lateral forces set
up in the soil eg necking or waisting.
Driven Precast Reinforced or Pre-stressed Concrete Piles
Advantages
Can be driven to a predetermined set.

Disadvantages
Heave and disturbance of surrounding soil may
cause difficulties.
Stable in squeezing ground, eg. Soft clays, silts and Reinforcement may be controlled by handling and
peats.
driving requirements rather than by stresses
caused by structural loads.
Pile material can be inspected before piling.
Cannot readily be varied in length.
Can be re-driven if affected by ground heave.
May be damaged due to hard driving.
Construction procedure unaffected by ground Cannot be driven with very large diameters or in
heave.
conditions of limited headroom.
Can be driven in long lengths.
Noise, vibration and ground displacements may
cause difficulties.
Can be carried above ground level, eg. Through
water for marine structures.

Can increase the relative density of a granular.

founding stratum
Timber Piles
Advantages
Economical where timber is easily available.

Disadvantages
Timber piles must be cut off below the permanent
ground water level to prevent decay.

They can be easily withdrawn if needed.

Low bearing capacity.

Being light, they can be easily handled.

They are not very durable unless suitably treated.

Do not need heavy machinery and elaborate It is difficult or rather impossible to drive these piles
technical supervision.
into hard stratum.
Because of elasticity, timber piles are Restricted length. It is rather difficult to procure piles
recommended for sites subjected to unusual in required size and length.
lateral forces e.g. ship, ferry terminals.
Can be driven rapidly & as such saves time.

Liable to decay or deteriorate by salt water/insects.

Classification of Piles and Their Selection

Classification of Piles
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According to Installation: Driven, Bored, Cast-in-situ, Jetted, Excavated, and Augered Piles
According to Displacement: Displacement, Small/Low-displacement, and Non-displacement Piles
According to Material: Concrete, Steel, Wood/Timber, Composite, Sand Piles
According to Function: Shaft Bearing/Friction, Toe/End/Tip/Base Bearing, Sheet Piles, Tension Piles or
Uplift Piles, Anchor Piles, Batter Piles, Fender Piles, Compaction Piles
e) According to Capacity: High, Moderate, and Low
f) According to Shape: Square, Round, Hexagonal, Octagonal, and H-section
g) According to Environment: Land, Marine, and Off-shore
h) According to Inclination: Vertical and Battered
i) According to Length: Long and Short
j) According to Structure: Bridges, Buildings, Platforms, Towers, Machinery, etc.