Foundation Piles

About Foundation Piles 

Foundations are crucial to any construction. They keep the building firmly in place, providing adequate support to the structural elements, and transferring their loads to the ground. That being said, different kinds of soils require different foundation types, suited to specific conditions. The inadequate match will not provide sufficient support, and the building may slide or collapse in the worst-case scenario. 

Pile foundation is characterised by a slender column or long cylinder, typically made from concrete or steel. It supports the construction by transferring the load deep into the ground through end bearing or skin fraction. This foundation type is often found beneath high rise structures requiring a base with a length triple or more the size of its breadth.

Foundation Piles Applications 

Apart from supporting high rise structures, foundation piles are often employed in places where the soil is incompressible or of poor general quality.  

• High groundwater table 
• Heavy, inconsistent structural loads 
• The conditions are unfit for other types of the foundation 
• Compressible soil at shallow depth
• The proximity of river bed or seashore to the construction site
• Deep drainage system or canal around the structure
• Soil conditions preventing deep soil excavation 
• Impossibility to maintain the foundation trenches dry

Advantages of Foundation Piles 

• They can be pre-casted according to specifications
• Can be formed into a variety of shapes and sizes for more efficient use
• Clean, neat performance requiring minimal supervision and low storage space
• Fit for spaces where drilling of holes is not an option
• Able to utilise underground water tables
• Excellent for works that require underwater support 
• Highly effective in piers and similar wharf structures 

Types of Foundation Piles 

Foundations can essentially be sorted into shallow and deep categories. Deep foundations are used when the loads imposed by a structure need to reach far underground to maintain proper balance. The reason is that the forces transferred at a deeper level counteract with the soil of a higher bearing capacity. 

Foundation piles can be separated into different categories according to the function, installation type, or materials used to produce them. 

Foundation Pile Types by Function 

• End-bearing piles: Works by shifting the load from the tip to an appropriate bearing spectrum.
• Compaction piles: This type of foundation is employed at loosening granular soils to increase their bearing capacity.
• Friction piles: Commonly used for supporting sizable, heavy structures such as stadiums through frictional resistance force created between the surface and soil.
• Tension or uplift piles: Excellent for uplifting anchor structures strongly affected by horizontal forces as a result of overturning momentum or hydrostatic pressure.
• Laterally loaded piles: These types of piles are extremely useful when it comes to supporting walls, bridges, and dams. They are also effective when used as fenders in docks and harbours.
• Fender piles: Fenders are typically found freestanding, driven into the riverbed or sea bed or a riverbed to shield the dock wall. 
• Anchor piles: As the name says, this type provides anchorage to the structure in order to protect against the horizontal pulling forces. 
• Sheet piles: This foundation supports the hydraulic structures helping to reduce leakage.
• Batter piles: These types of piles are useful when it comes to avoiding horizontal and incline forces that come in waterfront structures.

Foundation Pile Types by Installation 

• Driven piles: This type of pile is applied by driving timber, concrete or steel piles into position by a pile-driving instrument.
• Cast in-situ piles: This drill-and-pack method is applied in the installation of concrete piles. It allows adding a variety of reinforcements as per the requirements.
• Driven and cast-in-situ piles: A combination of driven and cast-in-situ methods designed for greater efficiency, this technique employs casing or shell.
• Bored piles: Also known as replacement piles, these are mostly applied in cohesive substrates, particularly in the proximity of other, existing buildings. Specific properties, such as minimal vibration, make them ideal for use in urban areas and places requiring a variety in heights. 
• Mini piles: Mini or micro piles go up to 40 cm in diameter, making them ideal for use in locations with restricted access, or sites where traditional piling rigs are not suitable. 

Foundation Piles Materials

Timber Piles 

Equally effective in completely dry or submerged conditions, timber piles convergence allows a relatively high pile load capacity. This type is usually precast and driven or - alternatively - installed by the vibratory method. Correctly installed, it’s a cost-effective, safe and efficient solution, suitable for permanent and temporary buildings. 

Steel Piles

Commonly found in the form of pipes, sheets, or H-piles, steel models can be installed by vibration hammers to achieve desired depth or resistance. It’s also possible to connect sets of driven steel piles from small to large diameter, either open or close-ended. 

Concrete Piles

Commonly available in the form of precast or cast-in-situ, these structural elements are commonly used to support marine structures such as oil platforms, bridges, or floating airports. Both vertical and lateral structural loads significantly impact piles installed underwater, and affect the distribution of forces.

Composite Piles

Another type highly functional when partially submerged, it’s typically made by blending concrete with timber or steel.

Things to Consider Before Buying Foundation Piles

All of the following factors should be considered before choosing the adequate type of piles, in order to maximise their utility:

• Soil conditions
• Budget
• Time for performing and completing the installation
• Water levels, if any
• Structural load 
• Available resources
• Sensitivity to vibrations and noise

If you need assistance to find the right foundation piles for your home or office, ArchiPro provides a connection to the various professionals, ready to assist with all requirements and questions. Simply click "Contact supplier" on the product's page, or visit the supplier's website directly from the product's page.