Facts To Learn 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.

The construction crew that works with the hammering equipment is also referred to as pile drivers. Piling is suitable for supporting modest compressive and lateral loads. In general, piles are not capable of supporting as much load as drilled shafts. For that reason, piles are normally grouped under footings if they are to support heavy loads. In the United States, East Texas is one of the areas where this activity is conducted most.

Suitability of piling activity lies in the soil being able to allow easy penetration of piles without causing damage to them. As a result, areas that have hard soils and rocks are unsuitable for piling processes. In addition, the end bearing of a pile could be increased significantly by placing its tip inside packed soil or a layer of rocks. That implies that piles like that are best suited to support heavier weight.

There are a number of components that make up the driving system. The components include the cushioning, leads, helmet connects and the power hammer. The leads hold the piling and hammer in place ensuring that the two are aligned. It can be tragic for the hammer to miss the tip of the piling as it comes down since this can badly damage the piling. This is due to its force.

The power hammer is used to lift and drop heavy rams that drive the piling into the soil. The power hammer is powered by diesel or air pressure. The hammer is connected to the top of the piles by the helmet. Thus, the hammer also ensures that the hammer does not miss the pile during the downward motion.

Finally, the process involves the use of huge amounts of forces which can destroy the piles or hammers. To avoid this from happening, cushioning is placed between the two. The cushioning prevents excessive stress from being conducted on by absorbing some of the force generated. This makes sure that the entire system lasts longer.

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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