Section 7

Driven Piles

7.1 ODOT Video, Part 7/12: Pile Foundations 1

Pile Driving Equipment 4

Pile Types 16

Hammer Approval Letter 21

Construction Documents 22

Pile Record Book 23

Pile Acceptance Decision Chart 24

Pile Exercise 38
Driven Piles Section 7.1

View ODOT Video, Part 7/12

Pile Foundations

What is a Driven Pile?

A Driven Pile is a deep

foundation that is
constructed by driving a
concrete, steel or timber
pile to support the
anticipated loads in
competent subsurface
material.

January, 2017 1
Driven Piles Section 7.1

End Bearing and Friction Piles

END BEARING FRICTION
LOAD LOAD

SANDS SANDS
SANDS
L L
L
O O
O
A A
A
D D
D
SOFT CLAYS
CLAYS
CLAYS

ROCK SAND

Q
u

z1 RS1 Layer 1
z2 RS2 Layer 2

z3 RS3 Layer 3 Qu = RSN + RT

z4 RS4 Layer 4

RT

January, 2017 2
Driven Piles Section 7.1

Displacement
or Low-Displacement?

Displacement piles are piles that

actually displace the material they are
driven into.

Low (Non) Displacement piles are

piles that displace very little of the
material they are driven into.

Rebound
The upward movement of a pile during
driving
High displacement piles increase potential
for rebound
Highly plastic and expansive clayey soils
present increased potential for rebound

January, 2017 3
Driven Piles Section 7.1

Pile Strength Vs. Time

Strength Gain (pile setup or freeze)
Piles can gain strength over time after they are driven in
certain cohesive soils like stiff clays and clayey silts. This is
due to the slow dissipation of excess pore water pressure
that is created during pile driving.

Strength Lose
Piles can lose strength after driving in certain soils like very
dense sands and gravels due to relaxation of the soil.
Relaxation has to do with a change in soil structure after driving.
The Geotechnical Engineer will determine if this effect applies at
a given site.

Pile Driving Equipment

Crane
Hammer
Cushions
Leads
Template
Special Tools

January, 2017 4
Driven Piles Section 7.1

Crane JIB GANTRY

JIB
JIB LINES

BOOM LINE
(PENNENTS)

MAIN LINE

BOOM STOPPERS BOOM WHIP LINE

YOKE
TOPPING LIFT SPLICE
HEADACHE
BOOMGANTRY BALL
CAB TURN TABLE MAIN LOAD
COUNTER BLOCK
WEIGHT OUTRIGGER
PADS
RADIUS

Hammers
Drop Vibratory
(Gravity Hammers)

Air/Steam Diesel Hydraulic

Single Double Single Double Single Double

Acting Acting Acting Acting Acting Acting

Differential
Acting

January, 2017 5
Driven Piles Section 7.1

Open End Diesel Hammers

Single-Acting
Advantages
Very simple
No additional support equipment
required
Lightest net weight per ft.-lb. of energy
Readily available (common)
Disadvantages
Delivered energy variable
Less efficient energy transfer
Produces higher pile stresses
Dirty exhaust spray and smoke
Difficult to spot operation problems

Vibratory Hammer

Generally used for driving

and extracting sheet piles,
low-displacement H-piles,
and pipe piles.

Not impact hammers.

January, 2017 6
Driven Piles Section 7.1

Hammer Cushions
Used on all impact
Hammer hammers except
gravity (drop) hammers
Ram & Anvil
Must be made of
Striker Plate durable manufactured
Hammer Cushion (man-made) materials
(Cap Block)
Wood, wire rope and
Helmet
asbestos not allowed
Pile Cushion
Striker plate must be
used
Concrete Pile

Hammer Cushions (Contd)

Inspected when
Hammer beginning driving
Ram & Anvil
Inspected every 100
Striker Plate hours of driving
Hammer Cushion
(Cap Block) Replaced when there
Helmet is a reduction of
thickness exceeding
Pile Cushion
25% of original
thickness
Concrete Pile

January, 2017 7
Driven Piles Section 7.1

Hammer Cushions (Contd)

Helmet (Cap Block)

Guided by leads,
Hammer not free-swinging
Ram & Anvil
Must maintain
Striker Plate proper alignment
Hammer Cushion of hammer and pile
(Cap Block)
Helmet Minimum 1 inch
larger than pile
Pile Cushion

Concrete Pile

January, 2017 8
Driven Piles Section 7.1

Helmet (Contd)

Pile Cushion
Used with concrete
Hammer piles
Ram & Anvil Minimum original
thickness not less
Striker Plate than 4 inches
Hammer Cushion
(Cap Block) Replaced if
compressed to more
Helmet
than one-half
Pile Cushion original thickness
Replaced if starts to
Concrete Pile burn

January, 2017 9
Driven Piles Section 7.1

Pile Cushion (Contd)

Pile Driving System Components

Leads
Crane

Hammer

Cushions

Leads

Template

Special Tools

January, 2017 10
Driven Piles Section 7.1

Fixed Lead System

Fixed at both top &

bottom

Maximum control of
pile alignment

Higher Cost

Semi-fixed Lead System

Low Cost
Simple, mobile HAMMER

Some control of BOOM

pile alignment

LEAD

Fixed either PILE CRANE

at top or
bottom but
allowing vertical
movement

January, 2017 11
Driven Piles Section 7.1

Swinging Lead System

Low Cost
CABLE
Simple, mobile
Less control of
HAMMER BOOM
pile alignment
Must be
approved by
The Engineer LEAD

Not fixed at top CRANE

or bottom

PILE

Templates
Required for offshore
leads.
Maintains the pile and
hammer in the correct
location and position.

January, 2017 12
Driven Piles Section 7.1

Templates (Contd)
C
L Plan C
L Plan
As-builtC
L 15
Template Elev. is 5 ft.
above Pile Cut-off Elev.

Pile in Pile Cut-off Elev.

incorrect
position

Pile in
correct
position

Special Tools

Jets
Drills (Preboring)
Punches
Followers

January, 2017 13
Driven Piles Section 7.1

Jets
Permitted when in the
plans or approved by the
Engineer in writing.
Jetting plant must
provide pressure equal
to 100 psi at two inch
jet nozzles.
Jets must be removed
for the final 5 feet of pile
penetration.

Preboring

Used only when specified or

with approval of the Engineer

January, 2017 14
Driven Piles Section 7.1

Punches Aids for advancing pre-drilled

holes through hard materials

Punch

Combination Jet/Punch

Followers
Generally used for water
projects.
Only when authorized in
writing by Engineer or in
contract documents.
The first pile in each bent
and every tenth pile
thereafter must be driven
without a follower.

January, 2017 15
Driven Piles Section 7.1

Pile Types
Steel Pipe Piles
Steel H-Piles
Concrete Piles
Timber Piles
Cylinder Concrete Piles
Composite Piles
Steel Sheet Piles

Steel Pipe Piles

Most commonly
used in ODOT
Driven either open
or closed end
Can be filled with
concrete

January, 2017 16
Driven Piles Section 7.1

Steel H-Piles
End Bearing Piles
Low- Displacement
High Bearing

Timber Piles
Low Bearing Piles
High-Displacement
Used typically for
temporary structures

January, 2017 17
Driven Piles Section 7.1

Sheet Piles
Utilized mostly for
temporary retaining
systems, such as
shoring, cofferdams
and bulkheads
Driven using either
impact or vibratory
hammers

Pile Tip Attachments

Steel H-Pile

See Section 02520.10 (e)

Reinforced Pile Tips

January, 2017 18
Driven Piles Section 7.1

Pile Tip Attachments

Steel Pipe Pile
See Section 02520.10 (e) Reinforced Pile Tips

Typical Pipe Pile End Plate

Fillet
Weld

Flat End Plate

January, 2017 19
Driven Piles Section 7.1

Subsurface Information
Subsurface Information Available to the Contractor:
Foundation Reports
Foundation Data Sheets
Drill Logs
Groundwater Conditions
Soil & Rock Unit Descriptions
Material Engineering Properties

General Materials Classification

Course Grained Materials

Granular Soils
(sand, gravel, cobbles and boulders)

Fine Grained Materials

Clay (plastic or nonplastic)
Silt; may be plastic (clayey silt)
or non-plastic (sandy silt)

Intermediate Geomaterials:
- weathered rock
- glacial till
- cemented soils

Rock

January, 2017 20
Foundation Data Sheet
 PILE AND DRIVING EQUIPMENT DATA

HIGHWAY MILEPOST

CONTRACT NO STRUCTURE NAME AND NO.

PROJECT NAME (SECTION)

PROJECT MANAGER CONTRACTOR

COUNTY PILE DRIVING SUBCONTRACTOR (Piles Driven By):

TYPE OF LEADS: Fixed Semi-Fixed Swinging

OTHER (Provide Description):

LEAD DIMENSIONS Depth Width

MANUFACTURER MODEL TYPE

SERIAL NO. OWNER:

RATED ENERGY @ LENGTH OF STROKE RAM WT.

(KN-m) (m) (KN)

MODIFICATIONS

MATERIAL THICKNESS AREA

(mm.) (mm 2)
MATERIALS

TOTAL THICKNESS AREA

2
(mm.) (mm )
MODULUS OF ELASTICITY (E):
(MPa)
COEFFICIENT OF RESTITUTION (e)

WEIGHT MODIFICATIONS
ALL
COMPONENTS (KN) `
CUSHION MATERIALS AREA

(mm 2)
NO OF LAYERS THICKNESS (EACH) TOTAL THICKNESS
(mm.) (mm.)
MODULUS OF ELASTICITY (E): COEFFICIENT OF RESTITUTION (e)
(MPa)
PILE TYPE & SIZE Weight
(KN/m)
LENGTH IN LEADS
(m)
WALL THICKNESS TAPER
(mm)
NOMINAL PILE RESISTANCE ACCEPTANCE BY WAVE EQUATION
(KN) Yes No
DESCRIPTION OF SPLICE

TIP TREATMENT DESCRIPTION (TYPE, MANUFACTURER, MODEL NO., ETC.)

NOTE: If mandrel is used to drive the pile, attach separate manufacturer's detail sheet(s)
including weight and dimensions.

SUBMITTED BY: DATE

734-2608 (8-2009)
Driven Piles Section 7.1

Pile Hammer Acceptance Process

Contractor prepares Pile
Changes to Contractor
Driving and Equipment Data Form and
submits to Engineer for Approval, no
later than 2 weeks prior to driving
first pile. (00520.20 (d)) Contractor resubmits to
Engineer

Changes
Review
Review

Engineer accepts Pile Acceptance Changes

Driving & Equip. Data Sheet
and issues Hammer
Approval Letter with final No changes may be made
pile driving criteria. without the Engineers approval

Hammer Approval Letter

After reviewing the Contractors hammer submittal, the
Geotechnical Engineer will provide a letter to the Project
Manager summarizing the following:
Hammer Approval (or reasons why the hammer is not
approved)
Driving Criteria (stroke vs. required blow count and
Inspectors Graph)
Any pile driving issues such as:
Pile Freeze (set-up criteria)
Hard driving conditions (high pile stress conditions)
Details on Preboring requirements

January, 2017 21
Driven Piles Section 7.1

Construction Documents

General Notes

January, 2017 22
Plan & Elevation Sheet

General
Notes
Plan & Elevation Bent 2 (Pile Layout)
Foundation Data Sheet
Driven Piles Section 7.1

Bent 2 Elevation

Record Keeping

Pile Record
Book
General Daily
Progress
Report
Personal
Field Diary

January, 2017 23
Pile Record Book
Driven Piles Section 7.1

Piling Set Check

Within 2 ft of estimated pile length.
Wait for 24 hours to see if freeze will occur
and bearing can be reached.
Conserves piling and maximizes the
friction ability of the soil.

January, 2017 24
Driven Piles Section 7.1

Pre-Production Program
(test piles)
Determine Pile Lengths Required for Production
concrete and timber pile order lengths

Check Drivability of Proposed Hammer System

Check Performance of Contractors proposed

Driving System

Determine Required Driving Resistance

January, 2017 25
Driven Piles Section 7.1

Check the Driving System

Manufacturer
Model
Type
Serial Number
Energy Rating
Ram Weight
Ram Stroke

Check the Driving System

Are the leads

the proper type and
configuration
for the job?

January, 2017 26
Driven Piles Section 7.1

Does the helmet and hammer cushion meet the

requirements of the Driving Criteria Letter?
Pile Drive Head (Helmet):
Axially aligned with the hammer and pile
Guided by the leads
Not free-swinging
Cut squarely for steel and timber
Plane and perpendicular to longitudinal axis for concrete piles

Hammer Cushion:
Required for all impact hammers except gravity (drop)
Made of manufactured materials
Wood, wire rope and asbestos not allowed

Steel Piles
Check the Pile Certifications. Do the heat numbers on the
piles match the Certificate of Analysis for the piles?

Depth & Width

Weight per foot of pile,
in pounds
Bearing Pile

January, 2017 27
Driven Piles Section 7.1

Steel Pipe
Piles OD (outside dia.)

ID (inside dia.)
Compare diameter,
length and wall
thickness to plan
details.

Wall Thickness

Steel Pipe Piles

Verify Open End or
Closed End.
Closed End
Verify the bottom
plate is the correct
diameter and
thickness and welded
per the plans.

January, 2017 28
Driven Piles Section 7.1

Steel H Piles

Measure the Pile Depth

and Flange Width for
comparison to plan
details.
Pile Depth
10 in.

Flange Width
10 in.

Steel H Piles

January, 2017 29
Driven Piles Section 7.1

Pile Splices
The Project Plans and Specifications detail the splicing
requirements for piles. For Steel Pipe Pile a full penetration
butt weld is required with a backing ring.

Backing Bar
(rings)

Pile Splice Measurement

00520.80 (f)(1)
None if within length listed in Special Provision

One splice if splice is 5 ft or more when

estimated pile length is 60 ft or less

One splice if splice is 10 ft or more when

estimated pile length is over 60 ft

Only one splice per pile

January, 2017 30
Driven Piles Section 7.1

Marking Piles

Monitoring Driven Pile Lengths

50 Length Driven is the length of pile
Cutoff 45 below the cutoff elevation !
Elevation = +5.00 40
Reference 35
Elevation= +2.00 30
Pile Marker @ 29 penetration
25
Ground Surface 20
Elevation= +0.00 15
10
5

Tip Elev. = - 27.00

January, 2017 31
Driven Piles Section 7.1

Saximeter

Method to determine
hammer stroke in the
field

Calculating Stroke Heights

(Air-Steam Hammer) (Open-End Diesel Hammers)
Blows per minute Seconds per blow

h= 0.0402 (T2) 0.3

height = [14,400/[bpm2]] 0.3
Example: bpm= 36 h = Stroke Height in Feet

14,400/1296 = 11.11 T = Time in Seconds for 10 blows

EXAMPLE
11.11 0.3 = 10.81 ft
Took 16 seconds for 10 blows,
therefore:

h = 0.0402 x 256 0.3

h = 9.99 or 10 ft.

January, 2017 32
Driven Piles Section 7.1

Marking Pile To Check For Bearing

Pile Bearing
00520.42 (a)

Maintain required blows/inch (bpi) for 3

consecutive inches unless refusal is first
obtained.

Refusal is defined as 20 bpi

January, 2017 33
Driven Piles Section 7.1

PDA Testing

Tends to result
in shorter pile
lengths.

Horizontal Tolerance for Driving

00520.41 (f)
Within 6of plan location

At least 4 from edge of

cap
Maximum
6 inches

Plan Location

January, 2017 34
Driven Piles Section 7.1

Common Problems
Open End Diesel
Common Problems Indicators
Water in fuel Hollow sound, white smoke
Fuel lines clogged No smoke or little gray smoke
Fuel pump malfunctioning Inconsistent ram strokes, little gray smoke or black smoke
Fuel injectors malfunctioning Inconsistent ram strokes, little gray smoke or black smoke
Oil low Blows per minute rate is lower than specified
Oil pump malfunctioning Blows per minute rate is lower than specified
Water in combustion chamber Hollow sound, white smoke
Piston rings worn Low strokes
Tripping device broken Pawl does not engage piston
Pawl engages but doesn't lift piston
Over heating Paint and oil on cooling fins start to burn/sound changes

Steel Piles

January, 2017 35
Driven Piles Section 7.1

Steel Piles
Typical causes Possible indicators Types of
of damage during driving damage

Transporting Pile moving out of position Bending

and Lifting during driving
Buckling
Low Steel Abrupt blow count change
Strength Accordion
Observed pile damage
Hard Driving near the pile head Splitting
(Compression)

Welding

Splices

Timber Piles
Banded to
prevent brooming

January, 2017 36
Driven Piles Section 7.1

Timber Piles
Typical causes Possible indicators Types of
of damage during driving damage

Transporting Pile moving out of Splintering

position during driving
Knots and Cracking
natural defects Abrupt blow count
Shearing
change
Handling
Brooming
Appearance
Driving (head & tip)

Safety

Where is
that Pile
Data Table?

January, 2017 37
Driven Piles Section 7.1

Pile Exercise
Are obstructions anticipated? _____
See SP00520.41(d)
If so, what is the course of action? _______
Why is stroke limited to 8.5 ft? __________
See Approval Letter
What is the required blows/inch for a stroke
of 7.5 ft? _____

January, 2017 38
Driven Piles Section 7.1

Pile Driving Example

BPI measured at 15 with required BPI of
13 for 3. Pile tip is at minimum tip
elevation. What do you do? ___________

Pile Driving Example

BPI measured at 15 with required BPI of
13 for 3. Pile tip is at minimum tip
elevation. What do you do? Stop &
Accept Pile

January, 2017 39
Driven Piles Section 7.1

Pile Driving Exercise 1

BPI measured at 10 with required BPI of

13. Pile tip is at minimum tip elevation and
is within 2 of estimated pile length. What
do you do? ___________

January, 2017 40
Driven Piles Section 7.1

Pile Driving Exercise 2

BPI measured at 20 with required BPI of

13. Pile tip is 2 ft above minimum tip
elevation. What do you do? ___________

January, 2017 41