Abstract:
The ability to install relatively low compressive capacity piles quickly with minimal field equipment compared with traditional pile driving equipment is advantageous to contractors and project owners from both a time saving and project cost perspective. However, from a geotechnical perspective, there is no industry standard method to determine the pile compressive capacity when installed using only a vibratory hammer. These case studies, consisting of residential and water treatment plant pile foundations, will provide our methodology on how to determine compressive capacity of piles and how to establish a project procedure to allow contractors to use a vibratory hammer to install piles. Included is also a discussion on current industry practice with using vibratory hammers to install piles, the availableequations to determine pile capacity and how they compare with the results of our case studies.