Piling is the process of installing piles to reinforce the foundations of an existing structure or an ongoing construction. Piles are long, vertical supports which help bear the weight of the building and transfer it to the ground either through end bearing or friction. Piling involves the use of many machines to bore, screw, and drive the piles deep into the earth, let’s take a look at some of the most common ones:
Rotary Pile Drill
The rotary pile drill is essentially a giant version of your handheld drill. It features a huge, sharp drill bit which spins rapidly as the machine lowers the drill bit into the ground. An impact hammer is used to boost the downwards force and help the drill maintain high pressure. The rotary pile drill is perfect for boring holes to be used for concrete piles to be cast in-situ.
Impact Pile Hammer
Impact pile hammers are used to drive steel piles, sheet piles, steel pipes, and precast concrete or wooden piles into the ground. The hammer uses a simple hydraulic system to lift a weight and then releases it, hammering the pile into the ground like a nail into wood. The weight used and the speed at which it strikes blows can be adjusted for individual needs.
Vibratory Pile Hammer
A vibratory pile hammer is also used to drive piles into the ground and can be used for sheet piles, pipes, or any other elements that need driving into the earth. This hammer uses vibrations to transfer force and drive rather than a hydraulic hammer system. The vibratory pile hammer can also be used for things like soil densifying or to aid drainage.
Piling Winch
Piling winches are widely used in construction and simply work as a vertical hoist to aid in manoeuvring and fine-tuning the installation of piles. High-speed free-falling winches are used especially in free fall punch piling methods such as bridges, docks, or piers. Piling winches come with a variety of attachments to make them suitable to a range of project needs, including casings, tripods, chisels, hoppers, and pumps.
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