Piers and Cassions

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Additional Information

Introduction to Pier and Caissons


Piers
pile foundations Drilled pier foundations
➢ Small diameter ➢ Large diameter

➢ Diameter </= 0.75m ➢ Diameter >/= 0.75m

➢ installed by driving ➢ installed by Excavating

➢ cast-in-situ ➢ Cast-in-situ
A pile greater than 0.75m is called a large diameter bored-cast-in-
situ pile,

Drilled piers, drilled shafts, and sometimes drilled caisson


Types of Drilled Pier
• classified according to their function and load resistance.
• The three main types of Piers are (Teferra A.)

1) Floating piers in homogeneous soils


2) End-bearing piers in soil
3) End-bearing piers in rock.

• The materials of the pier may be of concrete, concrete in steel


shell, or concrete plus steel core in steel shell.
Types of Drilled Pier
Advantage of Drilled Piers
• Advantage
1. Pier of any length and size can be constructed at the site
2. Inspection of drilled holes is possible because of the larger
diameter of the shafts
3. Very large loads can be carried by a single drilled pier foundation
thus eliminating the necessity of a pile cap
4. Ground vibration that is normally associated with driven piles is
absent in drilled pier construction
5. Bearing capacity can be increased by under-reaming the bottom
(in non-caving materials)
Disadvantage of Drilled Piers

1. Installation of drilled piers needs a careful supervision and


quality control of all the materials used in the construction
2. The method is bulky. It needs sufficient storage space for all
the materials used in the construction
3. The advantage of increased bearing capacity due to
compaction in granular soil that could be obtained in driven piles
is not there in drilled pier construction
4. Construction at heavy current of ground water flow due to
artesian pressure is very difficult.
General Construction Methods of Drilled Pier

1. The dry method


(applicable to soil and rock that are above the water table and that
will not cave or slump when the hole is drilled to its full depth)

2. The casing method


(applicable to sites where the soil conditions are such that caving or
excessive soil or rock deformation can occur when a hole is drilled)

3. The slurry method


(involves the use of a prepared slurry to keep the bore hole stable
for the entire depth of excavation)
Vertical Bearing Capacity Of Drilled Piers

Drilled piers transfer loads from superstructures to


lower soil strata by
a) Skin friction
b) End bearing
c) A combination of skin friction and end bearing

Bearing Capacity of Drilled Piers in Cohesive Soils


Design of drilled piers
• The actual design of drilled piers involves:

a. Decision on the depth of the pier;

b. Determination of the allowable bearing capacity of the


system, including the adhesion and shear resistance on the
periphery of the shaft and socket for the given soil profile;

c. Selection of the type and size of the pier and

d. Design of the elements of the pier.


Introduction to Caissons
➢ Caissons are also said to be well foundations.
➢ Caissons are box-type structural elements of a
foundation, consisting of many cells built either of
timber, steel, concrete or a combination of them,
➢ They are used to transmit large loads through water
and poor material to firm strata.
➢ Major areas in bridge piers, quay walls, shore
protection structures, water-front structures, etc.
Caissons
Caissons
Prefer when any or all of the following conditions exist :

(a)The soil contains large boulders which obstruct


penetration of piles.
(b) A massive substructure is required to extend to or
below a river bed to provide resistance against destructive
forces due to floating objects, scour, etc.
(c) The foundation is subjected to large lateral forces.
Caissons

Caissons may be divided into three categories according to


their methods of construction. These are
1. Open caissons
2. Pneumatic caissons (or compressed-air caissons) &
3. Box caissons (or floating caissons)
Types of Caissons
open caisson
• An open caisson essentially consists of a box, open at top and
bottom .
• The material is removed by dredging or grabbing from inside
the caisson.
• Depending on the size of the caisson, its interior may be
subdivided into cells by diaphragms.

• Major Advantage is their low cost and ability to be extended to


great depths.
• Disadvantage:
a) Commonly, the concrete seal is placed under water, its
function is not as satisfactory.
b) the soil near the cutting edges may require hand excavation
by divers.
Pneumatic caissons
• The essential difference between open caissons and pneumatic
caissons is in the provision of a working chamber filled with
compressed air

• Top of the caisson is closed. and compressed air is introduced to


prevent water from entering the working chamber.

• The excavation is done in dry conditions, thus giving the workers


a better chance to have control over the construction work.

• Placement of the seal will also be carried out in dry conditions,


thus giving a reliable quality.

• Pneumatic caissons should be deployed as a last-resort solution,


due to high-cost and health hazard.
Box caissons (Floating caissons)
• is basically a box with a bottom or base.

• usually cast on land and towed to the site, and then sunk onto a
previously leveled soil base

• Box caissons are used where the construction of an open caisson is


costly or not feasible.

• They are advantageously used in a site where the bearing stratum is


near the ground surface.

• The ground must be leveled or excavated so as to acquire a level


surface. It must also be protected against scouring.

• In addition, box caissons shall be checked for floating stability since


they are commonly towed on sites.
Application of Caisson Foundation in Civil Engineering
• It is used in the construction of piers of the bridges in the
water bodies.
• Caisson is also used in the construction of large and Multi-
Floor Buildings.
• Caissons provide a platform for installation of machineries
and pumps below the ground level.
• Pneumatic Caissons are used in the construction of
railway bridges.
• Caissons are also used to provide access to the shaft and
tunnels.

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