Micropile Benefits and Application
December 16, 2009
Micropile applications afford commercial construction firms the ability to establish, or re-establish, structural integrity in building foundations.
In a typical commercial project a geotechnical engineer will perform an analysis on the surface and sub-surface of a job site to determine the site composite and recommend materials and processes that will result in the erection of a sound structure. These engineers are highly concerned with soil, rock (including bedrock properties), fault distribution, and a multitude of other elements that will determine how a structure will interact with the existing environment. They are responsible for designing the type of foundation that will be used as a result of their study.
Once a design is approved, a project plan is established which takes into consideration the surrounding site environment. If piles are required to establish a sound foundation, decisions are required to select the most effective piling application. As is often the case, new structures are created on the site of razed buildings from generations’ past. The process may include extracting piles that were necessary during the construction of the previous foundation.
Additional variables may be present in the new project plan that were not present when the previous structure was created. Heavily populated cities often have limited space available for construction equipment on adjacent lots. The erection of cranes to execute the driving of piles using a vibratory pile driver may not be permissible. Diesel hammer pile drivers may also not be welcomed in a densely populated commercial area due to the noise that is created during the process.
Micropiling offers a substantial benefit to both construction firm and client in difficult situations. Hydraulic crawler mounted drill rigs provide a viable alternative to the massive machines utilized for traditional piling applications. Although these machines are smaller and able to access areas that would not be possible with larger piling machines, the rigs weigh tens of thousands of pounds and their ability to generate torque required for drilling through bedrock is quite amazing.
These smaller piling applications are commonly used to establish new support where an existing foundation is failing, or to provide additional support when a structure is being renovated. The versatility of the machinery permits it to operate where previously there was not an economical alternative. Also, due to its minimal impact on its surroundings, micropile machinery is a welcomed solution on environmentally sensitive projects.
International Construction Equipment (ICE) is located in Matthews, NC and has been manufacturing premiere construction equipment for over 25 years. Their product line includes a variety of top of the line pile driving equipment including drill rigs especially designed for micropile applicatio
Benefits of Pile Drill Rigs
December 4, 2009
The variety of drill rigs used in construction applications has dramatically increased since Otis Tufts introduced the first steam driven pile driver in the 1800s. This increase in driver types is a direct result of technology’s hand playing a critical role in the advancement of developments that permit various models to cover the range of pile driving applications.
A typical commercial construction job site is a beehive of activity. A typical onlooker may perceive the activity as complete and total chaos; however, the actions of the workers follow a well developed plan with each worker following orders from the chain of command in their respective organization. Additionally, the work crews from the multiple companies on the job site understand that they need to coexist with each other to complete the overall goal of finishing the project, so they follow a predetermined progression of tasks that are logical to project managers and the site superintendant.
The first major task in most any commercial construction project the establishment of a sound and secure foundation on which the project will rest. There is no shortage of varieties of combinations that a foundation contractor will face as they begin the effort of digging into the earth to begin the process of laying a foundation. Various soil types of clay, sand, and silt, as well as a litany of rock types result in the need for powerful machinery to carve into, drill into, or vibrate into the earth.
Obstacles can be transparent, but still pose enormously difficult challenges to a project. When construction projects are executed in an environment with the presence of water (river, lake, or sea) a cofferdam must be constructed. A cofferdam creates an area void of water for foundations to be built.
Once the site is prepared and tested, a geotechnical engineer’s recommendations are put into effect. Foundation contractors may have to incorporate a variety of drill rigs to accomplish the task of crafting a dependable foundation.
Drill rigs differ from pile drivers by the nature that they penetrate the earth. Drill rigs are often utilized in circumstances where the utilization of traditional pile driving equipment poses a threat or an inconvenience to the surroundings environment, where larger machinery is impractical, or where the removal of soil may not be desired; among other reasons.
There is little argument that most skyscraper buildings are constructed in heavily populated cities across the globe. The development of these projects creates audacious noise. Unfortunately many hospitals are also located in these areas. The loud pounding of a diesel hammer drill rig is often not desired by these institutions, nor is it welcomed by many business owners who strive to keep their businesses profitable during the inconvenience of construction. Drilling into the earth is a less intrusive option; however, sometimes efficiency is compromised.
Many construction projects, such as those that include renovation to an existing building, may be wrought with access challenges where larger drill rigs are not able to access. Compact drill rigs are able to navigate through narrow passageways and maneuver nimbly throughout the jobsite to achieve the desired goals.
Contaminate soil is often expensive to haul away from a jobsite; therefore, drill rigs that do not remove soil from the ground as the drill rig penetrates the earth can be a cost-effective solution.
Drill rigs are an excellent option for foundation contractors who are confronted with challenges that impact a project’s timeline, and ultimately the project’s cost.
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