Pile Driver Versatility July 9, 2010

Pile driving techniques have never been more numerous than they are today. The construction boom of the new millennium brought forth an unbelievable need for crews to work smarter and more efficiently than they likely had seen in the previous 20 years. Due to the utility and technological advancements in pile driving machinery, engineers and architects were “breaking new ground” in the development of foundations. This is also due in large part to the abilities and intelligence that has been gained over the years by the workmen who guide and operate these astonishing machines.

Pile drivers have been around since the Roman Empire, when Caesar used a rudimentary version of them to build bridges across the Rhine River; which allowed him to create a perception that Rome’s power was superior and any invasion by outside forces would likely be highly unsuccessful. The evolution of modern day pile driving machinery has been advanced in parallel with the development of “tools” than have made the simple process much more efficient and effective. A few of these beneficial inventions include the steam engine, the internal combustion machine, and the highly refined workings of hydraulics.

Engineers now have at their command, the knowledge that most any structure can become a reality as long as they adhere to the principles of engineering for their basis. There is almost no limit to the projects that can be created, regardless of its size or location.

The Aldar HQ building in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates is a fascinating example of the marvels that can be achieved when utilizing all of the capabilities known to man. The structure is truly one of a kind in its design; a coin shaped building that is roughly 15 times as long as it is wide. This structure created a multitude of questions during its design and construction simply because there is not another structure like it in the world.

Most super structures adhere to a rectangular or square shape, allowing engineers to develop a foundation that takes into consideration the “tried and true” expectations of foundation construction. Data on wind impact is plentiful for buildings that fall within the traditional composition. The design of the Aldar HQ building brought forth a structure that was unlike any other building, and therefore there was no existing benchmarking data available to the engineers to understand what affects the local winds would have upon the structure, and ultimately the foundation that supports it.

Test returned information that illustrated how the wind would have a tendency to twist the structure. Foundation contractors had to ensure that the structure would be sound and therefore overbuilt the foundation to prevent failure.
Before construction on the foundation itself could begin, a diaphragm wall comprised of interlocking steel sheets was constructed in the earth around the perimeter of the project. The Aldar HQ’s location was closer to the sea than the engineers would have liked due to the limited land available in the area. The steel sheets were driven in with a pile driver and then over 400 concrete piles were utilized to secure the deep foundation to the bedrock. Countless pile driving machines were busy on location during the process. These machines included vibratory pile driver/extractors, diesel hammer pile drivers, and drill rigs. The Aldar HQ building finished construction on time due to the tremendous efforts of the workmen on site and the advanced machines that make up today’s available 
 

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