Interesting facts about Piling Equipment
In the world of construction, piling and shoring often play a key role with most building and infrastructure projects requiring piling operations at some point. Here we take a look at some interesting facts surrounding the piling industry and its related products.
With the advancement of technology, the quality of equipment and machinery has dramatically improved thanks to cutting edge design technology. The piling industry as a whole has benefited from this advancement in equipment, resulting in faster, safer and more cost-effective outcomes.
Structures such as housing, cofferdams, bridges and roadworks require specialist equipment to deliver the ever increasing demands of the construction industry. For pile driving, one of the most versatile hammers are Excavator Mounted Vibrators (EMVs), used for sheet pile driving and extracting. They are particularly useful due to their ability to add an additional vertical force from the excavator to assist the driving process. A VibroSafe Adaptor can be used to provide a direct connection to the excavator’s quick hitch system, enabling ease of driving between adjacent piles and benefiting from the machine’s on-board hydraulic system.
When are vibratory hammers most effective?
A ground or bore hole assessment may indicate that the ground is of a cohesive or granular nature. In this case, an EMV or a Free Suspended Vibrator (FSV) will be most effective due to their ability to make the soil ‘fluid’ by the vibrations as the pile travels through the ground.
For the installation of longer piles, tube profiles and other sections, a Side Grip Vibratory Hammer can be used for picking up stacked sheet piles and also for the driving process. As well as the ability to tilt the hammer backwards and forwards, the Side Grip Piling Hammer can also rotate through 360 degrees to give maximum versatility.
When are impact hammers most effective?
As the name suggests, Impact Hammers provide a dynamic force by administering a series of single blows to the top of the pile. In the case of Excavator Mounted Impact Hammers, a control unit inside the excavator’s cab allows the operator to precisely position the hammer over the pile to deliver a single blow or a series of blows.
Impact hammers operate in conditions where the ground would be too compact or hard for vibratory hammers. Although Impact Hammers generate significantly more noise than Vibratory Hammers, they are by far the best tool for deep penetration in difficult ground conditions.
The role of vibration monitoring
Vibration monitoring is usually performed from the outset of a building or construction project to monitor the levels of vibration in and around a specific area of work. Vibrations that may have an impact on surrounding structures may be caused by pile driving, but may also originate from demolition equipment such as hydraulic hammers etc. Below are just a few areas where excessive vibration could cause a problem if levels were to fall outside of safe limits:
- Cracks appearing in buildings
- Basement works with vulnerable adjoining buildings
- Buried utilities damage
- Heritage sites
- Hospitals
- Natural habitats
Piletec’s Vibration Monitoring System is a most efficient and high quality product that uses Micro-electromechanical Systems (MEMS) technology to take accurate measurements in real time and send the results wirelessly to a web based platform. The Vibration Monitor has auto-axis alignment, allowing it to be installed on any surface, even on a ceiling. It can also be easily relocated as a construction project develops.
Monitoring vibration levels in this way means operators can take steps to minimise vibration levels by altering the piling method, adjusting the driving force or implementing other mitigating actions to regulate the level of vibration. The collected data can be later analysed and used to predict the likely vibration levels of future construction activities, improving safety and efficiency in planning and ensuring compliance with legal requirements.