Pile Driver

Jul 16, 2021

Causes of Pile Body Fracture During Piling Rig Operation and Methods of Handling

When a piling rig is operating and the pile body suddenly tilts and misaligns, with the pile hammer bouncing and the pile body rebounding, construction must be forcibly stopped.


There are several reasons for pile body fractures during piling rig operation:

  1. 1. Encountering hard strata or obstacles, the pile body may fracture if it cannot withstand the bending strength;

  2. 2. If the pile is not vertical during driving and is corrected after reaching a certain depth, this can cause the pile body to bend. Also, if there is a large vertical deviation during drilling, the pile will sink along this deviation, causing bending;

  3. 3. For piles not long enough, when multiple sections are used for construction, if the connecting sections are not welded on the same axis, bending and twisting may occur;

  4. 4. Repeated striking by the piling rig can cause tensile stress on the pile body, leading to transverse fractures if the stress exceeds the load;

  5. 5. In sandy and stony areas with a lot of debris, if the pile body's strength is insufficient, fractures can occur at weak points during construction;

  6. 6. Other reasons include insufficient concrete strength in the pile body or uneven hardness in certain parts of the pile tip, leading to tilting and bending.


Now that the causes are known, how can fractures be prevented, and what should be done if a pile body fractures?

Before construction with a piling rig, clear obstacles and inspect the quality of the pile body. The slenderness ratio of a single pile section should not exceed 30, and bent pile bodies should not be used again. During construction, if non-verticality is detected, correct it immediately or pull it out directly. In case of severe tilting, strictly follow the operational requirements and ensure that two pile sections are on the same axis. Use the "pile planting method" with vertical deviation controlled within 1%. Do not use moving pile frames to correct deviations to avoid bending the pile body.

The pile body should be transported and stored according to relevant regulations, and cracked piles should not be used. In complex geological conditions, geological exploration holes can be densified to take effective measures.


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