GB732494A - Improvements in or relating to concrete and the like piles - Google Patents

Abstract

732,494. Piles. GAMMON (MALAYA), Ltd., and MURRAY, J. B. Dec. 16, 1953 [Dec. 30, 1952], No. 32922/52. Class 68(2). A method of casting piles in situ under conditions where water or some other liquid exists above the ground or bed, such as in the sea or in a river bed, consists in forming a column of material such as sand or earth D, Fig. 2, extending from the bed up to a level above the water level and of girth or cross-sectional area greater than that of the pile to be formed and in forming a pile E in situ .through the column D and - in the ground therebeneath. A driving tube with a detachable shoe B is driven into the sea or river bed, a seal consisting of mastic or hemp rope soaked in mastic being placed between the tube and shoe B to prevent water entering the tube. A casing C, which may consist of a circular tube or pipe or may be built up to circular or octagonal shape from sections of steel or timber, is lowered over the tube so as to extend from above the water level to a few feet into the sea bed. After the filling material D has been poured into the space between the driving tube and the casing C, a cast-in-situ pile E, having reinforcement F, is formed inside the tube, the latter being withdrawn. A cap G may be fitted to the top of the casing C before extracting the driving tube to prevent a coating of earth being extracted therewith. When the pile has hardened, the casing C is removed and the material D falls away. The casing of one pile may be braced to the casing of another or to a pile already formed or to temporary staging. In forming a continuous line of piles to carry a bridge pier, Fig. 5, an inner casing J and an outer one K are lowered a few feet into the sea bed, projections S forming guides for the driving tubes being provided on the opposing faces of the casings J, K. A driving tube T 1 is driven in the position M and a second tube T 2 is driven, touching tube T 1 , in the position N. After positioning a temporary partition L, filling material R is poured into the cavity between the tubes Ti, T 2 and the casing J, K. A pile is then formed at M, the driving tube T 1 being withdrawn and redriven at O. More filling material R is inserted, a pile formed at N and tube T 2 is withdrawn and redriven at P. Thus a complete circle of piles is formed. Alternatively the space between casings J, K is filled with material R and the tubes T 1 , T 2 are driven therethrough. The earth inside the ring of piles may be excavated and the cavity filled with concrete or stone and cement grout. In forming a line of piles for a sea or river wall, Fig. 7, the casings follow the required contour and are removed as the work proceeds and refixed further ahead. Two or more separate tubes such as T 1 , T 2 may be driven simultaneously or may be replaced by a single element having a similar shape. An intensively mixed cement grout such as prepared in a machine according to Specifications 536,444 or 694,117, [both in Group II], may be used in conjunction with the method of Specification 694,242.