Generally, there are two types of foundations: Shallow and deep. Shallow foundations are used when the load-bearing capacity is higher than the force implied by the structure on top of it. On the other hand, deep foundations are required when the soil does not have enough strength to support the weight of the load. Jacob Engineers’ professional team of structural consultants in Chennai provides the best support for the building by deciding the choice of foundation. This blog post will highlight the forms of pile foundation and its use in construction.
Use of pile foundation
Pile foundation is very effective in transferring the load through weak soil or surface onto stiffer and compact surfaces. Generally, this kind of foundation comes into play when a large structure is built on soil that has inadequate power to hold the weight of the loads.
Each pile would have a zone of influence on the soil that surrounds it. Therefore, the engineers ensure to space every pile so that the weight is equally distributed along the entire section of the soil.
Here are some instances where the pile foundation would be very helpful:
- If the superstructure imposes heavy and uneven loads
- The groundwater is high
- The soil is very compressible and not stiff
- If there is a deep canal or drainage system beside the structure
- The soil cannot be excavated to the preferred depth due to poor soil properties
Forms of pile foundation
Pile foundation segregates the weight from a material that has a low bearing or up-lift capacity to a firm stratum that can support the load without displacement. There are various types of pile foundations that our structural design consultants in Chennai consider based on the soil type.
1 – Friction Piles
This pile foundation uses friction to distribute the load of the soil. In simple terms, the cylindrical surface of the pile transfers the weight to the ground.
2 – End-bearing piles
In this type of foundation, the lower end of the pile rests on a stiff soil layer. It behaves like a column. The underlying principle of end-bearing piles is that the bottom layer is set on the conjunction of the weak and the firm soil. Therefore, the load is safely transferred to the strong soil layer.
3 – Screw piles
As the name suggests, screw piles are driven into the ground. This process is similar to that of driving a nail into wood. The screw piles cut through the soil because of the helix or a spiral-shaped blade wrapped around the pile. Based on the soil strength or load, the engineers might increase the number of helices.
4 – Driven piles
These piles are also called displacement piles. They are very prevalent in foundations that support bridges, towers, tanks, and so on. Driven piles make a cost-effective solution for the engineers and therefore, they get a lot of preference, assuming that the soil condition is suitable for driven piles.
5 – Timber piles
Timber piles are very effective for temporary as well as permanent structures. They can be found in many old buildings and are still widely used because of their extraordinary load-bearing capacity and cost-effectiveness.
Jacob Engineers have a talented team of engineering consultants in Chennai who advise on the necessary enhancements to improve the structural integrity of the construction.