Steel Pipe Pile Installation

Steel pipe piles form a solid foundation for structures such as buildings, bridges and roads. Pipe piles can be driven or drilled deep into the ground and transfer the load of a building to the stronger soil or rock below. Each different technique can be used depending on the situation and the load the pipe needs to support. This article will introduce in detail the installation method of steel pipe piles.

Common Installation Methods of Steel Pipe Piles

The two main installation methods used to install pipe piles include driving pipe piles or drilling pipe piles deep into the ground. Each of these primary methods can be accomplished using a number of different techniques, depending on the type of pipe pile used and the environment in which the pipe pile is installed.

- Driven Pipe Piles

Driving pipe piles Special equipment can be used to drive steel piles into the ground. Driving pipe piles into the ground has advantages over drill pipe because the soil displaced when driving a pipe pile into the ground compresses the surrounding soil, creating greater friction against the sides of the pile. This friction can increase the load-bearing capacity of the pipe pile. Driven piles may include open-end piles, which allow soil or sand to enter, or pipe piles with one end of the pipe closed to prevent sand or dirt from entering the center of the pile. Steel pipe piles with one end closed can be filled with concrete to increase stability and retention.

- Drilled Pipe Pile

Drilled pipe piles are also known as caissons,drilled shafts, bored piers, cast-in-drilled-hole piles (CIDH) piles or cast-in-place piles. When using this piling installation method, rotary drilling equipment is used to drive the piles into the ground. Rotary boring or drilling is commonly used for the installation of large diameter piles and for pile construction through particularly dense or hard formations. This method of installing pipe piles can be used in dry ground conditions and when wet drilling in waterlogged formations.

Union Steel Industry sells a variety of pipe piles for construction projects and foundation construction applications. If you are interested in purchasing steel pipe piles or structural pipes from us, please feel free to contact us to learn more about our available pipe and piping services.