Bored piles are a very effective, state-of-the-art construction element with many applications in foundation and civil engineering. Temporary and permeant steel casings are used for a number of engineering reasons.
Common uses
Ensuring critical verticality tolerances are achieved to protect existing buildings or underground structures
To achieve adequate pile overlap at depth when installing an interlocking (secant) pile wall
Where greater lateral and shear capacity are needed for slope stabilisation or prevention of landslides
To bypass pile loads into unsuitable strata and avoid negative skin friction
To temporarily support an open bore at depth
To facilitate pile cut off levels above working platform level
Process
A casing is installed by rotation, oscillation or vibration, soil drilled out using specialised tools, and additional lengths of casing(s) jointed and installed to a predetermined depth. Full length reinforcing steel is then lowered into the hole which is then filled with concrete. Temporary casings are then recovered.
Advantages
Can support high loads
Can transfer loads
Can achieve strict tolerances for verticality
Various diameters available from 450mm upwards
Minimal settlement and deformation
Minimum vibration
Quality assurance
Keller uses a variety of quality assurance methods for our products including top down and integrity testing, bottom bi-directional pile load tests, and digital recording and logging of the execution parameters.