Types of Pile - Free MCQ Practice Test with solutions, GATE Civil Soil

(i) End bearing Pile: Piles which acts as columns and transfer the structural load to a hard and relatively incompressible stratum at a greater depth such as rock or dense sand are known as end-bearing piles. These piles derive the required bearing capacity from end bearing at the tip of the pile.

(ii) Compaction piles: These piles are used to compact loose granular soil to increase its bearing capacity. Compaction piles do not carry the load and hence they can be of weaker material. Sand piles can be used as compaction piles.

(iii) ) Fender piles and dolphins: Fender piles and dolphins are used to protect waterfront structure from the impact of any floating object or ships.

(iv) Anchor piles: These piles are generally used to provide anchorage against horizontal pull from sheet piling.

The art of driving was first well-established in Roman times and the details of such foundation were recorded by Vitruvius in 59 A.D.

Compaction piles are used to compact loose granular soil, thus increasing their bearing capacity.

Pile foundation:

A pile is a slender structural member made of steel, concrete, or wood. A pile is either driven into the soil or formed in-situ by excavating a hole and fitting it with concrete.

The precast concrete piles are generally used for a maximum design load of about 80 tonnes, except for large pre-stressed piles.

Raymond standard pile and Raymond step-taper pile are the common types of cast-in-situ piles.

Piles are commonly driven by means of hammer supported by a crane or by a special device known as pile drivers.

If a hammer is raised by steam, compressed air or internal combustion, but is allowed to fall by gravity alone, it is called as single acting hammer. The energy of such hammer is equal to the weight of the ram times the height of the fall.

Single acting hammers are advantageous when driving heavy piles in compact or hard piles.

Based on the function or the use, piles may be classified as 1) end bearing piles 2) friction piles 3) compaction piles 4) tension pile 5) anchor pile 6) fender pile 7) batter pile 8) sheet pile.