Test: Types of Piles - Civil Engineering (CE) MCQ

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.

Fender piles and dolphins are used to protect waterfront structures against the impact of ships or other floating objects.

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.

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.

Sheet piles are commonly used as bulkheads, or as an impervious cutoff to reduce seepage and uplift under the hydraulic structure.

Modern pile driving started with the first steam pile drivers, invented by Nasmyth in 1845.