The objective of this handbook is to discuss briefly the state of the art in assessing the bearing capacity, drivability, load testing, and the execution of deep foundations by means of HP steel piles.
The engineer designing this type of foundation must inquire into and follow up on site the following questions which will be discussed in detail in this publication:
- subsoil investigations must provide sufficient geotechnical information to calculate the bearing capacity of HP piles and enable a decision to be made on how to install them;
- the design of the HP piles. The calculation of the bearing capacity based on French regulations, and a broad general view of methods used in other countries are given;
- piling forecasts. Driving forecasts, which nowadays simulate driving by the use of computer software, allow driving curves to be drawn, as well as providing advice on the choice of the driving system and an estimate of the stresses in the steel section;
- checking the pile installation by means of driving records or by instrumentation of the pile being driven, as well as by static and dynamic tests;
- the common methods of piling by impact or vibration.
English
