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ESDEPWG15A
STRUCTURALSYSTEMS:OFFSHORE

Lecture15A.6:Foundations
OBJECTIVE\SCOPE
toclassifydifferenttypesofpiles
tounderstandmaindesignmethods
tocovervariousmethodsofinstallation
PREREQUISITES
Lecture1B.2.2:LimitStateDesignPhilosophyandPartialSafetyFactors
Lectures10.6:ShearConnection
Lectures12.4:FatigueBehaviourofHollowSectionJoints
Lecture15A.12:ConnectionsinOffshoreDeckStructures
Lecture17.5:RequirementsandVerificationsofSeismicResistantStructures
Ageneralknowledgeofdesigninoffshorestructuresandanunderstandingofoffshoreinstallationarealsorequired.
SUMMARY
Inthislecturepiledfoundationsforoffshorestructuresarepresented.Thelecturestartswiththeclassificationofsoil.Themainstepsinthe
designofpilesarethenexplained.Thedifferentkindsofpilesandhammersaredescribed.Thethreemainexecutionphasesarebriefly
discussed:fabrication,transportandinstallation.

1.INTRODUCTION
1.1ClassificationofSoils
Thestratigraphyoftheseabedresultsfromacomplexgeologicalprocessduringwhichvariousmaterialsweredeposited,remouldedand
pressedtogether.
Soiltextureconsistsofsmallmineralororganicparticlesbasicallycharacterizedbytheirgrainsizeandmutualinteraction(friction,cohesion).
Thepropertiesofaspecificsoildependmainlyonthefollowingfactors:
density.
watercontent.
overconsolidationratio.
Fordesignpurposestheinfluenceofthesefactorsonsoilbehaviourisexpressedintermsoftwofundamentalparameters:
frictionangle.
undrainedshearstrengthCu.
Sincetheleastsignificantofeitheroftheseparametersisoftenneglected,soilscanbeclassifiedwithin"ideal"categories:
granularsoils.
cohesivesoils.

1.2GranularSoils
Granularsoilsarenonplasticsoilswithnegligiblecohesionbetweenparticles.Theyinclude:
sands:characterizedbylargetomediumparticlesizes(1mmto0,05mm)offeringahighpermeability,
silts:characterizedbyparticlesizesbetween0,05and0,02mmtheyaregenerallyoverconsolidatedtheymayexhibitsomecohesion.

1.3CohesiveSoils
Claysareplasticsoilswithparticlesizeslessthan0,002mmwhichtendtosticktogethertheirpermeabilityislow.

1.4MultiLayeredStrata

Thenatureandcharacteristicsofthesoilsurroundingapilegenerallyvarywiththedepth.Foranalysispurposes,thesoilisdividedintoseveral
layers,eachhavingconstantpropertiesthroughout.Thenumberoflayersdependsontheprecisionrequiredoftheanalysis.

2.DESIGN
Steeloffshoreplatformsareusuallyfoundedonpiles,drivendeepintothesoil(Figure1).Thepileshavetotransfertheloadsactingonthe
jacketintotheseabed.Inthissectiontheoreticalaspectsofthedesignofpilesarepresented.Checkingofthepileitselfisdescribedindetailin
theWorkedExample.

2.1DesignLoads
Theseloadsarethosetransferredfromthejackettothefoundation.Theyarecalculatedatthemudline.
2.1.1Gravityloads
Gravityloads(platformdeadloadandliveloads)aredistributedasaxialcompressionforcesonthepilesdependingupontheirrespective
eccentricity.
2.1.2Environmentalloads
Environmentalloadsduetowaves,current,wind,earthquake,etc.arebasicallyhorizontal.Theirresultantatmudlineconsistsof:
sheardistributedashorizontalforcesonthepiles.
overturningmomentonthejacket,equilibratedbyaxialtension/compressioninsymmetricallydisposedpiles(upstream/downstream).
2.1.3Loadcombinations

Thebasicgravityandenvironmentalloadsmultipliedbyrelevantloadfactorsarecombinedinordertoproducethemostsevereeffect(s)at
mudline,resultingin:
verticalcompressionorpulloutforce,and
lateralshearforceplusbending.

2.2StaticAxialPileResistance
Theoverallresistanceofthepileagainstaxialforceisthesumofshaftfrictionandendbearing.
2.2.1Lateralfrictionalongtheshaft(shaftfriction)
Skinfrictionismobilizedalongtheshaftofthetubularpile(andpossiblyalsoalongtheinnerwallwhenthesoilplugisnotremoved).
Theunitshaftfriction:
forsands:isproportionaltotheoverburdenpressure,
forclays:iscalculatedbythe"alpha"or"lambda"methodandisaconstantequaltotheshearstrengthCuatgreatdepth.
Lateralfrictionisintegratedalongthewholepenetrationofthepile.
2.2.2Endbearing
Endbearingistheresultantofbearingpressureoverthegrossendareaofthepile,i.e.withorwithouttheareaofplugifrelevant.
Thebearingpressure:
forclays:isequalto9Cu.
forsands:isproportionaltotheoverburdenpressureasexplainedinSection6.4.2ofAPIRP2A[1].
2.2.3Pilepenetration
Thepilepenetrationshallbesufficienttogenerateenoughfrictionandbearingresistanceagainstthemaximumdesigncompressionmultiplied
bytheappropriatefactorofsafety.Nobearingresistancecanbemobilizedagainstpullout:thefrictionavailablemustbeequatedtothepull
outforcemultipliedbytheappropriatefactorofsafety.

2.3LateralPileResistance
Theshearatthemudlinecausedbyenvironmentalloadsisresistedbylateralbearingofthepileonthesoil.Thisactionmaygeneratelarge
deformationsandhighbendingmomentsinthepartofthepiledirectlybelowthemudline,particularlyinsoftsoils.
2.3.1Pycurves
Pycurvesrepresentthelateralsoilresistanceversusdeflection.Theshapeofthesecurvesvarieswiththedepthandthetypeofsoilatthe
consideredelevation.Thegeneralshapeofthecurvesforincreasingdisplacementfeatures:
elastic(linear)behaviourforsmalldeflections,
elastic/plasticbehaviourformediumdeflections,
constantresistanceforlargedeflectionsorlossofresistancewhenthesoilskeletondeteriorates(clayundercyclicloadinparticular).
2.3.2Lateralpileanalysis
Foranalysispurposes,thesoilismodelledaslumpednonlinearspringsdistributedalongthepile.Thefourthorderdifferentialequationwhich
expressesthepiledeformationisintegratedbysuccessiveiterations,thesecantstiffnessofthesoilspringsbeingupdatedateachstep.
Forlargedeformations,thesecondordercontributionoftheaxialcompressiontothebendingmoment(PDeltaeffect)shallbetakeninto
account.

2.4PileDriving
Pilesinstalledbydrivingareforcedintothesoilbyaramhittingthetop.Theimpactistransmittedalongthepileintheformofawave,which
reflectsonthepiletip.Theenergyisprogressivelylostbyplasticfrictiononthesidesandbearingatthetipofthepile.
2.4.1Empiricalformulae
Aconsiderablenumberofempiricalformulaeexisttopredictpiledriveability.Eachformulaisgenerallylimitedtoaparticulartypeofsoiland
hammer.
2.4.2Waveequation
Thismethodofanalysingthedrivingprocessconsistsofrepresentingtheensembleofpile/soil/hammerasaonedimensionalassemblyof
masses,springsanddashpots:

thepileismodelledasadiscreteassemblyofmassesandelasticsprings.
thesoilisidealizedasamasslessmediumcharacterizedbyelasticperfectlyplasticspringsandlineardashpots.
thehammerismodelledasamassfallingwithaninitialvelocity.
thecushionisrepresentedbyaweightlessspring(seeFigure3).
thepilecapisrepresentedbyamassofinfiniterigidity.

Theenergyoftheramhittingthetopofthepilegeneratesastresswaveinthepile,whichdissipatesprogressivelybyfrictionbetweenthepile
andthesoilandbyreflectionattheextremitiesofthepile.
Theplasticdisplacementofthetiprelativetothesoilisthesetachievedbytheblow.Curvescanbedrawntorepresentthenumberofblowsper
unitlengthrequiredtodrivethepileatdifferentpenetrations.
Thewaveequation,thoughrepresentingthemostrigorousassessmenttodateofthedrivingprocess,stillsuffersalackofaccuracy,mostly
causedbytheinaccuraciesinthesoilmodel.

3.DIFFERENTKINDSOFPILES
Drivenpilesarethemostpopularandcostefficienttypeoffoundationforoffshorestructures.
AsshowninFigure2,thefollowingalternativesmaybechosenwhendrivingprovesimpractical:
insertpiles.

drilledandgroutedpiles.
belledpiles.

3.1DrivenPiles
Pilesareusuallymadeupinsegments.Afterplacinganddrivingthefirstlongsegment,extensionsegmentscalledaddonsaresetonpieceby
pieceasdrivingproceedsuntiltheoveralldesignlengthisachieved.
InrecentyearsonepiecepileshavebeenwidelyusedintheNorthSeasincetheoffshoreworkisconsiderablyreduced.
Wallthicknessmayvary.Athickerwallissometimesrequired:
insectionsfrommudlinedowntoaspecifieddepthwithinwhichbendingstressesareespeciallyhigh,
atthepiletip(drivingshoe)toresistlocalbearingstresseswhiledriving.
Uniformwallthicknessishoweverpreferablethusavoidingconstructionandinstallationproblems.

3.2InsertPiles
Insertpilesaresmallerdiameterpilesdriventhroughthemainpilefromwhichthesoilplughasbeenpreviouslydrilledout.Theyaretherefore
notsubjectedtoskinfrictionoverthelengthofthemainpileandcanreachsubstantialadditionalpenetration.
Theinsertpileisweldedtothemainpileatthetopofthejacketandtheannularspacebetweenthetubesisgrouted.
Thistypeofpileisused:
inapreplannedsituation:performanceisgoodalthoughmaterialandinstallationcostsarehigherthanfornormaldrivenpiles.
asanemergencyprocedure:whenscheduledpilescannotbedriventotherequiredpenetration,resultingthereforeinoneofthefollowing
drawbacks.
athickerwallsectionofthemainpilewillbewithinthejacketheightinsteadofbelowthemudline.
reducedfrictionareaandendbearingpressure,

difficultiesoftennotedforthesettinginofalltherequiredvolumeofgrouting,i.e.theconcernistheleakageofgroutortheimpossibilityto
fillwiththecalculatedvolumeofgrout.

3.3DrilledandGroutedPiles
Thisprocedureistheonlymeansofinstallingpileswithtensionresistanceinhardsoilsorsoftrocksitresemblesthatfordrillingaconductor
well.
Anoversizedholeisinitiallydrilledtotheproposedpilepenetrationdepth.Thepileisthenlowereddown,sometimescentredintheholeby
spacersandtheannularspacebetweenthepileshaftandthesurroundingsoilisgrouted.
Designuncertaintyresultsbecause:
hardsoilformationsoftenswhenexposedtothewaterormudusedduringdrillingandexhibitslowerskinfrictionresistance.
incaseofcalcareoussand,externalgroutingjustcrushesthesand,slightlyextendingtheeffectivepilediameterbutnotincreasingthe
frictionsignificantly.

3.4BelledPiles
Whilebelledpiles,onland,areusedtodecreasethebearingstressunderapile,offshorebelledpilesprovidealargebearingareatoincreasetip
upliftresistance.
Themainpile,normallydriven,serveshereasacasingthroughwhicharigdrillsaslightlyoversizedholeahead.Abellingtool(underreamer)
thenenlargesthesockettoaconicalbellwithabasediameterafewtimesthatofthemainpile.Aheavyreinforcementcageisloweredinside
thebellwhichissubsequentlyfilledwithconcretemadeusingfineaggregate(maximumsize10mm).

4.FABRICATIONANDINSTALLATION
4.1Fabrication
Thepilesareusuallymadeupof"cans"cylindersofrolledplatewithalongitudinalseam.Singlecansaretypically1,5mlongormore.
Longitudinalseamsoftwoadjacentsegmentsarerotated90apartatleast.
Bevellingismandatoryshouldthewallthicknessdifferenceexceed3mmbetweenadjacentcans.Maximumdeviationfromstraightnessis
specified(0.1%inlength).
CommonlyusedsteelgradeisX52orX60.
Theoutsidesurfaceofgroutedpilesshouldbefreeofmillscaleandvarnished.
Incertaininstances,steelpilesareprotectedunderwaterbysacrificialanodesorbyimpressedcurrent.Inthesplashzoneadditionalthicknessto
allowforcorrosion(3mmforexample)andepoxyorrubberizedcoating,monelorcoppernickelsheetingareprovided.

4.2Transportation
4.2.1Bargetransportation
Pilesegmentsarechokedandfastenedtothebargetopreventthemfromfallingoverboardundersevereseastates.Pileplateshouldbethick
enoughtopreventanydeformationcausedbystacking.
4.2.2Selffloatingmode
Thismethodisattractivewherelongsegmentsofpilearetobeliftedandsetinguidesfarbelowtheseasurface(skirtpilesforexample).
Theendsofthepilesaresealedbysteelclosureplatesorrubberdiaphragmswhichshouldbeabletoresistwaveslammingduringthetow.
4.2.3Transportwithinthejacket
Thepilesarepresetinsidethemainlegsorintheguides/sleeves,generatingadditionalweightandpossiblybuoyancy(ifclosed).Theyare
heldinplacebyshimswhichpreventthemfromescapingfromtheirguidesduringlaunchanduprightingofthejacket.
Severalpilesaredrivenimmediatelyafterthejackethastoucheddown,providinginitialstabilityagainsttheactionofwavesandcurrent.

4.3Hammers
Pilesarepositioned:
eitherinsidethejacketlegs,extendingthefullheightofthejacket,
orencasedinsleevesprotrudingatthebottomofthejacket,runningverticalorparalleltothelegs(typicalbatter1/12to1/6).
Pilescanthenbedrivenusinganytypeofhammer(oracombinationoftypes).HammersareillustratedinFigure3.
4.3.1Steamhammers

Steamhammersarewidelyusedforoffshoreinstallationofjackets.Theyaregenerallysingleactingwithratesofupto40blows/minute.
Energiesofcurrenthammersrangefrom60000to1250000ftlb/blow.(82KNmto1725KNmperblow).
Duringdriving,thehammerwithattacheddrivingheadridesthepileratherthanbeingsupportedbyleads.Thehammerlinefromthecrane
boomisslackenedsoastopreventtransmissionofimpactandvibrationintotheboom.
4.3.2Dieselhammers
Dieselhammersaremuchusedatoffshoreterminals.Theyarelightertohandleandlessenergyconsumingthansteamhammers,buttheir
effectiveenergyislimited.
4.3.3Hydraulichammers
Hydraulichammersarededicatedtounderwaterdriving(skirtpilesterminatingfarbelowtheseasurface).
Menckhydraulichammersarewidelyused.Theyutilizeasolidsteelramandaflexiblesteelpilecaptolimitimpactforces.Theyaredouble
acting.Hydraulicfluidunderhighpressureisusedtoforceapistonorsetofpistons,andinturn,theramupanddown.
PropertiesofsomehammersusedoffshoreareshowninTable1.Aselectionoflargeoffshorepiledrivinghammersdrivingonheavypilesis
alsoshowninTable2.
4.3.4Selectionofhammersize
Selectionofhammersizeisbasedon:
experienceofsimilarsituations(seeQualityControl:Section4.6),
numericalmodellingofdrivingforeachparticularsite(seePileDriving:Section2.4)
Typicalvaluesofpilesizes,wallthicknesses,andhammerenergiesforsteamhammersareshowninTable3.

4.4Installation
4.4.1Pilehandlingandpositioning
Figure4showsthedifferentwaysofprovidingliftingpointsforpositioningpilesections.Padeyesaregenerallyused(weldedinthefabrication
yardtheirdesignshouldtakeintoaccountthechangesinloaddirectionduringlifting).Padeyesarethencarefullycutbeforeloweringthenext
pilesection.

SketchEshowsthedifferentstepsforthepositioningofpilesections:
pileoraddonliftedfromthebargedeck.
rotationofthecranetopositionaddon.
installingandloweringofthepileaddon.
4.4.2Pileconnections
Differentsolutionsforconnectingpilesegmentsbacktobackareused:
eitherbywelding,ShieldedMetalArcWelding(SMAW)orfluxcored,segmentsheldtemporarilybyinternalorexternalstabbingguides
asshowninFigure4.Weldingtimedependsupon:
pilewallthickness:3hoursfor1in.thick(25,4mm)16hoursfor3in.thick,(76,2mm)(typical).
numberandqualificationofthewelders.
environmentalconditions.
orbymechanicalconnectors(asshowninFigure4):
breechblock(twistingmethod).
lugtype(hydraulicmethod).
4.4.3Hammerplacement

Figure5showsthedifferentstepsofthisroutineoperation:

liftingfromthebargedeck.
positioningoverpilebyboomingoutorin(thebellofthehammeractsasastablingguide...veryhelpfulinroughweather).
alignmentofthepilecap.
loweringleadsafterhammerpositionment.
Eachaddonshouldbedesignedtopreventbendingorbucklingfailureduringinstallationandinplaceconditions.
4.4.4Driving
Somepenetrationundertheselfweightofthepileisnormal.Forsoftsoilconditions,particularmeasuresaretakentoavoidanuncontrolled
run.
Pilesarethendrivenordrilleduntilpilerefusal.
Pilerefusalisdefinedastheminimumrateofpenetrationbeyondwhichfurtheradvancementofthepileisnolongerachievablebecauseofthe
timerequiredandthepossibledamagetothepileortothehammer.Awidelyacceptedratefordefiningrefusalis300blows/foot(980
blows/metre).

4.5PiletoJacketConnections
4.5.1Weldedshims
Theshimsareinsertedatthetopofthepilewithintheannulusbetweenthepileandjacketleg(seeFigure6)andweldedafterwards.

4.5.2Mechanicallockingsystem
Thismetaltometalconnectionisachievedbyahydraulicswagingtoolloweredinsidethepileandexpandingitintomachinedgrooves
providedinthesleevesattwoorthreeelevationsasshownonFigure7.

Thistypeofconnectionismostpopularforsubseatemplates.Itoffersimmediatestrengthandthepossibilitytoreentertheconnectionshould
swagingproveincomplete.
4.5.3Grouting
Thishybridconnectionisthemostcommonlyusedforconnectingpilestothemainstructure(inthemudlinearea).Forcesaretransmittedby
shearthroughthegrout.
Figure8showsthetwotypesofpackerscommonlyused.Theexpansive,nonshrinkinggroutmustfillcompletelytheannulusbetweenthepile
andleg(orsleeve).

Bondingshouldbeexcellentitisimprovedbyshearconnectors(shearkeys,stripsorweldbeadsdisposedonthesurfaceofthesleeveandpile
incontactwiththegrout).
Thewidthoftheannulusbetweenpileandsleeveshouldbemaintainedconstantbyuseofcentralizersandbelimitedto:
1,5in.minimum,(38,1mm)
about4in.(101,6mm)maximum(toavoiddestructionofthetensilestrengthofthegroutbyinternalmicrocracking).
Packersareusedtoconfinethegroutandpreventitfromescapingatthebaseofthesleeve.Packersareoftendamagedduringpilingandare
therefore:
installedinadoubleset.
attachedtothebaseofthesleevetoprotectthemduringpileentryanddriving.
Thoroughfillingshouldbecheckedbysuitabledevices,e.g.electricalresistancegauges,radioactivetracers,wellloggingdevicesoroverflow
pipescheckedbydivers.

4.6QualityControl
Qualitycontrolshall:
confirmtheadequacyofthefoundationwithrespecttothedesign.
providearecordofpileinstallationforreferencetosubsequentdrivingofnearbypilesandfuturemodificationstotheplatform.
Theinstallationreportshallmention:
pileidentification(diameterandthickness).
measuredlengthsofaddonsandcutoffs.
selfpenetrationofpile(underitsownweightandunderstaticweightofthehammer).
blowcountthroughoutdrivingwithidentificationofhammerusedandenergy,asshowninFigure9.
recordofincidentsandabnormalities:
unexpectedbehaviourofthepileand/orhammer.
interruptionsofdriving(withsetuptimeandblowcountsubsequentlyrequiredtobreakthepileloose).
piledamageifany.

elevationsofsoilplugandinternalwatersurfaceafterdriving.
informationaboutthepile/structureconnection:
equipmentandprocedureemployed.
overallvolumeofgroutandquality.
recordofinterruptionsanddelays.

4.7ContingencyPlan
Contingencydocumentsshouldprovidebackupsolutionsincase"unforeseen"eventsoccursuchas:
impossibilitytogettherequiredpilepenetration.
mechanicalbreakdownofthehammer.
groutpipeblockage.

5.CONCLUDINGSUMMARY
Thislecturehasdescribed:
thedifficultaspectsoffoundationsinavarietyofsoils.
themultiplicityofsolutionsandthedifferentkindofpilesandhammers.
thecomplexityoftheprocessfromdesigntoinstallation.

6.REFERENCES
[1]APIRP2A,"RecommendedPracticeforPlanning,DesigningandConstructingFixedOffshorePlatforms",AmericanPetroleumInstitute,
Washington,D.C.,18thed.,1989.

7.ADDITIONALREADING
1.McClelland,B.andReifel,M.D.,Planninganddesignoffixedoffshoreplatforms,VonMostrandReinholdCompany(1982).

2.Bowles,J.E.,Foundationanalysisanddesign,MacGrawHillBookCompany(4thedition1988).
3.Bowles,J.E.,AnalyticalandcomputermethodsinFoundationEngineering,MacGrawHillBookCompany(1983).
4.Poulos,H.G.andDavis,E.H.,Pilefoundationanalysisanddesign,JohnWileyandSons(1980).
5.Graff,W.J.,Introductiontooffshorestructures,GulfPublishingCompany(1981).
6.LeTirant,P.,Reconnaissancedessolsenmerpourl'implantationdesouvragesPtroliens,Technip(1976)
7.PieuxdanslesformatinescarbonatesTechnipARGEMA(1988).
8.CapacitpatantedespieuxTechnipARGEMA(1988).
9.Dawson,T.H.,OffshoreStructuralEngineering,PrenticeHallInc(1983).
10.Gerwick,BenC.,ConstructionofOffshoreStructures,JohnWileyandSons(1986).
A. Air/Steam Hammers
Make

Model

Rated

Ram

Max.

Std. Pilecap

Typical

Energy

Weight

Stroke

Weight

Hammer
Weight

(ftlbs)

Conmaco

Menck

(m)

Steam

Air

Hose

Consumption

Consumption

ST/F

(lbs ht)

(lbs ht)

.....

Rated
BPM

Pressure

(kips)
(w/leads)
(kips)

(psi)

6850

510.000

85

72

57,5

312

180

31.500

7.500

2@4

40

5650

325.000

65

60

59,0

262

160

3@4

45

5300

150.000

30

60

12,7

92

160

8.064

1.711

46

300

90.000

30

36

12,7

86

150

6.944

1.471

54

200

60.000

20

36

12,7

74

120

5.563

1.195

59

12500

1.582.220

275,58

69

154,32

853

171

53.910

26.500

2@6

36

8800

954.750

194,01

59

103,62

600

150

32.400

16.700

36

8000

867.960

176,37

59

85,98

564

142

30.860

15.900

38

7000

632.885

154

49

92,4

583

156

30.800

14.830

4@4

35

5000

542.470

110,23

59

66,14

335

150

20.940

10.400

40

4600

499.070

101,41

59

52,91

313

142

19.840

9.900

42

3000

325.480

66,14

59

33,07

205

142

12.130

6.000

42

1800

189.850

38,58

59

22,05

125

142

7.060

3.700

44

850

93.340

18,96

50

11,5

64

142

3.530

1.950

45

OS60

18.000

60

36

OS40

120.000

40

36

OS20

60.000

20

36

38,65

150

60

(MRBS)

MKT

(kips)

Rated
Operating

C. Hydraulic Hammers
Make

Model

Rated Energy

Ram Weight

Standard

Pilecap Weight

(ftlb)

(kips)

(kips)

Hammer
Weight

Typical Operating

Rated

Pressure

Oil Flow

(psi)

(gal. min)

Rated
BPM

(kips)
HMB

4000

Menck

1.200.000

205

490

3000A

800.000

152

414

3000

725.000

139

33

1500

290.000

55

17,6

172

900

170.000

30,8

88

500

72.000

9,5

1,1

27,5

MRBU

4070

760.000

132

84

415

3400

845

5080

MHU 1700

1.230.000

207

77

617

3400

845

3265

MHU 900

650.000

110

386

3100

580

4865

MH 195

141.000

22,0

6,0

59

3550

98

38

MH 165

119.000

19,0

6,0

51

3190

103

42

MH 145

105.000

16,5

6,0

46

2755

102

42

MH 120

87.000

13,9

6,0

40

2320

103

44

MH 96

69.000

11,0

1,9

27

2830

75

48

MH 80

58.000

9,3

1,9

24

2465

75

48

TABLE1Propertiesofsomehammersusedoffshore
Hammer

Rated Striking Energy

Expected Net Energy

(ftlb x 1000)

Type

Blows per
Minute

Weight including
Offshore Cage, if any
(metric tons)

60

300

750

1040

673

600

(ftlb x
1000)

KNm

On Anvil

On Pile

Vulcan 3250

Singleacting steam

HBM 3000

Hydraulic underwater

5060

175

1034

1430

542

542

HBM 3000 A

Hydraulic underwater

4070

190

1100

1520

796

796

HBM 3000 P

Slender hydraulic underwater

4070

170

1120

1550

800

800

Menck MHU 900

Slender hydraulic underwater

4865

135

651

618

Menck MRBS 8000

Singleacting steam

38

280

868

1200

715

629

Vulcan 4250

Singleacting steam

53

337

1000

1380

901

800

HBM 4000

Hydraulic underwater

4070

222

1700

2350

1157

1157

Vulcan 6300

Singleacting steam

37

380

1800

2490

1697

1440

Menck MRBS 12500

Singleacting steam

38

385

1582

2190

1384

1147

Menck MHU 1700

Slender hydraulic underwater

3265

235

1230

1169

IHC S300

Slender hydraulic underwater

40

30

220

300

IHC S800

Slender hydraulic underwater

40

80

580

800

IHC S1600

Slender hydraulic underwater

30

160

1160

1600

IHC S2000

Slender hydraulic underwater

260

1449

2000

IHC S2300

Slender hydraulic underwater

1566

2300

TABLE2Largepiledrivinghammers
Pile Outer
Diameter

Wall Thickness

Hammer Energy

(in.)

(mm)

(in.)

(mm)

(ftlb)

(kNm)

24

600

5/8 7/8

1521

50.000 120.000

70 168

30

750

19

50.000 120.000

70 168

36

900

7/8 1

2125

50.000 180.000

70 252

42

1.050

1 1

2532

60.000 300.000

84 120

48

1.200

17 1

2844

90.000 500.000

126 700

60

1.500

17 1

2844

90.000 500.000

126 700

72

1.800

1 2

3250

120.000 700.000

168 980

84

2.100

1 2

3250

180.000 1.000.000

252 1.400

96

2.400

1 2

3250

180.000 1.000.000

252 1.400

108

2.700

1 2

3762

300.000 1.000.000

420 1.400

120

3.000

1 2

3762

300.000 1.000.000

420 1.400

Note1:Withtheheavierhammersintherangegiven,thewallthicknessesmustbeneartheupperrangeofthoselistedinordertoprevent
overstress(yielding)inthepileunderharddriving.
Note2:Withdieselhammers,theeffectivehammerenergyisfromonehalftotwothirdsthevaluesgenerallylistedbythemanufacturersand
theabovetablemustbeadjustedaccordingly.Dieselhammerswouldnormallyonlybeusedon36in.orlessdiameterpiles.
Note3:Hydraulichammershaveamoresustainedblow,andhencetheabovetablecanbemodifiedtofitthestresswavepattern.
TABLE3Typicalvaluesofpilesizes,wallthicknessandhammerenergies
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