Major Issues During Pile Foundation

Construction and Remedies

There are several issues that may be encountered during pile foundation construction.
These problems will cause deficiency in the capacity of the pile unless they tackled
properly.

These pile construction problems and with their causes and required measure to
prevent them are discussed in the following sections.

Major Issues During Pile

Foundation Construction
Probable Piling problems are classified as follows:

1. Pile formation problems

2. Concrete faults
3. Reinforcement installation issues

4. Working load faults

1. Pile Formation Problems

1.1 Concrete or Permanent Steel
Casing Deterioration
Concrete or permanent steel casing may be damaged due to driving piles forcefully
over obstruction or driven mandrel is out of plumb. Another problem that concrete or
permanent steel casing may suffer from is their initial defection.

This problem can be prevented by supervising casing installation and inspect the work
before concrete placement. Finally, if this problem occurs, the pile should be
withdrawn and reinstall it properly.

Driven of Shell and Mandrel

1.2 Collapse of Pile Sides
If casing is not provided, pile sides would collapse in soft and loose soil. This problem
can be observed and solved supervisor. The solution is to install casing.

1.3 Excessive Water in Pile

Groundwater flow into the construction site is the cause of excessive water in pile.
Utilization of steel casing or bentonite would eliminate this problem.

1.4 Lateral Movement and Uplift of

Adjacent Pile While Pile Casings
are Driven
It is caused by displacement and heave around pile installation location. Such
movements can be observed through checking plan position and level of neighboring
piles.
Engineer shall decide on the technique used to solve lateral movement and uplift of
adjacent piles.

1.5 Settlement of Adjacent Structures

or Adjacent Ground
Adjacent settlement is caused by vibrations in sandy soil during driving piles. Sinking
holes of bored piles in soft clay of water bearing sand is another cause of adjacent
settlement of buildings. Such problem can be noticed by checking level of buildings or
ground before and during pile construction.

Lastly adjacent ground or structural settlement may be declined or minimized by

keeping head of water in the casing during boring piles. Added to that, site engineer
may select suitable solution for the problem.

2. Concrete Faults
Pile construction problems due to concrete faults involve:

2.1 Inadequate Concrete Strength

Insufficient strength is due to poor mix design or concreting operation. Commonly,
cylinder or cubic concrete samples are taken from each mix and tested to find out
concrete strength. This issue is solved through proper mix design with appropriate
workability and practice good quality control during concreting.

2.2 Voids in Concrete Pile

Voids may be formed due to improper compaction of concrete in piles with no casing
or with casings that is not pulled up after construction is completed. In this case, the
construction shall be monitored properly to ensure sufficient compaction of concrete
using suitable techniques.

Moreover, if casings are withdrawn, then the withdrawal of casing may lead to create
voids in concrete. Voids can be prevented in this case by cleaning casings and
guarantee that sufficient concrete volume is poured.

3. Reinforcement Installation
Issues
Steel bars are likely to move laterally or being dragged down during compaction.
There are number of reasons that led to reinforcement disposition for example
improper placement of spacers, careless techniques, and defective anchorage of steels
in some pile types.
It is required to check steel cage during fabrication in accordance with specifications
and monitor installation process to prevent such issue. Lastly, pile steel cages shall be
supported firmly at the bottom and spacers need to be provided in accordance with
applicable codes.

4. Working Load Faults

Piles may suffer damages due to testing loads or permanent working loads. In the
following sections, working load faults will be classified based on the type of
construction methods used.

o Driven pile working load faults

o Working load faults in bored piles

o Working load faults in mechanically augured piles

4.1 Driven Pile Working Load Faults

There are number of factors that make the driven pile to suffer deterioration and
damages under working loads. For example, improper concrete placement method that
used for concrete in the core of driven shaft, lifting of pile due to ground heave,
inadequate concrete in bulb for bulb ended; bored; and driven pile, wrong space
employed, and insufficient driven resistance.

These detrimental factors may be eliminated by checking volume of concrete placed,

hammer drop and blows per miter, designated spacer type, and clear method of
construction.

4.2 Working Load Faults in Bored Piles

Factors that lead to bored pile damages under working load include weakening of
ground around the pile due to wrong pile boring technique, insufficient concrete cover
due to steel cage displacement, poor execution of concrete placement, and inadequate
depth with respect to the soil or rock properties encountered.

To ensure that sufficient depth is provided, it is required to check the consistency of

spoil. Additionally, it is required to practice great cautions during boring and concrete
placement to prevent undesired consequences of these operations.

4.3 Working Load Faults in

Mechanically Augured Piles
Factors that may lead to mechanically augured pile failure under working load
include:
o Inadequate diameter to under reamed base. This could be prevented through
continuous noticing of major drilling and under reamed machines are working as checked
above the ground.

o In adequate depth with regard to encountered soil properties. it is recommended to

monitor spoil during boring.

o Using improper technique for concrete placement

o Insufficient concrete cover

o Ground around shaft or beneath base weakened due to improper boring technique.