best profile for hand driven 2" Ø pile in sand/clay 1

[Tmoose]

We have to hand drive (BFH) a bunch of 2" Ø steel pipes/piles in sand/clay.

What is the best profile for the ends of the piles ?

It looks like "well points" favor cones tapered 3 or 4 to 1, or a cone with 6 or 8 flat sides.

thanks,

Dan T

 

[r13]

Try test pile for one each and observe.

 

[oldestguy]

Why and how deep?

 

[emmgjld]

If the driving profile is relatively free from rocks, the shape of the compacted soil mass on the pile tip/toe is rounded and tends to adjust as the soil profile density changes during pile penetration. The compacted soil mass shape seems to adjust to provide the desirable shape. I have usually opted for a flat plate for the pipe end, unless a hardened tip was desirable due to rocky soils. It would seem like a 2" pipe would be 'pointed' enough.

As I have observed during numerous pile driving operations, the use of a driving tip may be important during initial driving, to minimize 'wandering' in the 1st foot or 2 and at the end, if penetration (socketing) into a substantially harder stratum is desired/required. I have had clients who would use conical tips for shallow PVC 2" monitor wells, placed in augered holes in soft 'squeezing' soils . Neither I nor my drillers could ever detect any advantage over a flat end.

 

[Tmoose]

thanks all,

Dan T