DRIVEABILITY OF PILES AND THE EFFECTS OF FOLLOWERS.

Abstract

This paper presents a wave equation study on the effects of using pile followers on drivability and driving stresses, as well as drivability analyses of large-diameter offshore piles at three sites. The analyses were carried out using a new wave equation model. These show that the use of followers which are impedance-matched can result in minimal loss of drivability. The analysis also included followers for land piles driven below ground as may be required for piles supporting basements. For the drivability analyses, the drivability of large-diameter piles at three offshore sites was investigated. These cases were for piles driven in chalk, clay and sand.