Contiguous pile wall construction is a method of building tall walls from the ground up without any scaffolding. The method involves driving long concrete piles into the ground and connecting them together to form a continuous wall. The process requires careful planning, precise execution, and careful monitoring of the building site to ensure that all necessary steps are completed correctly.
This method of construction was developed in the late 1960s by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and has since been used throughout the world by both military and civilian contractors. While it is an effective technique for many types of projects, it is particularly useful for those involving deep foundations, such as dams or tunnels; this is because it allows for foundation walls that are up to four times deeper than those typically constructed using other methods.
Contiguous pile wall construction is a method of building walls using precast concrete piles. It is a cost-effective way to create retaining walls, with the main advantage being that it is much faster than other methods.
The method involves first installing the steel forms on the ground where the wall will be built. The concrete is then poured into these forms, which are then removed once the concrete has set. A layer of gravel is then spread over the surface and compacted down with a tamper or roller. This provides drainage for any water that may come into contact with the wall’s surface.
Another advantage of this method is that it can be used in areas where there are no natural materials available for use in its construction: granite and limestone are two examples of materials that would not naturally occur in this area but which can still be used here because they offer similar qualities (strength and durability) as if they had been found locally instead.
Constructing a retaining wall is an excellent way to make your property more attractive and functional. The challenge with this type of construction, however, is that your home’s foundation must be strong enough to support the weight put on it by the wall. If you are considering building a new home or making improvements to an existing one, consider using contiguous pile walls instead.
What is Contiguous Pile Wall Construction
Contiguous pile wall construction is a type of retaining wall that uses a series of vertical and horizontal reinforced concrete piles to form a wall. The piles are placed in a row, side by side, to form the base of the wall.
The pile caps are then constructed on top of each row of piles so that they overlap with the vertical edges of each pile below. These caps serve as platforms for constructing other sections of contiguous walls above them or even more piles below these caps if needed for more support or additional height than what was previously created by just one layer’s worth of piling alone (see Figure 1).
Uses of Contiguous Pile Wall Construction
Contiguous pile walls can be used to support the ground, prevent erosion and soil movement, prevent soil from collapsing and support the foundation of a building. For example:
- When building a basement on sloping land it is important that there is enough weight on the ground above to hold down the earth. A contiguous pile wall acts as this weight.
- Similarly, when building an extension above a swimming pool it is necessary that concrete piles are driven into the stable ground so they can be anchored into place by steel rods which then act as reinforcing bars within concrete blocks or bricks that are laid over them.
Reasons for Contiguous Pile Wall Construction
There are several advantages to using contiguous pile wall construction. The main reason for using this type of construction is that it is economical, requires less labor, and is less time-consuming than other methods. It is also an ideal solution for areas where the ground conditions are not suitable for other types of retaining walls.
Using the contiguous method can save up to 40% on material costs over a similar conventional retaining wall with backfill and drainage spoils. This method also reduces project completion time by up to 70%.
Examples of Contiguous Pile Wall Construction
- You might find a contiguous pile wall where you’d expect to find one. The containment building for the Chornobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine is constructed using this technique.
- The structure that houses the Mont Blanc Tunnel between France and Italy uses a series of contiguous pile walls to keep the mountainside from falling on traffic as it drives by.
- Contiguous pile walls make up part of the foundation for Fukushima Daiichi’s Unit 4 turbine building, which suffered serious damage during Japan’s 2011 earthquake and tsunami events.
Strutting
Strutting is the process of connecting the individual piles together to form a contiguous pile wall.
The following are steps to take when strutting:
- Measure and cut struts to size using a handsaw or power saw.
- Measure where your first and last row of struts will go, then measure in between those points so you know how much space there will be between each strut connector. This measurement needs to be accurate to ensure that when you put everything together, it looks like one continuous wall instead of many separate piles stacked together randomly throughout an area that isn’t big enough for them all at once.
Piling
When the ground is too hard to dig, or when you need to build a wall on a steep slope, you can use piles instead of digging. A pile is a long and sturdy piece of wood that is driven into the ground. Piling can be done by hand or machine.
Juxtaposed piles
The principle of juxtaposed piles is simple: the piles are placed side by side and are not connected to each other in any way. The only connection between the piles is their placement within a certain distance of each other, which is determined by codes for residential or commercial construction. In order to do this well, you need to know how many piles your project will require for each section.
The most common way to create a wall using juxtaposed piles is by placing them in straight lines parallel to one another; however, there are other methods that use curved lines or non-parallel groups of piles (e.g., zig-zag patterns).
Concrete core
The concrete core is the main reinforcement of the wall. The concrete core is also referred to as the “backbone” of a pile wall, and without it, your pile walls would be completely useless. It is absolutely essential that you build your continuous perimeter wall with a solid and consistent concrete core. This will ensure that your piles are properly reinforced so they don’t move or settle over time and they’ll last longer too.
Soil fill
Soil fill is used to fill the space between the piles, but it is often compacted. This can be done by vibrating (Vibro-compaction), tamping, or using a power trowel machine. Soil fill may also be used as an additional support layer under the foundation.
Materials needed for Contiguous Pile Wall Construction
Before you can begin construction, you’ll need to gather some materials. The first is concrete. Concrete is a mixture of cement and aggregate (such as sand or gravel) that’s used to create the foundation for your wall. The next material is steel rebar, which acts as reinforcement for your foundation and prevents it from crumbling under stress or pressure. Steel cables are also important because they provide stability and help prevent tension among layers of soil beneath the ground surface during earthquakes.
Finally, anchors are required in order to secure cables into place at predetermined intervals along your pile wall’s perimeter; this helps ensure that everything stays together during both construction and after the installation has been completed. You will also need geogrid fabric which serves as an additional layer between soil layers to help anchor cables even further into place by providing extra support against lateral pressures exerted against them during earthquakes or other natural disasters such as floods (or even just regular wear-and-tear).
Tools needed for Contiguous Pile Wall Construction
- Concrete pump
- Shovels
- Wheelbarrows
- Pumps (to pump cement, water, and sand)
- Truck for transporting materials to and from the site
- Crane for lifting the concrete blocks and placing them on the wall. In some instances, a crane may not be required as each block weighs less than 500kg. The crane operator has to decide how many blocks he can lift at one time without causing damage to himself or the structure.
Cost of Contiguous Pile Wall Construction
As mentioned above, the cost of contiguous pile wall construction can vary greatly. The factors that influence the final price include:
- Cost of materials. This includes everything from sand and gravel to concrete, rebar, and other building materials. It also includes things like dirt or sod that may need to be removed in order to prepare the site for construction.
- Labor costs. As you might expect, hiring professionals rather than doing this work yourself will increase your expenses considerably; however, if you have no choice but to hire workers then do so with caution because it’s not uncommon for unscrupulous contractors to take advantage of homeowners by charging them exorbitant fees on bogus pretexts like “site clearance” or “land clearing” (which are actually included in their base price).
- Machinery expenses: The only machinery needed for this type of project is machinery used during excavation such as bulldozers; however if there’s also topsoil removal required then heavy-duty trucks equipped with cranes may be necessary as well. If so then these machines will add significantly more expense onto what was already an expensive endeavor because they tend towards being highly specialized meaning few companies own them which drives up demand/costs further still due to lack of supply/demand economics principles being at play here too. So don’t skimp out on getting quality equipment in whatever way possible, especially when dealing with potentially hazardous materials like asbestos-covered pipes or wood products treated with harmful chemicals since even small amounts released into the soil can cause serious health problems down the road when ingested by children playing outside later on down future generations’ lifespans.
- Transportation costs: While these costs aren’t high per se compared to those listed above (and certainly won’t break the bank), they’re still significant enough that careful planning should always occur ahead of time before starting any project since unexpected events happen all too often out here in the real world where safety isn’t guaranteed 100%. For example, A neighboring farm might decide that today would be the best day ever fox hunting season opens up again
The labor cost of Contiguous Pile Wall Construction
The labor cost of contiguous pile wall construction can vary widely due to a number of factors. The size of the project, the complexity of its design and construction, and the experience level of your workers can all play a role in determining how much it will cost you to build your contiguous pile wall.
The material cost of Contiguous Pile Wall Construction
The cost of materials for a pile wall construction depends on the type of material used. Concrete is the most expensive, followed by steel, but it also has the highest load capacity and durability.
The cost for each material could be anywhere from 10% to 20% of the total project cost.
Benefits of Contiguous Pile Wall Construction
Contiguous Pile Wall Construction is an economical and practical solution for a variety of applications. It is easy to construct, durable and can withstand high loads.
Maintenance tips for Contiguous Pile Wall Construction
- Check the piles for signs of corrosion
- Check the soil fill for signs of erosion
- Check the concrete core for signs of erosion
- Check the concrete core for signs of cracking
Contiguous pile walls are built similarly to other types of retaining walls.
Contiguous pile walls are built using the same methods as other types of retaining walls. The only difference is that the piles are placed directly into the ground, rather than on top of a foundation. This type of construction allows for fast installation and minimal disruption to the surrounding environment. Contiguous pile walls have been used throughout history for various purposes from building bridges and dams to creating an impenetrable barrier between two sides of a river or lake.
In Conclusion
Contiguous pile wall construction is a common method of creating retaining walls for driveways, pathways, and other areas where there is natural soil that needs to be supported. It uses timber piles that are driven into the ground at regular intervals before concrete is poured between them, forming an impenetrable barrier that will last for many years without requiring any maintenance whatsoever.
