Pile foundation systems įoundations relying on driven piles often have groups of piles connected by a pile cap (a large concrete block into which the heads of the piles are embedded) to distribute loads that are greater than one pile can bear. Driven piles are also considered to be "tested" for weight-bearing ability because of their method of installation thus the motto of the Pile Driving Contractors' Association is "A Driven Pile.Is a Tested Pile!". Driving piles, as opposed to drilling shafts, is advantageous because the soil displaced by driving the piles compresses the surrounding soil, causing greater friction against the sides of the piles, thus increasing their load-bearing capacity.
![alaska floating foundation alaska floating foundation](https://www.nps.gov/kova/images/Kelly-River_Noatak_8.jpg)
Historically, wood piles used splices to join multiple segments end-to-end when the driven depth required was too long for a single pile today, splicing is common with steel piles, though concrete piles can be spliced with mechanical and other means.
![alaska floating foundation alaska floating foundation](https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/ktoo/2015/01/FloodCreekStreet.jpg)
Steel piles are either pipe piles or some sort of beam section (like an H-pile). They are reinforced with rebar and are often prestressed. Concrete piles are available in square, octagonal, and round cross-sections (like Franki piles). Wooden piles are made from the trunks of tall trees. Driven piles are constructed of wood, reinforced concrete, or steel. Prefabricated piles are driven into the ground using a pile driver.
#Alaska floating foundation driver#
Illustration of a hand-operated pile driver in Germany after 1480