Pile types

In specialist civil engineering, foundation elements play a central role in ensuring the stability and load-bearing capacity of structures. One of the most important methods for the foundation of structures is the use of piles. Piles transfer loads from the structure to deeper, load-bearing soil layers if the layers near the surface are not sufficiently load-bearing. There are different types of piles, which are selected depending on the subsoil conditions, load requirements and construction project.

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What types of piles are there?

Pile types can be classified according to various criteria, each of which is tailored to the specific requirements of the ground, the load transfer and the construction method. A key distinguishing feature is the manufacturing method. A distinction is made between in-situ concrete piles and prefabricated piles. In-situ concrete piles are produced directly on the construction site by drilling holes, inserting reinforcement cages and then filling them with concrete. Common methods include the Kelly drilling method, the continuous flight auger (CFA) method and the displacement drilling method. This method is particularly flexible as it can be adapted to different ground conditions.

This contrasts with prefabricated piles, which are manufactured in specialized production plants. They are often made of concrete, steel or wood and are then driven or drilled into the ground. Steel piles, for example, are characterized by their high load-bearing capacity and suitability for great depths, while concrete piles impress with their compressive strength. Wooden piles are mainly used in historical construction projects or for temporary structures.

Another classification feature is the type of load. Piles can be designed for compressive, tensile or horizontal loads. Compression piles transfer vertical loads into the ground, while tension piles are used to absorb tensile forces, for example in wind turbines or offshore platforms.

In-situ concrete piles: In-situ concrete piles are produced directly on the construction site. They are particularly suitable for heavy loads and variable ground conditions.

  • Bored piles: This involves creating a borehole into which reinforcement cages are inserted and then filled with concrete. There are different methods such as the Kelly drilling method, the continuous flight auger drilling method (CFA) or the displacement drilling method.

  • Driven piles: Combination of drilling and driving, ideal for changeable ground conditions.

Prefabricated piles: These piles are prefabricated in the factory and then driven or drilled into the ground.

  • Concrete piles: High quality control through factory production.

  • Steel piles: High load-bearing capacity, ideal for great depths.

  • Wooden piles: Historically proven, still used today in special applications.

What are piles used for?

Piles are used to safely transfer loads into the ground. Their main areas of application are

  • Building foundations: Especially in areas with soft or settlement-sensitive soil.

  • Bridge construction: To safely dissipate high traffic loads.

  • Port constructions: Resistance to horizontal and vertical loads.

  • Wind turbines: For stability under dynamic loads.

  • Excavation support: securing and stabilizing excavations

Advantages and disadvantages of the different pile types

In-situ concrete piles

  • Advantages: Flexible in length, high load capacity.

  • Disadvantages: Relatively expensive to manufacture.

Steel piles

  • Advantages: High load capacity, easy adjustment.

  • Disadvantages: Risk of corrosion, high material price.

Wooden piles

  • Advantages: Cost-effective, sustainable.

  • Disadvantages: Limited service life, not suitable for high loads.

Piles are indispensable elements in special foundation engineering. Their choice depends on the specific project requirements, soil conditions and economic aspects. Once the piles have been successfully manufactured, a crucial work step follows: pile head processing or the capping of bored piles. This process is crucial for connecting the piles to the structure above and ensures that the desired loads are optimally transferred.

Editing pile types

Not all pile types need to be processed. However, the top part of the concrete must be removed, especially in the case of cast-in-place bored piles. Brextor® is an efficient, safe and qualitative method for cutting bored piles. With this method, not only single piles, but also all types of pile walls (tangent, secant or contiguous) are processed gently by machine. The work is done by one person and one machine. The weather conditions have no influence here.

Brextor® offers the following advantages:

🏗 Increased construction quality

Perfect pile breaking without cracks in the pile body or spalling on the pile outer skin, no bent or torn reinforcements and a height accuracy of +/- 1cm.

Breaking piles with Brextor®

💵 Reduced construction costs

The demolition material consists of 80% gravel 0-30mm and can therefore be reused directly on the construction site. In addition, Brextor® requires less working space than conventional mining methods. This means that not only expenses for transportation and disposal incl. fees are saved, but the purchase and supply of replacement material is also eliminated. Furthermore, the preparatory work eliminates the need for a separating diamand cut at the final extraction level and the cleaning effort is massively lower than with conventional extraction methods.

Shortened processing time

For example, a pile with a diameter of 1 m and a height of 1 m can be processed within 40 minutes. A daily output of up to 16 piles is possible. In addition, Brextor® provides reliable performance and therefore increased planning security.

♻️ Environmentally friendly

With Brextor®, the demolition material (80% gravel 0-30mm) can be reused directly on the construction site. Brextor® also requires less working space. This saves excavation and replacement material. By reusing the demolition material directly on the construction site and saving on excavation and replacement material, transportation can be saved. In addition, landfills are less polluted.

👷 Increased health & safety at work

No heavy physical labor is required for pile processing, which massively reduces the risk of health hazards such as HAVS syndrome. Brextor® also avoids working in danger zones.

Find out more about Brextor® here:

Contact us for more information and find out how you can benefit from this revolutionary pile breaking method.

Call us on +41 41 495 05 20 or send an e-mail to info@brc.swiss. We look forward to working with you and taking your projects to the next level.

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