Special foundation engineering is an essential discipline in civil engineering that deals with securing and creating load-bearing subsoil conditions. One of the key components of deep-founded structures is the pile head. It represents the connection between the foundation piles installed and the building structure resting on them. The quality and professional construction of the pile head have a significant influence on the load transfer and durability of a structure.
What is a pile head?
A pile head is the upper end of a foundation pile and serves as an interface between the pile and the building structure above it. It ensures that the forces acting on it are transferred evenly to the entire pile foundation. Pile heads are usually made of concrete and are often reinforced with reinforcement to ensure the required load-bearing capacity.
Depending on the construction method, the pile head can be monolithically connected to the foundation slab or be a separate structure. The production of a pile head requires precise work, as unevenness or inadequate material quality can result in considerable structural problems.
What is a pile head used for?
The pile head fulfills several essential functions in ground improvement and foundation work. Its main task is to transfer the structural loads to the piles and thus into deeper, load-bearing soil layers. Depending on the structure and soil conditions, there are different requirements for the dimensioning and design of a pile head.
Some of the most important areas of application are
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Building construction: For the secure foundation of buildings with high loads, especially in soil with poor load-bearing capacity.
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Bridge construction: Pile foundations are often used here to stabilize bridge foundations in water-saturated or soft soils.
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Infrastructure structures: Tunnel portals, retaining walls and other structures often require a pile foundation to ensure stability.
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Industrial buildings: Large halls, production facilities or silos are often founded on piles to prevent subsidence and inclination.
What types of pile head are there?
Yes, there are different types of pile heads depending on the construction method and load scenario. The choice of the right design depends on various factors, including the type of pile, the load distribution and the subsoil conditions. 
Single foundation pile head: This type is used when individual piles are used for the foundation of a structure. The pile head connects the pile to the foundation above it and must be designed precisely to meet the structural requirements.
Group foundation pile head: Here, several piles are connected to each other via a common pile head. This design is often used for bridge piers or large building loads, as it enables an even load distribution across the piles.
Slab foundation with integrated pile heads: In this variant, the pile heads are integrated into a continuous base plate. This reduces material and construction costs and ensures even load distribution.
Reinforced concrete pile head: The standard solution for most structures is the reinforced concrete pile head. It offers a high load-bearing capacity and can be designed in various shapes and dimensions.
How is a pile head processed?
An often underestimated but essential aspect of pile foundations is pile head preparation. Once the piles or pile heads have been manufactured, they must be prepared for connection to the foundation. Improper processing can lead to serious structural problems, as this is where the force is transferred from the piles to the structure.
Brextor®: the experts for pile head processing
With the patented Brextor® milling process the dismantling force is under control at all times. The core and surface tension is broken in a single work step. But that’s not all! Brextor® contributes to efficient and sustainable pile head processing:
🏗 Increased construction quality
Perfectly finished piles without cracks in the pile body or spalling on the pile skin, no bent or torn reinforcements and a height accuracy of +/- 1 cm.
💵 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
A pile, e.g. with a diameter of 1 m and a removal height of of 1m can be processed within 40 minutes. Thus a Daily output of up to 16 piles possible. With Brextor® you also get a 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.
Interested? Our team will be happy to help: +41 41 495 05 20