What is a caisson?
What is a caisson?
(OP)
I just finished reading "The Great Bridge" which is about the building of the Brooklyn Bridge. A large part of the book focused on the caisson foundations used to support the the bridge under the East River. The caissons were constructed out of timber with a large hollow working area underneath where men worked to excavate the soil and sink the caisson to the proper elevation. Compressed air was pumped into the workspace to force the water out as the caisson sank lower and lower. Once the caisson reached the desired elevation, concrete was pumped into the workspace to create a solid foundation......this obviously isn't how it is done today, but I still hear the term caisson used. Can anyone explain what one is and how it is constructed.
Thanks much!
Thanks much!





RE: What is a caisson?
Then, in the upper left corner do a search for"caisson".
They have many references that can answer the question, in part.
A Google search brings up some variations in the use of the word.
In that same light of differing definitions, try the word "topsoil".
RE: What is a caisson?
www.PeirceEngineering.com
RE: What is a caisson?
RE: What is a caisson?
Seriously though, I have always associated the word with larger foundation excavations where men and large equipment were inside doing the excavating. As Hokie said, as with the Brokylin Bridge. If I remember my history correctly, cases of the bends, or caisson disease, stemmed from this.
Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
Motto: KISS
Motivation: Don't ask
RE: What is a caisson?
A typical and common example would be shafts which are sunk to create chambers for wastewater systems etc.
Basically a caisson is a watertight box, or shaft, which will withstand external loads exerted by soil or water. A cassion can either be temporary works for men/machines to work inside or a permanent structure which is utilised as a construction method.
I have often seen the word used to describe bored piles, but in this case I don't know what word would be used to describe a "caisson"
RE: What is a caisson?
RE: What is a caisson?
RE: What is a caisson?
RE: What is a caisson?
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RE: What is a caisson?
RE: What is a caisson?
For the caisson in the early age, it only refers to the pneumatic caisson as you mentioned. In the enclosed shaft,excavation is carried out with high air pressue to balance the water pressure below the excavation surface below and the cassion itself would sink with the excavation.
However caisson is not used in Europe and States frequently nowadays since slong piles are more and more popular. But in Japan,there still are several contractors still developing this technology with some interesting ideas.
Could get some info here
http://caisson.shiraishi.com/outline/index.html
RE: What is a caisson?
www.PeirceEngineering.com
RE: What is a caisson?