Removing old Concrete Piles
Removing old Concrete Piles
(OP)
Does anyone know if it's even possible to remove existing concrete piles? The piles are 16" square in three rows of 6 on 3'-0" centers. I've seen old steel H-Piles be removed, but I'm not sure the concrete piles would come out in one piece.
I am designing a grade crossing to replace an existing bridge, and the existing center pier is on reinforced concrete piles. Ideally it would be nice if the drilled shafts for the new pier could be placed where the piles are now. Otherwise I'll just straddle the piles with the shafts and put a large grade beam over the top.
I am designing a grade crossing to replace an existing bridge, and the existing center pier is on reinforced concrete piles. Ideally it would be nice if the drilled shafts for the new pier could be placed where the piles are now. Otherwise I'll just straddle the piles with the shafts and put a large grade beam over the top.





RE: Removing old Concrete Piles
If the piling are in or near water, jetting around the pile can allow extraction. Probably not useful for your project.
A more appropriate method may be to drive a steel pipe around the existing pile. Then drive a larger steel pipe around the first pipe. The outer pipe will break the soil's skin friction with the inner pipe. This allows extraction of the inner pipe, which should also remove the piling at the same time. I have no experience with this method, but see this link for a summary of an actual project:
http://dcpuk.com/images/library/files/pdf/Concrete...
For your project, the outer pipe may be a suitable form for a new cast-in-place piling.
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RE: Removing old Concrete Piles
I'm fairly certain these piles were point bearing since they were driven to rock. Like you said attaching the hammer to the pile and making sure it comes out in one piece could be problematic.
RE: Removing old Concrete Piles
Just curious; I've never found myself needing to remove a pile...
RE: Removing old Concrete Piles
For some reason the DOT doesn't like to reuse old piling for new bridges. I'm not sure what their reason is, but I guess they think if they are going to build a new bridge then the foundation should be new as well.
I ran into this same problem on another project except it was a spread footing for an old pier. They made me straddle the footing with drilled shafts and put a grade beam over it.
RE: Removing old Concrete Piles
Sounds like a prime example of a failure to be environmentally friendly. I don't care if people don't often think about it this way, but you're throwing away money, and while I suspect your a Yank (so it is not any of my colourful Canadian or Kiwi money), the principle is the same.
Go find a small 'c' Conservative politician to get on board. Fix the issue for good. Then again, I can sympathise that your bread may be buttered by the very people requiring you to behave stupidly.
Yes, I have been drinking. lol/sigh/oh god not another diaper/just sleep already/can I go back to the office now?
RE: Removing old Concrete Piles
It's frustrating at times, but you are correct about them buttering my bread. Gotta do what they want to do if you want to keep working for them. The client is always right even when their wrong.
RE: Removing old Concrete Piles
RE: Removing old Concrete Piles