Noise Attenuation Measures during Pile Driving

[qhtony]

Hi guys...I will be having quite a lot of pile driving (most likely using drop hammers on RC piles) in a residential area in the next couple of months. I'm wondering what are the "practical" measures that you guys would use or used in the past during pile driving to minimize the noise impact?

Thanks!

 

[SlideRuleEra]

Since you plan to use a drop hammer, make sure that it is as "heavy" as practical. For the same energy rating, a heavy weight falling a small distance is more efficient at transferring energy to the pile than a light weight falling a long distance. The more efficient this transfer, the less energy wasted as heat and noise (and less stress on the pile).

Also make sure that cushioning material (typically wood) between the anvil and the pile is replaced often.

http://www.SlideRuleEra.net

http://www.VacuumTubeEra.net

 

[civilperson]

Pre-drill and vibrate the piles as an alternate method.

 

[qhtony]

Thanks guys...But would vibratory hammers have lower efficiency in driving? The reason I'm asking is I want to get the pile driving done as quick as possible.

 

[Zambo]

I've never seen RC piles driven with a vibro, more usual with steel H-piles, sheet piles and tubes. I would have thought RC piles would have too large a cross-section to be installed with a vibro.

RC piles can be jacked into place, the production rate isn't that slow but as a large weight is needed to jack against the method is certainly slower than a hammer (and more expensive).

I would try consulting the residents and informing them that that a hammer has been selected which will increase the noise but the time the works will be carried out will be shortened.

 

[msucog]

you might consider "substantiating" your position by having noise/vibration monitoring performed. if you keep the disturbance within "generally accepted" limits, then you may limit your exposure to be losing when you're sued. it may also help sell the community on the idea if you can provide data showing that while it is somewhat of a disturbance, it's really nothing more than that (yes, this is likely much easier said than actually convincing a mad homeowner that it's true).

 

[DRC1]

When you say RC piles I assume you mean prestressed precast, which is used in the US. In Scandinavia, I understand they do use RC (not prestressed) piles.

Vibratory hammers are not designed to drive precast piles.

Noise associated with pile driving in urban enviornments is a problem, esp. near hospitals.

I would not use a drop hammer, which tend to be too small to drive precast piles. Air hammers are frequently used, Hydraulics are used depending on the size of the pile and the crane. Some riggers use diesels, but their sucess can depend on ground conditions. All the methods basically consist of taking a 5 to 10,000 lb weight, raising several feet and dropping it on the pile. There is little that can be done to silence the operation.
Pile driving helmets can accomidate synthetic (Connbest)or wood cushions, which will reduce noise somewhat.

Beyond that, you may be looking at somesort of drilled in pile, but even then the drilling rigs are not exactly quiet either.

Sometimes construction is just a noisey meesy operation, but then thats half the fun.

 

[Zambo]

DRC1

good response. RC piles are available in several countries and would typically be 200 x 200mm or 300 x 300mm square piles.

Perhaps the residents will enjoy the noisy, messy fun - with any luck some of the kids will consider civil engineering as a career.

 

[qhtony]

The RC pile I'll be using is 350 x 350mm square piles. I hope the residents will enjoy the "fun" too...

 

[BigHarvey]

Some hydraulic hammer manufacturers, like IHC, have sound enclosures specially adapted for their hammers.For the SC 60 (60 KJ energy ) the noise level is reduced to 78.5 dB(A) at 7.5 meters and 62 at 50 meters when using the sound enclosure.

 

[PilebuckEngineer]

Diesel and hydraulic hammers the most likely choice for the contractor to drive these piles. You can vibe a concrete pile and air doesn't have enough ass to do it. Hydraulic are much quieter than a diesel hammer. Make sure you spec the hammer pre-bid because many contractors only have diesel setups and hydraulics are super expensive to rent. Also, you'll need to change the cushions every pile or as needed depending on driving. Cushions won't affect the noise much, but the neighbors won't like the smoke it creates especially at the end when the follower comes off the pile. Also, spec out the working hours. 7am to 5pm or something like that, so they don't work 12 hours shifts, 7 days a week.

 

[vulcanhammer]

For whatever it's worth...

Air hammers can certainly be used to drive 350mm concrete piles. It depends on the size.

Vulcan's response to the noise abatement problem (with a link to it's original study on the matter with a #1) can be found at

http://www.vulcanhammer.info/products/decelflo-thruflo.php

Some interesting information on vibrating concrete piles (which has been done for a long time) is at

http://www.vulcanhammer.info/vibro/tseitlin-verstov-azbel/17.php

http://www.pz27.net

 

[Drumchaser]

hey ghtony

Printing up (and distributing door to door)some low tech informational flyers, that include a phone number, providing times that the noise will be invading their air space will help with most folks. (Do not place in mailbox, this is against Fed Law)
The comment from pile buck is a good one about restricted hours, I would go on to say 9a-4p if your schedule permits w/no weekends.
In '89 we were driving 32-pile clusters (for footings) very close to a Holiday Inn. Yea it was ticklish.
---Getting out front and informing the residents will help bunches. ----
I assume you have a minimum bearing requirement in your plans/spec
As noted by some others, I have never seen prestressed concrete piling driven by anything other than power hammers.
If your conditions warrant, you may have to auger down, some given distance in order to try and meet your tip elevation criteria. This would same some drive/noise time.

hope this helps

 

[qhtony]

thanks guys. Will keep update on how it goes...