Rock-Socketing Piles

[peinapod]

Has anyone ever heard of rock-socketing timber piles? I've heard of RS steel and conc., but never timber. Is that an acceptable practice?

 

[born2drill]

I've never heard of it, and it doesn't make much sense to me. Timber piles are only going to be used to carry light loads, so why would you need to drill and set one in a rock socket? Driving the pile to rock should be more than adequate.

 

[peinapod]

There isn't enough overburden to establish fixity in the mudline. They want a timber pier for light applications. Small ferry boat tie-up and restaurant over water.

The contractor's said he's done it before. I'm skeptical.

 

[DRC1]

I am skeptical also, but that does not mean it won't work. Ask the contractor for details and look at previous job(s?)
Just because now you have us curious, please post details.

 

[csd72]

The only way I can see it working is to auger a hole and then embed the end of the pile in concrete inside the socket.

If you didnt do this, what would keep the base of the piles in place?

 

[peinapod]

csd72, isn't that what rock-socketing is?

I'll update the forum after we meet in the coming weeks. I've talked to several geotechnical engineers. There all of the same opinion. "never seen it and skeptical".

To be Cont'd