Bored Pile Ground Improvement

What is a Bored Pile?

A bored pile (also known as a drilled shaft or bore pile) is a deep foundation element used to support heavy structural loads by transferring them to deeper, more stable soil layers. These cast-in-place concrete piles are commonly used when surface soils are too weak to support loads using shallow foundations.

How is it Applied?

The bored pile construction process typically includes:

1. Drilling: A borehole is drilled into the ground using a rotary drilling rig to the desired depth and diameter.
2. Casing or slurry (if needed): In unstable or water-bearing soils, steel casing or bentonite slurry may be used to stabilize the borehole.
3. Reinforcement placement: A steel reinforcement cage is lowered into the borehole.
4. Concrete pouring: Concrete is poured into the hole using a tremie pipe to ensure a continuous, quality pour from bottom to top.

Advantages of Bored Piles

• Deep load transfer: Can reach strong strata at significant depths.
• High load-bearing capacity: Suitable for large structures.
• Low vibration installation: Minimizes risk to nearby structures.
• Customizable size and depth: Easily adaptable to project needs.
• In-situ construction: Allows for quality control and material consistency.

Common Applications

• High-rise building foundations
• Bridge piers and viaduct supports
• Dams and hydraulic structures
• Industrial facilities
• Foundation reinforcement in liquefaction-prone zones

Conclusion

Bored piles are a reliable and efficient foundation solution for challenging soil conditions. With proper engineering and construction, they provide durability, stability, and long-term performance for a wide range of structural applications.