What role does foundation drilling play in the construction of everything from 100-story skyscrapers to highway bridges? Here’s what you need to know about it. As well as understanding its uses, the different types of methods, and even some knowledge about foundation drilling equipment and the foundation drilling tools/bits
What is Foundation Drilling?
Foundation drilling is a foundation form with high bearing capacity, wide application range and long history. With the improvement of production level and the development of science and technology, the types, processes, design theories, calculation methods and application range of foundation drilling have been greatly developed and widely used in high-rise buildings, ports, bridges and other projects.
Foundation drilling is a force-transmitting component that transfers all or part of the load of the building to the foundation soil and has a certain rigidity and bending resistance. Its cross-sectional size is much smaller than its length. Foundation drilling consists of two parts: multiple piles buried in the foundation (called pile groups) and pile platforms (called caps) that unite the pile groups to work together.
The function of foundation drilling is to transfer the load to the soil layer with good bearing performance deep underground to meet the requirements of bearing capacity and settlement. Foundation drilling has a high bearing capacity and can withstand vertical loads, horizontal loads, pull-out loads and vibration loads. It is the most widely used deep foundation form.
Foundation drilling has significantly improved the work efficiency of house construction, laid a relatively solid foundation for the quality of construction in the process of modern construction, and promoted the overall improvement of technology in the world’s construction field to a certain extent.
Scope Of Application Of Foundation Drilling
1、When the upper soil layer is weak and cannot meet the bearing capacity and deformation requirements, and there is a better soil layer in the lower part. Use piles to penetrate the soft soil layer and transfer the load to the deep hard soil layer.
2、When there is no ideal bearing layer within a certain depth range, use piles to gradually transfer the load along the pile rod by relying on the friction resistance of the pile side.
3、 The foundation needs to bear the upward force, and the piles rely on the negative friction resistance around the pile rod to resist the upward force, that is, “anti-pullout piles”.
4、When the foundation needs to bear the horizontal component force, it can be borne by bending-resistant vertical piles.
5、When the foundation is uneven or the load is unevenly distributed, and the natural foundation cannot meet the requirements of the structure for uneven deformation, a pile foundation can be used.
6、There is a better soil layer in the shallow layer, but considering other factors, the pile foundation is still used. For example, when the foundation soil around the foundation of the structure in ports, water conservancy, and bridge projects is prone to erosion or scouring, the pile foundation should be used; when precision instruments and power machinery and equipment have special requirements for the foundation, pile foundations are often used.
7、Pile foundations are used when the building is affected by adjacent buildings, ground loading, construction excavation, piling, etc., and shallow foundations will cause excessive tilting or settlement.
If there is an unstable soil layer under the building, such as liquefied soil, collapsible loess, seasonal frozen soil, expansive soil, etc., pile foundations are used to transfer the load to the deep dense and stable soil layer.
If it does not belong to the above situation, it can be determined whether to use pile foundations based on the actual situation of the project and the principle of “economic rationality and technical reliability” through analysis and comparison.
Why Build a Deep Foundation?
In order to know the need for deep foundations, it’s important to understand how works.
Down-the-Hole Drilling
Down-the-hole drilling is often used for projects that require breaking up hard rock or boulders. This is achieved by attaching a hammer to a drill bit on the end of a rod. Compressed air is pumped through the drill bit to help break up and remove rock as the drill bit rotates and impacts the rock in its path while simultaneously pumping drill cuttings out of the hole and to the surface.
Reverse Circulation Air Injection Drilling
Reverse circulation gas injection drilling is used when large boreholes are required – typically up to 3.2 metres in diameter. This method uses hydraulic circulation and pumps to flush fluid between the drill pipe and the borehole, thus carrying the drill cuttings off the drill pipe and to the surface.
Grab Drilling
Grab drilling is one of the oldest dry drilling methods and is characterized by the use of a spherical claw with a beveled end that is driven forcefully into the ground through a pre-placed casing by a crane. The drill bit is brought close to the soil and/or rock and then lifted to the surface so that its contents can be processed. This process is repeated until the desired depth is reached.
Foundation Drilling Equipment
As you may imagine, foundation drilling usually involves some pretty heavy machinery. Foundation drill rigs come in many shapes and sizes, often with some unique capabilities and uses. Some rigs are more suited towards smaller projects with standard needs, while others may be equipped for larger projects in more challenging terrain, such as projects handling the building of a bridge across a lake or river.
It’s important to realize there is no one-size-fits-all foundation drill that works for all types of drilling or any variety of site conditions.
The actual type of drill rig used for a particular project depends on several factors, including:
- Depth and diameter needed for the holes
- Type of soil
- Location of project
- The layout of the construction area
Foundation drilling equipment and rigs should always be used solely for their intended purposes and nothing more. Fortunately, many drill rigs are capable of handling a few other foundation-related construction tasks as well.
There are also a number of different foundation drill tools that can be equipped to a rig to enable it to take on different types of jobs and applications. These include tooling options like adapters, augers, buckets, casing spinners, and core barrels.
In addition to tools and add-ons to drill rigs, you can also install upgrades to core components for better performance or to better match the terrain and soil at the job site. An example of this would be switching out a rig’s foundation drilling teeth with upgraded carbide auger teeth for drilling into harder soil and rock.
Today’s foundation drill rigs also offer many modern upgrades and conveniences that include features like digital dashboard screens, automatic placement, and improved torque technology.
In The End
Well, there you have it. Hopefully, you now have a better understanding of the inner workings of foundation drilling, its importance in ensuring the stability of new and old structures, and the complexity of the process itself.
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