In the world of engineering it is vital that standards are met and maintained to ensure safety and also quality of work. Engineering often involves precise measurements and meticulous planning this is never more so than in piling. Piling refers to the foundation or supporting platform that an engineering project is built on. The piling will differ from project to project but the principles are the same. The piling needs to adequately support anything that is built upon it. For this reason is could be described as one of the earliest considerations in an engineering project and possibly the most important. The whole process being successful is paramount to the success of a project as a whole. It is important to get it right. Tubular plies are available in a range of materials; carbon steel, tensile steel, wood or concrete and comes in various thicknesses to suit a particular job. The conditions on a project will also have some bearing on the the nature of the piling that takes place; ground conditions and temperature can have an effect on what works and what does not. The piles are forced into the ground and form a solid platform on which to build. The size, expense and complexity of the piling procedure will depend on the ground conditions and, to some extent, conditions further afield, and of course the engineering project that it is to support. Piling is used in many types of building; bridges, walls, pipelines and buildings are the most common but it is also used as a platform to build dams and docks. In fact anything that has to undergo extreme pressures or is subject to constant use will probably have, at its foundation, piling. There are several different types of piling. The nature of the engineering project will determine what type of piling is used. Driven piling is used when extra strength and rigidity are requires. The benefit of driving a pile into the ground is that the earth which is displaced when the pile is driven become compacted and acts as a stronger surrounding for the foundation. The stability of the structure improves as a consequence. Drilled piling is more involved than driven piling as it means the area has to be cleared and the earth has to be drilled before a pile can be inserted. The size of the drill or dig has to be specific in regards to the size of the pile so there is a greater need for planning and application. Drilling is the best way to go about piling in difficult locations. Where the earth is particularly compact or made up of rock drilling is sometimes the only option. Underreamed piles are conical in shape and are used where the soil is very stable. The wide base of the conical allows for a greater pressure to be exerted on it. This is the main benefit over other forms of piling but it is only used in certain conditions and is not very versatile. Auger Cast piling, as its name would suggest, involves a cast. A shaft is drilled and filled with concrete to ground level. These shafts can also be reinforced after they are filled or in certain conditions a reinforcement can be placed before the concrete is released. Auger Cast piling causes minimal disruption and is often the favoured procedure on environmentally sensitive builds. Micro piling is versatile and easy to carry out. It is best employed in small areas or on small constructions. These small piles can be inserted using either a driven or drilled technique and are a convenient way of tackling small engineering problems.
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