Assessment of disturbance impact of hydraulic jack in pile penetration using artificial transparent clay

Abstract

Different types of pile foundation are widely used in geotechnical engineering with different methods of installation. Thus, ground vibration due to impact of driving of the preformed pile in a soft compressible soil causes the lateral displacement of soil and foundations of nearby structures. The pile jacking method offers an alternative technique of pile installation, which allows pre-formed piles to be installed with minimal noise and vibration. This study used small-scale physical modeling method to investigate the movement during pile installation into the soil. The model was prepared by using a mixture of amorphous silica and mineral oil which, was subsequently consolidated in a transparent chamber. The pile model was driven vertically at the center of the model at a different vertical speed. The patterns of displacement distribution were obtained using particle image velocimetry technique. This result can be used to assess the disturbance Impact due to pile installation on underground services and archaeological remains underneath the ground surface.