Pile Design

Dutch Foundations design engineers follow a performance-based design approach that provides the most cost-effective foundation system whilst fulfilling project requirements. Our team is equipped with all necessary facilities, knowledge and years of design and hands-on experience, all integrated to produce efficient, high performance deep foundation solutions at a minimized cost.

Dutch Foundations designers implement the most commonly used theoretical design techniques and powerful software. However, our strategic design methodology relies on our decades of experience and extensive geotechnical knowledge in our areas of operation to complement theoretical findings and produce an optimized design in terms of safety, efficiency, performance and cost.

Depending on the structure they are carrying, piles can be subject to axial (tension/compression), lateral loads or a combination of any or all loads. Some of the sources for such loads are:

The weight of the supported structure
Earth and water pressures on retaining wall systems
Wind loads
Eccentric vertical loads
Loads from waves and currents for offshore structures
Slope movements

Piles are arranged in a number of ways so that they can support load imposed on them. Vertical piles can be designed to carry vertical (compressive and uplift or tension) loads as well as lateral loads. Vertical piles are sometimes combined with raked piles to support lateral and vertical forces.

Pile caps distribute axial loads evenly over individual piles in a group. However when a group of piles is subjected to a lateral load or a combination of vertical and lateral loads the resulting moment forces are taken into account during calculation of load distribution.

Several factors are taken into consideration when designers select pile types, grouping and distribution:

The loads that the foundation system will carry (magnitude and direction)
Load-bearing capacity of the foundation soil and all other pertinent geotechnical data
Safety factors to be incorporated into the design
The type of structure being built
Special design needs, such as resistance to vessel impact or seismic forces
All relevant codes, standards and project specifications
All applicable statuary and regulatory requirements.

Pile foundations develop their load carrying capacity by transferring the loads to the bearing ground. End-bearing piles transfer these loads to the hard strata or rock where it rests, while friction and cohesion piles transfer loads to the adjacent ground grabbing the surface of the pile through skin friction. Designers rely on any or a combination of both of these supports in their design.

DUTCH FOUNDATIONS

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