Design and Construction of Driven Pile Foundations: Lessons Learned on the Central Artery/Tunnel Project

Pile foundations are used extensively for the support of buildings, bridges, and other structures to safely transfer structural loads to the ground and to avoid excess settlement or lateral movement. They are very effective in transferring structural loads through weak or compressible soil layers into the more competent soils and rocks below. A "driven pile foundation" is a specific type of pile foundation where structural elements are driven into the ground using a large hammer. They are commonly constructed of timber, precast prestressed concrete (PPC), and steel (H-sections and pipes). Historically, piles have been used extensively for the support of structures in Boston, MA. This is mostly a result of the need to transfer loads through the loose fill and compressible marine clays that are common in the Boston area. Driven piles, in particular, have been a preferred foundation system because of their relative ease of installation and low cost.