ABSTRACT
The structural loads may be transferred to deeper firm strata by means of piles. Piles are long slender columns either driven, bored or cast-in-situ. Driven piles are made of a variety of materials such as concrete, steel, timber etc., whereas cast-in-situ piles are concrete piles. They may be subjected to vertical or lateral loads or a combination of vertical and lateral loads. If the diameter of a bored-cast-in-situ pile is greater than about 0.75 m, it is sometimes called a drilled pier, drilled caisson or drilled shaft. The distinction made between a small diameter bored cast-in-situ pile (less than 0.75 m) and a larger one is just for the sake of design considerations. The design of drilled piers is dealt with in Chapter 17. This chapter is concerned with driven piles and small diameter bored cast-in-situ piles only.
