A drop hammer driven pile uses impacts of relatively low frequency but high intensity, using a 500-1000 kg free drop weight suspended on a mast and then dropped in order to drive the pile.
It can be applied where rig access is unrestricted such as on green field sites and/or where loads are low to medium and/or the pile lengths will be less than 16 metres.
The most common diameter used by Substruck is 219 mm.
Advantages:
- Good production rates,
- Minimal spoil,
- Easily cut down.
Disadvantages
- May result in vibration,
- Can be noisy,
- Limited applications in tensile loads