Pile driving influence on surrounding soil and structures

The effect of pile driving on nearby structures is an important engineering consideration that is often neglected. The consequences can be severe if the nearby structures are damaged as a result of the pile driving operation. Often, it may be more expensive to repair a damaged structure than it would have been to have initially taken some precautionary measures to eliminate potential problems. Additionally, not only may the adjacent structures be damaged, but the people working or living in the nearby buildings may be adversely affected by the vibration levels resulting from the pile driving. This may lead to lawsuits and construction delays that could otherwise have been avoided. This paper presents the current state of the art methods used to predict the transmission and effects of vibrations on soil and structures from pile driving. It is hoped that the methods presented can be successfully used to identify soil conditions or structures that might be adversely affected by pile driving and alert engineers to the need for precautionary measures.