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Why are piles driven into weak soil beneath bridge foundations?
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bridge
The multiple-span Seto Great Bridge over the Inland Sea, linking Kojima, Honshu, with Sakaide, Shikoku, Japan.
In civil engineering, piles are essential foundation members used to support structures, including bridge piers, when the underlying soil is unstable or unable to support heavy structural loads.1
Piles are driven into the ground to convey the weight of the bridge to more stable layers or to distribute the load through the surrounding soil. They generally function in one of two ways:
- End-bearing piles: These are driven until they reach a firm bearing stratum, such as bedrock, transferring the entire load of the structure directly to that stable layer.2
- Friction piles: These transfer the pressure of the structure to the surrounding soil through friction or adhesion along the surface area where the sides of the pile interface with the earth.2
By utilizing these methods, engineers can ensure that the bridge remains stable, preventing structural failure caused by the shearing of weak soil or uneven settling.2