End Bearing Pile - Features, Advantages and Applications

End bearing pile is one type of pile foundation. It is a deep foundation which constructed on soils that have lower bearing capacity. Here, the foundation is constructed deep until strata of soil or rock with adequate bearing capacity to take the load coming from the superstructure are obtained.

Among several types of pile foundation, an end bearing pile is a type of pile that transfer load through its end as shown in the figure-1 below. These piles are driven into the soil and placed in the intermediate layer between the weak strata and the strong strata.

Figure-1: End Bearing Pile Arrangement in Soil

Construction of End Bearing Pile

• An end bearing pile proves the load carrying capacity based on the resistance of the hard soil layer lying at the end of the pile. This strong strata on which an end bearing pile lie can either be dense sand, rock or gravel.
• The end of an end bearing pile must be penetrated into the strong stratum at a depth equal to three times the diameter of the pile. This calculated depth is proven to give maximum ultimate strength of the hard stratum laying at the end of the pile.
• A prefabricated pile or an auger type pile can be used to construct an end bearing pile.
• The end bearing pile as shown in the arrangement above, initially pass through the loose soil and then is placed on a hard layer, which behaves like a column. Hence, end bearing piles are generally designed similar to reinforced concrete column.

Need for End Bearing Piles

1. End bearing piles are demanded in buildings subjected to heavy concentrated loads.
2. It is suitable for soils that have large fluctuations in sub-soil water level.
3. When there are can or drainage lines near the foundation.
4. It is only adopted when a hard strata is possible to reach after a soft strata.

Advantages of End Bearing Pile

1. End bearing piles are easily drilled through a hard or tough surface.
2. Suitable for deep installations and long durability.
3. End pile foundation can be pre ordered and customized as per the requirement.
4. Suitable for wet land construction and all sizes of land construction.
5. Reduces the foundation construction time.
6. Offer high resistance to failure due to buckling in the weak soil.
7. Higher resistance to settlement compare to other types of piles. Hence best suitable for the construction of multi-stored building.

Disadvantages of End Bearing Piles

1. Demands heavy construction machinery and equipment.
2. Soil surrounding the piles may stick on the surface of the pile that results in negative skin friction.

Applications of End-Bearing Piles

1. Construction of water tanks and reservoirs
2. Construction of bridges
3. Construction of high-rise buildings and towers which have chances to large settlement issues.

You May Also Like to Read:

1. Applications of Pile Foundation
2. Building Structural Systems