Sheet pile hammers are the stars of the show when it comes to pile driving. This is a method of driving piles into soil to provide foundation support to different structures. In no particular order, we name five popular hammers used in steel sheet piling.
1. Vibratory hammers
They can also be called vibrodrivers, drive piles for building foundations in or out of the ground using strong vibrations. Traditionally, they are very loud and use large weights to strike the pile into the ground. Some vibratory hammers are suspended by cranes while others are used statically in one location.
2. Impact Hammer
This is the use of a falling weight to create impact on the pile, driving it into the ground. This can be done with a drop hammer or with a hydraulic press. The hydraulic press is known to operate with accuracy, efficiency, and to be less noisy than other hammers.
3. Muller Hammer
A type of vibratory hammer, can be used for a variety of job types. The largest machines of this series are used for driving the heaviest sheet piles into dense, compact soils. Determining when to bring this hammer to a job is based on the soil conditions, pile weight, and driving depth.
4. Diesel Pile Hammer
It is a large two-stroke diesel engine. The weight is the piston, and the object which connects to the top of the pile is the cylinder. The pile driving is started by raising the weight. This draws air into the cylinder. Diesel fuel is then injected. The weight is dropped, using a quick-release.
5. Hydraulic Hammer
This is a modern type of piling hammer used for driving steel pipe, precast concrete, and timber piles. Hydraulic hammers are more environmentally acceptable than older, less efficient hammers as they generate less noise and pollutants.
6. Sheet Pile Pusher
This style of pushing or pressing pilings has become more common than using a vibratory hammer. Pile pushers are used where construction noise should be kept to a minimum, like near schools or hospitals. Pile pusher hammers are perfect to use with H-beams.
7. Multi-purpose Piling Rigs
Piling rigs offer increased productivity and versatility with pile driving. There is only a small crew needed to operate these rigs. There are several attachments, such as vibration hammers, that can be used depending on soil conditions. They are computer-controlled which makes their driving more accurate.
8. Panel Driving Hammers
Panel driving hammers are easier to control vertically since piles are threaded together before driving. A panel of piles is supported by a guide frame and driven in separate stages. They are used to complete installations of longer piles in touch soil than other methods.