Large Diameter Bored Piles
Further information:
Cementation Skanska
skanska.co.uk/cementation
cementation@skanska.co.uk
Application
Can be used in a wide range
of strata.
Where non-cohesive or
water bearing soils exist
temporary casings and/
or bentonite or polymer
suspension can be used to
progress the bores.
Diameters range from
600mm to 3000mm with
pile depths up to 72 metres
and maximum working loads
of 20,000kN for straight-
shafted piles or 30,000kN for
under-reamed piles.
Advantages
High load capacity
Can be used with
CEMLOC to plunge
structural steel columns
In stiff clays under-reamed
bases can be formed to
increase pile capacity
Depending on ground
conditions, pile concrete
can be terminated below
piling platform level.
Patents
UK Serial No. 2138033 Class
7, 37
UK Patent No. 2373801
US Patent No. 6739412
UK Patent No. 2362665
Trade Mark
CEMLOC
08/03/10 Rev 8
Cementation Skanska has a wide range of piling
rigs within the plant fleet, including crane-based
units, and all-hydraulic purpose-built mast
machines. Both are suitable for the construction of
large diameter cast-in-situ piles.
Mast machines are self-erecting. Establishment
time on site is shorter than for crane-mounts and
for contracts with small sites and/or few piles, this
can be an advantage. The crane-mounts are more
suitable for the larger diameter and deeper pile
range.
All of the rigs are fitted with a rotary boring unit
which operates a kelly bar. The boring tools are
fitted to the kelly bar. This equipment has been
used to construct large diameter piles in a wide
range of strata, including very soft silty clays, non-
cohesive soils and weak rocks.
The rigs can impart a vertical load on to the kelly
bar to improve production in difficult strata.
In addition to installing vertical piles, rigs within
our fleet can install raking piles, up to 1:4 rake,
without modification.
Depths
Kelly bars can be of single or telescopic
construction. Standard triple telescopic kelly bars
allow for depths of up to 55m. Exceptionally, when Concrete
required, extended triple telescopic kelly bars can Concrete grades up to 40N/mm are common, and
reach to 72m below ground. higher grades can be used where necessary.
Boring Tools Where the pile bore is dry, a hopper with a short
Boring tools are available to cope with different tube is used to direct the concrete down the centre
strata. The range includes general purpose augers, of the reinforcement. Under flooded conditions a
rock augers, boring buckets and coring barrels full-length tremmie pipe is used.
amongst others.
In both situations it is often practical to terminate
Standard sizes of boring tools range from 600mm the concrete at a low level. This is typically used
to 2400mm in increments of 150mm, and thereafter for top-down construction of deep basements. In
in increments of 300mm up to 3000mm. this situation it is possible for a steel column to be
plunged into the head of the concrete. Our unique
In suitable strata it is possible to construct a dry CEMLOC equipment can be used to position the
bore; in water-bearing strata it is often necessary columns to structural steel tolerances.
to progress the bore under flooded conditions, i.e
water, bentonite or polymer.
 Pile Load Bearing Capacity
Depending on ground conditions pile loads of
20,000kN or greater can be safely carried on
straight-shafted piles.

Special tools are available to form enlarged bases

or "under-reamed" piles in suitable strata, typically
stiff clays. Under-ream diameters are usually
specified in increments of 150mm, and diameters
of 5400mm or greater can be provided. Piles of
30,000kN capacity have been formed in London
clays using under-reamers.

08/03/10 Rev 8