Precast Concrete Piles

Precast piles are used more commonly than precast footings. Normally, these piles have a square, round or octagonal cross-sectional shape. Precast concrete pile companies have developed standard details for their product.

Precast concrete piles are used when soil conditions are not adequate for spread footings. The piles are used to support the rest of the bridge structure upon the soil.

This system provides a driven pile instead of a cast-in-place concrete pile. Cast-in-place piles require more time and preparation.

Precast Concrete Piles

Photo Credit: Geostructures

Where is the substructure and/or foundation on a bridge?

Substructure

The substructure consists of the portion of the bridge that supports the entire structure on the given surrounding soil. There are varying designs due to the different soil conditions for each bridge site and the different weights of the structures for each project.

Foundation

The role of the foundation of a bridge structure is to create a smooth transition allowing the internal forces to flow between the bridge and the ground. Foundations are the ‘bridges’ or links between the bridge and the ground.

There are really only two types of bridge foundations – although each has many variations – ‘spread’ foundations and ‘piled’ foundations. Both types must transfer forces into the soil beneath the bridge.

Spread Foundation

Piles Foundation

Photo Credit: Bridges