Implementation of noise-free and vibration-free PHC screw piles on the basis of full-scale tests

Noise and vibration caused by pile driving may disturb surrounding areas to the extent that nearby residents and businesses may file civil complaints, which can bring construction to a halt. To overcome these issues, construction engineers have worked diligently to develop low-noise and low-vibration pile driving methods. One such method, involving noise-free and vibration-free pretensioned spun high-strength concrete (PHC) screw piles, is proposed in this paper. This pile driving method penetrates the ground by rotating and compressing the pile to minimize noise and vibration in addition to maximizing capacity. A noise-free and vibration-free PHC screw pile prototype, the first of its kind, was manufactured and subjected to two pilot tests to determine its production and construction requirements in addition to its performance. In pilot tests, the new noise-free and vibration-free PHC screw pile driving method was found to successfully reduce noise and vibration compared with pile driving involving conventional piles.