Drilled Piers and Caissons II

Drilled piers or caissons, also called drilled shafts or bored piles, have long been a very cost effective foundation solution for many soil profile and load situations. A distinct advantage over pile foundations is the ability of a single unit to support an entire column load. Improved techniques for construction under slurry have greatly broadened the range of soil profiles where drilled pier construction is practical. Potential disadvantages can include the impracticality and high cost of load testing due to the much greater loads involved compared to piles and the difficulty of confirming the integrity of concrete placed under water or under slurry. This special technical publication on drilled piers and caissons addresses construction under slurry non-destructive integrity evaluation, load testing and geotechnical behavior under loads.