What Is Caisson Foundation? What Is The Purpose Of A Caisson?
What Is Caisson Foundation?
A caisson foundation is an innovative form of a retaining structure made from watertight components to be used for various engineering works such as the construction of bridge piers and dams, the repair of ships, and other aspects of geotechnical engineering.
It is designed as a box-like structure with dimensions depending on the required needs which can be lowered into the ground and filled with concrete or any material that keeps it in place before being sealed underwater.
The unique feature of this type of structure is that it allows water to be pumped out while keeping the interior space dry, thus creating a safe and efficient working environment.
What Is The Purpose Of A Caisson?
A caisson is a watertight structure used to provide an anchor for foundations, either floating or fixed. In the case of a fixed pier, the caisson is set as the base on the floor of the body of water.
It works by providing a stable and secure foundation on which other structures can be built, while also keeping out moisture and reducing possible damage caused by wave action or strong currents.
The size, shape, and capacity of a caisson can be determined based on the precise needs of each project – they are typically made from steel or wood depending on what best suits the construction.
What Are The Types Of Caisson Foundations?
Caisson foundations are a type of deep foundation used to support heavy loads and can be constructed using four main methods. Box caissons are prefabricated units that consist of two rectangular boxes with an open bottom, and are connected to one another at the top.
Open caissons are also constructed from two rectangular boxes however instead of being connected at the top they remain separate, creating a gap or ‘chamber’ between them.
Pneumatic caissons use pressurized air to maintain stability during construction while monolithic caissons incorporate the inner box within a continuous concrete pour, making them the strongest type of structure but also the most complex to build.
What Is The Size Of The Caisson Foundation?
Caisson foundations are typically made up of cylindrical piles with a minimum diameter of 7 inches (178 mm). The caisson pile is reinforced by a steel driving shoe which is welded to the bottom.
The center-to-center spacing of caisson sockets should not be less than 4 feet (1219mm) and must be at least two and one-half times the outside diameter of the shell. This will help to ensure adequate strength and stability for the foundation structure.
What Are The Advantages Of The Caisson Foundation?
Caisson foundation offers numerous advantages, such as lower sound pollution and reduced vibration, greater adaptability to changing underwater soil conditions, increased horizontal and lateral loading capacity, and the need for minimal handling equipment in order to place the reinforcement cage.
Furthermore, caissons can be used in deeper water without much difficulty due to their specialized design which makes them quite suitable for these kinds of jobs.
This efficient foundation system provides a number of benefits that make it an excellent choice for projects requiring deep foundations.
What Is The Price Of A Caisson?
The price of a caisson depends on whether or not it needs to be pulled for reuse. If it does, the cost per cubic foot ranges from $8.00 to $18.20, while if not, you can expect costs between $23.50 and $47.00 per cubic foot.
Generally, high-rise construction requires that caissons remain in place, and this will affect the final price point accordingly.
