Hydraulic vibratory hammers have many advantages and offer a dynamic solution for driving or excavating piles. They can be used on both small and large piling projects and drive a wide range of materials and pile shapes or sheets. With driving forces up to 201 tons, hydraulic vibratory hammers are powerful pieces of equipment.
Their compact design and the range of mounting options make them an excellent choice for sites with challenging conditions, including cofferdam construction. They can also be mounted on crane access trestles.
They are also less prone to breakdown because they don’t rely on hammer blows to drive piles, instead vibrating the earth around the pile for installation or excavation. Hydraulic hammers are also lighter weight and have higher power than electric vibratory hammers, making them among the most popular options for commercial, civil, and marine projects.
Faster Driving and Extraction
One of the primary advantages of hydraulic hammers is that they drive and extract piles much more quickly than traditional pile drivers. Also, the ability to remove piles makes them a practical option for projects that require the demolition of existing structures or repairing existing piles.
Time is something every construction manager knows you can’t get back, and the high efficiency of hydraulic systems will help keep projects on schedule even when unforeseen obstacles appear.
Vibratory hammers can drive a pile that would take a traditional rig up to an hour in as little as ten minutes.
Quiet Operation
Another primary benefit of hydraulic vibratory hammers is that they generate considerably less noise than traditional pile drivers. This feature makes them an ideal solution for use in residential or urban sites where noise ordinances may present compliance issues.
Traditional impact hammers cause loud, repetitive bangs with each blow. Because vibratory hammers “cut” the soil around the pile instead of driving it down with force, they won’t draw noise complaints from neighboring businesses or residents, which can cause costly stop-work orders from local officials.
Ease of Transporting Hydraulic Vibratory Hammers
Because hydraulic hammers are much smaller and lightweight than other pile driving equipment, they can be shipped or transported in a single load. This reduces transit time as well as freight and transportation costs.
Transporting a traditional piling rig can require numerous loads followed by a lengthy installation process. Hydraulic vibratory hammers install easily on an excavator or crane and require less maintenance as well.
Hydraulic Vibratory Hammers Require Smaller Crews
In many cases, hydraulic hammers can be operated by a two-person crew. This allows for dynamic operation on smaller projects where site conditions present space challenges. An operator-assisted by a ground man can get significant work done when compared to traditional piling rigs.
This dynamism allows for contractors to safely and efficiently complete projects with lower labor costs. Also, they are more straightforward to operate, and crews can help monitor the rig to avoid malfunction or breakdown with preventative maintenance.
Develop a daily, weekly, and monthly inspection checklist with a local service company to ensure that your vibratory hammer is performing at its optimal level.
Compliance with Environmental Regulations
As local, state, and federal regulations evolve, this has become an increasingly attractive feature. Since they don’t create a significant impact in the earth like traditional piling rigs, they are less prone to cause cracking or fissuring in surrounding soil.
Also, they are equipped with absorption packs that mitigate vibrations in the earth which can strain surrounding structures and lead to damage or disturbance. Violations can cause numerous headaches in piling projects and result in costly fines, downtime, or stop-work orders.
The best way to ensure compliance is to consult local guidelines for up-to-date regulations and ordinances. Also, make sure you are in compliance with all OSHA recommendations and job site safety protocols to ensure the success of your project.
Hydraulic Vibratory Hammers for Marine Projects
Vibratory hammers have become increasingly popular with marine projects because they can be operated underwater to construct bridges, piers, docks, cofferdams, and more. Marine projects present unique demands, and the flexibility and efficiency associated with crane-mounted vibratory hammers can reach marine locations.
Marine projects present challenging soil conditions as well, which makes the wide adaptability of vibratory hammers one of the most attractive features. Also, marine projects often have noise regulations in place to protect the surrounding sea life from harmful vibrations.
Varied Soil Compositions
After a professional soil analysis is conducted at your job site, you identify the right equipment for the conditions at every depth. Vibratory hammers are best suited to lower cohesion soil conditions which is another reason they are so popular for marine projects.
Higher density soils like clay or stone may require a traditional piling rig, though this should be evaluated on site-specific investigations and professional consultation with licensed professionals.
Because of their high efficiency, fast driving and excavating capabilities, small footprint, and adaptable functions, hydraulic vibratory hammers are a cost-effective piling solution that doesn’t sacrifice power.
They offer an affordable alternative to traditional piling rigs and can be operated with smaller crews in more urban and residential areas as well as marine settings.
