Hummer Webinar 2018

Pile Driving Hammer Performance
A Webinar by Pile Dynamics, Inc.

December 11, 2018
Frank Rausche, Ph.D., P.E., D.GE

© 2018, Pile Dynamics, Inc.
Hammer Performance 1
Pile Driving Hammer Performance

Outline
• Pile Driving Equipment
• Hammer types and their
working principles
• Energy types and
measurements
• Examples
• Summary
1
• The hammer has to get the pile safely and economically
to the required depth and/or capacity
• The hammer has to provide a dynamic load for bearing
capacity assessment
Pile Driving Equipment
2
Leads
Leads guide and align hammer, driving system and pile
Box Truss
Lead Lead
5
Pile Driving Equipment
Swinging Leads
Leads need spikes at bottom
3
Swinging Leads – Fixed LEADS
Need spikes at bottom Have a spotter or brace
Dedicated Pile Driving Systems
4
Freeriding or Offshore Leads
Template or Jacket support pile and hammer
Template Pile Guide
Pile Driving Equipment 10
5
Helmets
align hammer and pile and house cushions
Helmets
Distribute impact force over pile and house cushions
Good Alignment?
Poor Alignment costs

energy!
Causes high local and

bending stresses!
6
Helmets (also called Anvil)
Distribute impact force over pile and house cushions
Ram
Helmet plate
Inside
Sleeve
outside
Pile
Adaptors
For large pipe piles (when ram has much smaller diameter)
Ram
Helmet and
Sleeve
Adaptor
Pile
Conical adaptor for large piles (like
a follower or chaser)?
7
Hammer Cushions
protect the hammer from overstressing
Warning: Don’t do it under the hammer!!!

HAMMER CUSHIONS
Since 1960s:
Man made materials
(Resins, Nylon, ...),
sandwiched with
aluminum plates
Since 1980s:
No Hammer Cushion
for certain hammers
8
PILE CUSHIONS
Straw, Sand, Natural Fiber
Oak, Softwood, Plywood
All across grain
Pile Cushions
Protect Concrete Piles - Dissipate a lot of energy
9
Hammer Types
External Combustion Hammers
 Steam pressure
 Single acting
 Compressed air
 Single, double, differential acting
 Hydraulic pressure
 Hydraulic drop hammers, accelerated hydraulic
hammers, with kinetic energy measurements
 Drop hammers
 Hoisted and dropped (winch or other external
power)
Hammer Types
Internal Combustion Hammers
 Open end diesel hammers
 Closed end diesel hammers
10
Hammer Types
Vibratory Hammers
Single Acting Air Hammer

Cylinder and upper frame
Ram guides
Drop height
Ram
Hammer base
11
Air / Steam
Cylinder
Piston
Working Inlet
Principle
of an SA Valve
Exhaust
Air/Steam Ram
Hammer Ram Point

Striker Plate
Hammer Cushion
Helmet
Upstroke Downstroke
Air / Steam
Cylinder
Piston
Working Inlet
Principle
Exhaust
of an SA Valve
Air/Steam Ram
Hammer Ram Point

Striker Plate
Hammer Cushion
Helmet
Upstroke Downstroke
12
Single Acting Air Hammer
Exhaust at
Ports
Exhaust at
Valve
Double Acting Air Hammer

>100 blows/minute
Cylinder and upper frame
Ram
Ram guides (dry=high friction)
Note: short drop height
Hammer base = assembly
bottom mass
13
Steam Hammers
The first external combustion
hammers, developed in the
19th century, were powered by
steam. Today, if at all, only
very large hammers are
powered by steam. Steam had
first been replaced by
compressed air and now by
hydraulic pressure.
Hydraulic Hammers
Hydr. Drop Hammers Accelerated Hydraulic Hydraulic + Msd. Ek
14
OPEN END DIESEL HAMMERS
Ram (appearing above cylinder top)
Fuel Tank
Cylinder
Fuel pump
Cooling Ribs on Power Cylinder
OPEN END DIESEL HAMMERS
Exhaust Ports
Fuel Pump
Impact Block
Helmet
15
Diesel hammer
components
Piston = Ram
Cylinder
Exhaust Port (closed by piston)

Compressive stroke
Combustion chamber
Impact block
Hammer Cushion; Helmet
Single Acting Diesel Hammers

Start
Piston raised to trip height, released,
and falls under gravity
16
Port Closure
Piston closes inlet port as it descends

Compression

Air in chamber is compressed
Piston (or pressure) triggers fuel
injection
17
Impact

Air in chamber is compressed
Piston (or pressure) triggers fuel
injection
Impact occurs atomizing fuel
which combusts in the hot air;
the pile is pushed down

Expansion
Pressure in combustion gases

plus possibly pile rebound
cause ram upward motion
18
Exhaust
Pressure in combustion gases
plus possibly pile rebound
cause ram upward motion
Ram clears ports and excess
pressure is blown off

Scavenging
Impact occurs atomizing fuel which
combusts in the hot air; the pile is
pushed down
Pressure in combustion gases plus
possibly pile rebound cause ram
upward motion
Ram clears ports and excess pressure
is blown off
Ram continues upward motion causing
fresh air to mix with remaining burnt
gases.
19
Reaching stroke height
Ram reaches stroke height and begins
to descend and repeat cycle

Assessing stroke height
Ram reaches full stroke and begins to
descend and repeat cycle
Stroke height, h, is sometimes

h assessed by the distance the piston
rises, r, above the cylinder or by time
between impacts using a Saximeter.
20
Vibratory Hammers
• Vibratory hammers generate a
sinusoidal force on top of the pile by
rotating eccentric masses. They
normally do not generate an impact.
• The sinusoidal - upward and
downward - forces depend on, but are
not equal to, the centrifugal force of
the rotating masses, Fc
• Fc depends on hammer frequency and
eccentric moment
Vibratory Hammers
• Fc = reme(2 π f)2
me – Sum of all eccentric masses
re - radius of eccentric masses
Me = re me – eccentric Moment
f – frequency in 1/s (RPM/60)
Bias Mass
me
re
Clamp
21
Vibratory Hammers
• The frequency in very hard driving depends
on how much power is available
• Power is energy per time interval
• Pile stresses are usually not of concern
except around clamp
• But: Pile and/or clamp fatigue may be a
problem
• There are low and high frequency
hammers; the latter typically have
frequencies above 30 Hz (1800 RPM)
• Sonic vibratory hammers have even higher
frequencies (above 60 Hz?).
Energy Considerations
There are 3 different types of energy
• Potential and/or rated energy: ER
Ram is at top of stroke
• Kinetic Energy: EK = ηH ER
Ram is about to impact; potential energy minus
energy losses are converted to motion energy;
nH is the hammer efficiency.
• Transferred Energy: ET = ηT ER
Ram is on upstroke after transferring its kinetic
energy to helmet/pile; ηT is the transfer ratio.
(transfer/global efficiency)
22
23
Measuring the Rated
Energy
For fixed stroke hammers with visible
ram movement, measurement of the
maximum stroke may be possible.
Measuring the Rated

Energy
For double acting hammers and
diesel hammers (which rarely reach
the rated stroke) Er is a theoretical
value and cannot be estimated from ?
field observations.
Note: if the ram of external
combustion hammers is not visible,
assessment of potential and thus
rated energy is virtually impossible!
24
Measuring the Stroke of Diesel Hammers
Jump Stick
Crazy
Engineer
Measuring OE Diesel Hammer Stroke

For open end diesel hammers determine stroke (h)
using the Saximeter Formula
Ram position
Theoretically:
h = 1/8 g T2
h
g …… gravitational
acceleration
Time
T
25
Measuring OE Diesel Hammer Stroke
Measure Blows/minute (BPM)
Stroke = 4.01(60/BPM)2 – 0.3 (ft)
(For 40 BPM: Stroke = 8.7’)
The SAXIMETER times the blows, counts

blows, calculates Ek and electronically
takes records
Measuring the Kinetic Energy

Two methods are available to measure the ram
impact velocity, vi:
 RADAR or
 Two Timing Signals
Based on vi and the ram mass, mR , the kinetic
energy is:
EK = ½ mR vi2
26
Measuring Ram Velocity by RADAR/HPA
Laptop and RADAR Antenna
HPA calculates kinetic energy:

EK = ½ mR vmax2
Is vmax = vi?
Impact Velocity from HPA
27
Determining the Impact Hammer Frame
(Reference)
Velocity, vi, from
Two Timing Signals
Sensor
S1
Ram
Time
D
S2
t1 t2 vi = D/(t2-t1)
Impact Velocity from Timing Signals

Hydraulic Hammer
28
Impact Velocity, vi, from Timing Signals
On a Diesel Hammer
Timing Timing Sensors give ram

Sensors velocity just before impact.
Transmitte
r
Transferred Energy Measurements

by Pile Driving Analyzer System® (PDA)
29
Calculating the WR
Transferred Energy
Max ET = ∫F(t) v(t) dt h
(ENTHRU) WR
ηT = ENTHRU/ ER Measuring
ER is the rated energy Force, F(t), and
ηT is called transfer ratio Velocity, v(t),
at pile top
Hammer Performance
59
Sample Record: Hydraulic Hammer

Junttan HHK 14S; Wr = 31 kips; Er = 152 k-ft; EMX=121 k-ft; ƞT = 80%
OE Pipe Pile 48x1 inch, Length 165 ft
Force at pile top
Velocity at pile top times

proportionality constant
30
Sample Record: Open End Diesel Hammer
APE D 80-42; Wr = 17.6 kips; Stroke=12 ft; Er = 198 kip-ft
EMX = 143 k-ft; ƞT = 72%
OE Pipe 30x1”; Length 150 ft Restrike
Force at pile top
Velocity at pile top times

proportionality constant
Statistical Summaries for SA–Air/Steam Hammers

Transfer Ratios at End of Driving
Steel Piles: N=747; μ=56% Concrete Piles: N=194; μ=41%
Mean 67% Mean 41%
31
Air/Steam Hammers
Hammer Efficiency Recommendations
Single acting Air/Steam hammers: ηH = 0.67
fall height, preadmission, friction, alignment
Double acting Air/Steam/Hydraulic: ηH = 0.50

preadmission, reduced pressure, friction, alignment
Statistical Summaries for Diesel Hammers

Transfer Ratios at End of Driving
Steel: N=1419 – μ=39% Concrete: N=668 – μ=27%
Mean 39% Mean 29%
32
Diesel Hammers
Open end diesel hammers: ηH = 0.80
uncertainty of fall height, friction, alignment
Closed end diesel hammers: ηH = 0.80

uncertainty of fall height, friction, power assist, alignment
Statistical Summaries for Hydraulic Hammers

Transfer ratios at End of Driving
Steel Piles: N=203 - μ=69% Concrete Piles: N=67- μ=47%
Mean 69% Mean 49%
33
Hydraulic Hammers
Hammers with internal monitor: ηH = 0.95
uncertainty of hammer alignment
Hydraulic drop hammers: ηH = 0.80

uncertainty of fall height, alignment, friction
Accelerated hydraulic hammers: ηH = 0.80

uncertainty of fall height, alignment, friction, power assist
Percentage of lower ηT -values
Percent
Transfer Ratio,
Transfer RatioηT
Transfer Ratio
34
Percentage of lower ηT -values
Transfer Ratio, ηT
Transfer Ratio
Energy Losses
 Hammer specific losses – reduce kinetic energy, Ek
 Compression losses in Diesels (can be calculated)
 Friction
 Preadmission (ECH) or Preignition (diesels)
 Transfer losses - reduce transferred energy in pile, Et
 Cushion losses
 Other Transfer losses
 Ram/pile alignment
 Pile top distortion
 Cap bending, vibration
 Lateral vibrations, sound, ….
35
Example: Diesel Hammer Preignition
 Open End Diesel Hammer
 Ram Weight: 49 kN (11 kips)
 Rated Energy: 150 kJ (110 ft-k)
 24” PSC with void
 Length below gages: 14.7 m
Example: Force and Velocity Records
EOD
ηT =17% Force
40 Bl/inch
Velocity
BOR
ηT = 25%
20 Bl/inch Force
Transf. Energy
Velocity
36
Considering/Reviewing
Energy Transfer to Steel piles at EOD
 Diesel:
Typical drop height: 10 ft; Median Diesel Energy Transfer: 39%
Diesel Energy Transfer 10 x 0.39 = 3.9 ft x ram weight
 Hydraulic:
Typical drop height: 5 ft; Median Hydraulic Energy Transfer: 69%
Hydraulic Energy Transfer 5x0.69 = 3.5 ft x ram weight
 Air/Steam:
Typical drop height: 3 ft; Median Air/steam Energy Transfer: 56%
Air/Steam Energy Transfer 3x0.56 = 1.7 ft x ram weight
Conclusion:
For the same ram weight, on average, hydraulic hammers transfer
90% of diesel hammer energy; air/steam hammers 44% to the pile
Hammer Energy Variations

Same Hammer, Same Site at EOD for 42 Piles
Transfer Ratio:
Ratio: Average 0.35, COV
0.17 0.17
• Hammer was a D19- Energy Average 0.35; COV
Expected Mean: 39%
42 OE diesel T
0.6
r
• Steel H-piles; EOD a 0.5
Ratio
n
0.4
Energy Ratio
s
EMX/Erated
• Claystone bearing f
Transfer
e 0.3
layer r
R
a 0.2
• Hammer energy t
i 0.1
appeared not related o
0
to driving resistance 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
Blows/250 mm
Rausche et al., 2008. Mastering the art of dynamic pile testing, SWC Kuala Lumpur
37
Example: Energy losses due to poor
hammer-pile alignment
 12.75x.375” – 50 ft long closed-end pipe pile
 ICE-Pilemer IP3 hydraulic hammer
 Ram Weight 6.6 kips
 Rated Stroke 4 ft
 Stroke during driving 2 ft – Potential Energy: 13.2 kip-ft
 ENTHRU during driving 11 kip-ft (83%)
 Stroke During Restrike 4 ft – Potential Energy: 26.4 kip-ft
 ENTHRU during Restrike 6.3 - 19 kip-ft (24 - 72%)
Example: Poor hammer-pile alignment
38
avg 27 ksi
Force
Velocity
max 48 ksi
BOR Records avg 27 ksi

N.A.
show large
bending 6 ksi
stresses

BOR shows inconsistent energy transfers
First 10 Blows Transfer Ratio (%)

20 40 60 80
Average ηt = 53% 0
2
Last 10 Blows
Restrike Blow No.
4
Average ηt = 68% 6
8
Note: first 5 blows are 10

12
usually most important for 14
capacity determination 16
18
20
39
Another Example
Type: Square prestressed concrete pile
Size: 610 mm (24”) with 270 mm (10.5”) void
Length: 20.5 m (67.25’)
Depth: 14 m (45.9’)
Hammer: D 30-32 Diesel hammer; Er = 102 kJ (75.4 k-ft)
Soil Profile
Depth Description N qu
m (ft) kPa (ksf)
4 (13) Sand 6
8 (26) Sand 13
13.4 (44) Clay 180 (3.8)
22 (72) Clay with Sand Lenses 300 (6.2)
Water Table at 3 m or 10’ depth
40
Another Example
Type: Square prestressed concrete pile
Size: 610 mm (24”) with 270 mm (10.5”) circular void
Length: 20.5 m (67.25’)
Depth: 14 m (45.9’)
Hammer: D 30-32 Diesel hammer; Er = 102 kJ (75.4 k-ft)
Wr = 29.4 kN (6.6 kips); hr = 3.45 m (11.3 ft)
Hammer Cushion: Conbest
(A = 2680 cm2; E = 3790 MPa; t = 90 mm; COR=0.8)
Helmet Weight: 35.4 kN (7.76 kips)
Pile Cushion: Oak Boards, 230 mm (9”) thickness
GRLWEAP
Static Soil Analysis
Based on SA analysis using:

• N-value
• qu
Ru = 1700 kN
Rshaft = 1200 kN
41
Wave Equation analysis input
Wave Equation analysis: Bearing Graph

For 1700 kN capacity we would expect 170 bl/m = 51 bl/0.3m
GRL Engineers, Inc. 08-Aug-2012
GRLWEAP Example GRLWEAP Version 2010
20 20
DELMAG D 30-32
Compressive Stress (MPa)
Ram Weight 29.37 kN

Tension Stress (MPa)
16 16 Efficiency 0.800
Pres s ure 9645 (99%) kPa
Helm et Weight 17.79 kN
12 12 Ham m er Cus hion19259 kN/m m
Pile Cus hion 1009 kN/m m
COR of P.C. 0.500
8
A = (415 in2)E =8
Skin Quake
Toe Quake
2.500
10.160
mm
mm
4
(550 ksi) t = (3.5”) 4 Skin Dam ping
Toe Dam ping
0.650
0.500
s ec/m
s ec/m
Pile Length 20.50 m
0 0 Pile Penetration 14.01 m
Pile Top Area 3716.12 cm 2
4000 5
Skin Friction
Pile Model Dis tribution
Ultimate Capacity (kN)
3200 4
Stroke (m)
2400 3
1600 2
800 1
0 0
0 60 120 180 240 300 360 Res . Shaft = 71 %
Blow Count (blows /.30m ) (Proportional)
42
At the statically predicted capacity of 1700 kN we would
expect a blow count of 51 bl/0.3m)
We would expect a transferred energy of 26 kJ (25.5% of
rated) at a stroke of 2.4 m
Wave Equation analysis: Bearing Graph

At Refusal we would expect 4000 kN capacity
GRL Engineers, Inc. 08-Aug-2012
GRLWEAP Example GRLWEAP Version 2010
20 20
DELMAG D 30-32
Compressive Stress (MPa)
Ram Weight 29.37 kN

Tension Stress (MPa)
16 16 Efficiency 0.800
Pres s ure 9645 (99%) kPa
Helm et Weight 17.79 kN
12 12 Ham m er Cus hion19259 kN/m m
Pile Cus hion 1009 kN/m m
COR of P.C. 0.500
8 8
Skin Quake 2.500 mm
Toe Quake 10.160 mm
4 4
Skin Dam ping 0.650 s ec/m
Toe Dam ping 0.500 s ec/m
Pile Length 20.50 m
0 0 Pile Penetration 14.01 m
Pile Top Area 3716.12 cm 2
4000 5
Skin Friction
Pile Model Dis tribution
Ultimate Capacity (kN)
3200 4
Stroke (m)
2400 3
1600 2
800 1
0 0
0 60 120 180 240 300 360 Res . Shaft = 71 %
Blow Count (blows /.30m ) (Proportional)
43
PDA Testing + CAPWAP®
 Measure force and motion near the pile top
 Calculate transferred energy, bearing capacity, stresses
CAPWAP Results
Best Signal Match
• CAPWAP Signal Matching uses the measured signals to

determine static and dynamic soil resistance values.
• Based on static results, a simulated static test is performed
leading to a load-set curve.
44
CAPWAP Results
Best Signal Match
Load-Set
Curve
Summary of EOD Results

Static Actual Wave
Analysis Blow Equation CAPWAP
Capacity Count Capacity Capacity
kN Bl/m kN kN
(kips) (Bl/ft) (kips) (kips)
4,000 2,100
1,700 (382) 1482 (445) (900) (470)
• Restrike: Check long term capacity and whether or not

additional capacity can be gained with time by doing a
restrike test.
• Pile is driven 6 inches after 24 hours waiting time.
Blow Count now is 300 Bl/m (90 bl/ft)
45
Hammer Performance Results
End of Drive1482 Blows/ft
PDA Wave Equation
Stroke in m 2.7 2.5
in ft 8.8 8.3
ηT (%) 21 27 (Refusal)
Beginning of Restrike: 90 Blows/ft

PDA Wave Equation
Stroke in m 3.3 2.5
in ft 10.7 8.3
ηT (%) 35 26 (90 bpf )
Wave Equation Analysis: Bearing Graph

At 300 bl/m or 90 bl/ft we would expect 2400 kN capacity with
again 26 kJ transferred energy and a stroke of 2.5 m
46
Capacity Summary Based on EOD and BOR
Static Actual Wave

Analysis Blow Equation CAPWAP
Capacity Count Capacity Capacity
kN Bl/m kN kN
(kips) (Bl/ft) (kips) (kips)
End of 1482 4,000 2,100
Driving (445) (900) (470)
1,700 300 2,400 2,550
Restrike (382) (90) (560) 570
Back-Calculation of EOD Hammer Efficiency
ηh = 0.5 instead of 0.8; WHY? Hot Hammer!

47
Summary
• Pile Driving Hammers are used for both pile installation
and testing.
• Good hammer performance is, therefore, essential for
both good productivity and a meaningful construction
control by blow count.
• Wave Equation capacity or blow count results are only
as good as the accuracy of the hammer efficiency input.
• Energy transfer is not only affected by hammer
performance, but also by hammer-pile alignment,
helmet fit and cushion condition.
Summary continued
• Measurement of rated energy is neither practical nor
possible nor helpful.
• However, measurement of diesel hammer stroke (i.e.,
potential energy) by Saximeter is common and useful.
• Measurement of kinetic energy can be done routinely;
but this is only done occasionally.
• Measurement of the transferred energy is routinely
done during dynamic pile monitoring.
• Hammer efficiency recommendations for wave equation
analysis assume average hammer performance results.
48
THE END: Please submit questions by e-mail.
49

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Pile Driving Hammer Performance

A Webinar by Pile Dynamics, Inc.

Frank Rausche, Ph.D., P.E., D.GE

Pile Driving Hammer Performance

Pile Driving Equipment

Dedicated Pile Driving Systems

Template Pile Guide

Pile Driving Equipment 10

Poor Alignment costs

Causes high local and

Warning: Don’t do it under the hammer!!!

 Closed end diesel hammers

Single Acting Air Hammer

Hammer Ram Point

Hammer Ram Point

Double Acting Air Hammer

Cylinder and upper frame

Cooling Ribs on Power Cylinder

OPEN END DIESEL HAMMERS

Exhaust Port (closed by piston)

Single Acting Diesel Hammers

Piston closes inlet port as it descends

Single Acting Diesel Hammers

Piston closes inlet port as it descends

Piston closes inlet port as it descends

Single Acting Diesel Hammers

Pressure in combustion gases

Single Acting Diesel Hammers

Single Acting Diesel Hammers

Stroke height, h, is sometimes

Measuring the Rated

Measuring OE Diesel Hammer Stroke

The SAXIMETER times the blows, counts

Measuring the Kinetic Energy

HPA calculates kinetic energy:

Impact Velocity from HPA

Impact Velocity from Timing Signals

Timing Timing Sensors give ram

Transferred Energy Measurements

Sample Record: Hydraulic Hammer

Force at pile top

Velocity at pile top times

Force at pile top

Velocity at pile top times

Statistical Summaries for SA–Air/Steam Hammers

Mean 67% Mean 41%

Double acting Air/Steam/Hydraulic: ηH = 0.50

Statistical Summaries for Diesel Hammers

Mean 39% Mean 29%

Closed end diesel hammers: ηH = 0.80

Statistical Summaries for Hydraulic Hammers

Mean 69% Mean 49%

Hydraulic drop hammers: ηH = 0.80

Accelerated hydraulic hammers: ηH = 0.80

Example: Force and Velocity Records

Hammer Energy Variations

Example: Poor hammer-pile alignment

BOR Records avg 27 ksi

Example: Poor hammer-pile alignment

First 10 Blows Transfer Ratio (%)

Note: first 5 blows are 10

Water Table at 3 m or 10’ depth

Based on SA analysis using:

Wave Equation analysis: Bearing Graph