CE-611 Advance Construction Techniques

Lecture-20

Caisson: A theoretical Introduction

Prof. Samirsinh P Parmar

Asst. Prof. Department of Civil Engineering
Dharmasinh Desai University, Nadiad, Gujarat, INDIA
Mail: samirddu@gmail.com
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• The word caisson is derived from the French word caisse
meaning a box.

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Definition

• In civil engineering , a caisson is defined as a structure which is sunk

through ground or water to exclude water and semi –fluid material
during the process of excavation of foundations & which
subsequently becomes an integral part of the structure.

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Uses of Caisson
• To reach the hard bearing stratum for transferring the load
coming on supports for bridge piers and building columns.
• To serve as an impervious core wall of earth dams, when
placed adjacent to each other.

4
Uses of Caisson
• To provide an access to a deep shaft or a tunnel.
• To provide an enclosure below water level for installing
machinery, pump, etc.

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Difference between Cofferdam & Caisson
• Cofferdam is a temporary structure while caisson is a part of a
permanent structure.
• At places where cofferdams can not be dewatered successfully
caisson is used.
• In cases where, cofferdam becomes uneconomical when plan
area is small compared to depth of water.

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Reasons for adoption of caisson:
• Depth of water
• Nature of soil to be penetrated
• Permeability of soil below foundation level

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Material Used for Construction:
1. Cast-iron
2. Reinforced cement concrete
3. Steel
4. Timber

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Suitability of Cast-iron
• Suitable for caissons of open well type.
• Cost is more compared to R.C.C or Steel.
• Unsuitable for pneumatic caisson, because of chances of failure
due to compressed air.

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Suitability of R.C.C.
• Suitable for caisson shoes.
• Material is having heavy weight & difficult to handle.

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Suitability of steel
• It is found to be most suitable material
• Usually in the form of a double skin of steel plates
• The hollow space is filled with cement concrete

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Suitability of Timber
• Required at early stages of construction
• Now a days practically not adopted because of its weight &
chances of fire

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 Classification of Caisson
CAISSON

Box Caissons (Open at Wells ( Open at top Pneumatic Caissons

top &Closed at & bottom) (Open at bottom
bottom) &Closed at top)

Single Multiple or Cylinders

Monoliths

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 Box Caisson
PLAN

Filling

A B

Sand carpet

Concrete Placed by
Tremie

Section On A-B
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Box Caisson
• Box is open at top & closed at bottom
• May be built by R.C.C or steel

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 Construction of Box Caisson
1) A level bearing surface is prepared by means of dredging or
divers
2) The caisson is constructed on shore, launched and floated to the
site of work
3) The box is then filled with suitable material to effect further
sinking , if necessary.
4) The top is then sealed & further foundation work is started above
the water surface.

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Conditions favorable for construction of Box Caisson

• Bed preparation is not required

• Velocity of water is slow
• Loose soil in bed
• Depth of water is @ 6 to 8 m

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Points for Box Caisson
• Bottom of box caisson is a part of permanent structure
• Successfully used for construction of quay walls in series.

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 WELLS Twin Octagonal

Twin Hexagonal

Rectangular
CIRCULAR Twin Circular

Double-D
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WELLS
• A well is open at top as well as bottom

• It is provided with a cutting edge at the bottom so as to

facilitate sinking

• Shape is decided by the requirements of the superstructure,

vertical & horizontal forces on well, base of the pier or
abutment, cost of sinking, chances of tilting and shifting during
execution etc.

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Advantages of circular well
• The ratio of sinking effort to skin friction is maximum, because
of min. perimeter

• The sinking of well is more uniform as compared to other

shapes because the perimeter is equidistant at all points from
the centre of the dredge hole.

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Advantages of circular well cont…

• The only drawback of a circular well is that it causes more

obstruction to the waterway then the bridge pier.

• A double D shape is more economical then single circular well

• A twin circular well aims at combining the advantages of a

circular well and a double D well

• If number of wells is very large, a monolith is formed

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 Single wells
Bolts or Rods

1 to 2m A single well caisson is used where much

sinking is not required or where the
material to be sunk through is very soft.

Cutting Edge
If soft material covers the site, it is
necessary to remove as much of it as
possible before placing the caisson

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 Scaffolding Towers

WELL

Single well –Scaffolding towers

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 Loading of a well

Planks Sand Bags

Joists
Rails
Staining

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Procedure adopted for Construction of
Single well

• Depending on superstructure and structural requirements

suitable size & shape of well are determined.

• If the caisson is to be sunk through water, it is partially

constructed on land, floated and located in its correct position.

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Multiple wells or Monoliths
30m

Construction of Monoliths
45m

15m

18 m wide door

28m
Centre line of Bridge

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Sequence of dredging in a Monolith

1 4 1

3 5 3

2 5 2

4 6 4

2 5 2

3 5 3

1 4 1

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Construction Procedure
1. Suitable site is selected
2. Area of the dry dock should be kept bigger then the monolith
3. Door should be provided with sufficient width to take out
monolith.
4. Monolith height should be such that it will remain half
submerged.

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Construction Procedure
5. Dredging then stars as per the sequence shown in fig.
6.After dredging to required depth, the whole monolith is
gradually sunk uniformly up to required level
7. The bottom is sealed by concrete and wells are filled with
concrete and cap is provided at the top to finish construction

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Advantages of monoliths

• All the work is done above water & hence reduction in cost.
• There is no theoretical limit for the depth up to which a monolith
can be sunk
• The unskilled labour can be employed for the construction of
monoliths

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Disadvantages of monoliths
• Foundation level is not available for inspection
• The rate of sinking can not be estimated
• Monolith may have moderate amount of tilting
• Less strength of concrete

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Use of Monoliths
• Widely used for foundation work of bridge piers, quay walls etc
• Use of monoliths is justified for depth of water which will be
unsuitable for the cofferdam or prohibit the use of pneumatic
caisson

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Cylinders Staging

Cylinder

River Bed

Pile Cap

Piles

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Two cylinders with bracing Cylinders used
for bridge piers
Bracing

HWL

LWL

Cylinder Cylinder

River Bed

Bearing Surface

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Construction procedure
• Cylinder is brought to site & kept in vertical position before
sinking starts
• Cylinders are usually taken in lengths of 2 to 3 m
• Metal cylinders ….
• After removing the material from inside of the cylinder, the
space is filled with concrete for the full height.

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Advantages of Cylinders
• Obstruction to the water flow is less
• Quantity of excavation is small
• Simple construction
• Cheap in cost
• Do not require expensive and complicated lifting devices

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Disadvantages of cylinders
• Difficult to sink them vertically in running water
• Load bearing capacity is less due to small dia.
• More chances of tilting
• Thickness is less, hence not suitable for high bridges
• Require additional loading for sinking ( self wt. is less)

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PNEUMATIC CAISSON

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 Hoisting Rope Or cable
Air for
Man Lock
Compressor
Water surface

Wall Of Caisson

Shaft with Compressed Air pipe

ladder or lift

Air Lock
Muck Bucket

Working Chamber

SECTION OF PNEUMATIC CAISSON 40

Pneumatic caisson

• Open at bottom & closed at top

• Compressed air is used to remove water from the working chamber
• Adopted due to undulated soil conditions
• Maximum depth is limited considering health of workers

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Air pressure
• p = wh

• Where , p = pressure in KN/m2

w = density of water in KN/m2
= 9.81 KN/m2
h = head of water in m

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Air pressure

• The limiting air pressure under which a man can work is @ 343
KN/m2
• So, maximum depth of water up to which a pneumatic caisson
can be adopted from health point of view is 343/9.81 = 35 m
• The pneumatic caisson can be used for the depths of water
ranging from 12 to 35 m.

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Advantages of pneumatic caisson
• Inspection of work
• Concreting of foundation
• Easy removal of obstruction
• Checking of verticality of caisson
• Reliable quality of work

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Disadvantages of Pneumatic caisson
• Extreme care is required to provide suitable health controls for
labors.
• It requires high degree of skill in operation.
• Cost of construction is high.
• The depth of penetration is limited below water level.
(35m max.)

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Caisson sickness
• Compressed air sickness
• Symptoms-
- dizziness
- double vision
- headache
- trouble to speaking
- pain in legs etc.

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Precautions to avoid caisson sickness

1. Shift and working period

2. Interval between working periods
3. Temperature in working chamber (25°)
4. Physical examination of workers
5. Rate of compression & decompression
6. Man locks
7. Air compressing plant
8. Notice of work
9. Recompression of medical chamber
10. Miscellaneous
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Miscellaneous steps to avoid caisson sickness

• Use of excessive alcoholic drinks avoided

• Hot coffee should be avoided
• Use of warm cloths
• Enough meal & refreshments should be provided
• Workers should be conversant with the use of bells, signals,
telephones etc.
• No inflammable material should be allowed inside of caisson

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Thank You

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