Pressurized hollow square piles: the patron saint of settlement control of existing buildings

The causes of settlement of existing buildings are varied, mainly including changes in geological conditions, improper construction and long-term load effects. Changes in geological conditions, such as the rise and fall of groundwater levels and soil consolidation, will cause changes in the physical properties of the foundation soil, thereby affecting the bearing capacity of the foundation. Improper construction, such as incomplete foundation treatment and unreasonable foundation design, will also cause settlement of the building during later use. In addition, long-term load effects, especially the long-term effects of heavy equipment or large numbers of people, will also cause compression and deformation of the foundation soil, leading to building settlement.

Foundation settlement not only affects the beauty and use functions of the building, but more importantly, it poses a serious threat to the structural safety of the building. Slight settlement may cause problems such as wall cracks and deformation of doors and windows, while severe settlement may lead to catastrophic consequences such as overall tilting and collapse of the building. Therefore, timely and effective governance of the settlement of existing buildings is of great significance to protecting the lives and property of residents and maintaining social stability.

As an advanced building foundation reinforcement technology, pressurized hollow square piles have shown excellent performance in dealing with the settlement problem of existing buildings with their unique reinforcement mechanism and wide application effects. Pressurized hollow square piles effectively restore the bearing capacity of the foundation and reduce or eliminate settlement by inserting prefabricated hollow square piles deep into the ground and using the bearing capacity of the pile body and the combined effect of the soil.

1. Supplementing piles to enhance the bearing capacity of the foundation
For the settlement problem of existing buildings, pressurized hollow square piles can increase the bearing capacity of the foundation by supplementing piles. In the settlement area, hollow square piles are driven into the ground by professional equipment until they reach the depth required by the design. These piles can not only share the load of the building, but also transfer the load to the deep stable soil through the pile side resistance and pile end resistance, thereby effectively restoring the bearing capacity of the foundation.

2. Adjust the load distribution to reduce settlement differences
In addition to supplementing piles, pressurized hollow square piles can also reduce settlement differences by adjusting the load distribution. In areas with more serious settlement, the load can be more evenly distributed on the foundation by increasing the number of piles or adjusting the pile layout. In this way, not only can the settlement difference be reduced, but also the overall stability of the foundation can be improved to ensure the safe use of the building.

3. Efficient construction and reduced governance costs
The construction process of pressurized hollow square piles is relatively simple, does not require large-scale excavation, and has little impact on the surrounding environment. At the same time, due to the use of prefabricated piles, the construction speed is fast, which can greatly shorten the governance cycle. In addition, the cost of pressurized hollow square piles is relatively low, which can reduce governance costs and improve economic benefits while ensuring the governance effect.

In order to better understand the actual effect of pressurized hollow square piles in dealing with the settlement of existing buildings, several typical governance cases will be introduced below.

Case 1: Settlement governance of an old residential building
The foundation of an old residential building settled due to changes in geological conditions, and multiple cracks appeared in the wall, which seriously affected the lives of residents. After using pressurized hollow square piles for treatment, the bearing capacity of the foundation was successfully restored by supplementing the pile body and adjusting the load distribution, the cracks in the wall were repaired, and the residents' lives returned to normal.

Case 2: Settlement treatment of a commercial complex
A commercial complex caused foundation settlement due to improper construction, and some floors sank, seriously affecting the safety of use. After using pressurized hollow square piles for treatment, by increasing the number of piles and adjusting the pile layout, the settlement difference was effectively reduced, the overall stability of the foundation was improved, and the safe use of the commercial complex was guaranteed.

Case 3: Settlement treatment of a bridge foundation
A bridge caused foundation settlement due to long-term load, and the bridge tilted, posing a threat to traffic safety. After using pressurized hollow square piles for treatment, the bearing capacity of the bridge foundation was successfully restored by driving the pile body deep underground, the bridge tilt was corrected, and traffic safety was guaranteed.

Pressurized hollow square piles have significant advantages in dealing with the settlement of existing buildings, including significant reinforcement effect, simple construction process, and relatively low cost. However, in practical applications, there are also some challenges, such as complex geological conditions and difficult construction. Therefore, when using pressurized hollow square piles for settlement control, it is necessary to fully consider factors such as geological conditions and construction environment, formulate a reasonable construction plan, and ensure the control effect.