Advance Foundation Engineering 2024-25

CAISSONS

INTRODUCTION

Fig1. Caissons

 Caisson is derived from French word “caisse” meaning a box.

 It is relatively large deep foundation.
 It is a box structure in shape of rectangular, round which is sunk from the surface of water or land to
the desire depth.
 It is permanent structure and part of the sub- structure.

USES

 Transferring the load of structure to the hard strata.

 Used for foundation of bridges, piers, abutments in river or lake.
 Used as impervious core wall of earth dams.
 To provide an access to a deep shaft or tunnel.

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Different Materials Used for Caissons

1. Steel: Steel caissons are common due to their high strength and flexibility. They are often used in
deeper or high-pressure environments, providing excellent durability and ease of assembly.

2. Reinforced Concrete: Concrete caissons offer high compressive strength and are typically used in
large-scale projects like bridge piers and harbour construction. The reinforcement provides additional
durability.

3. Timber: Historically, timber was used for caissons in shallower water applications. Although not as
common today, timber is still sometimes used for smaller, temporary projects.

4. Composite Materials: For specialized construction needs, composite caissons may combine steel,
concrete, and other materials to optimize performance under specific conditions, such as in corrosive
or high-pressure environments.

DESIGN ASPECTS OF CAISSONS

1. Material Selection: Typically made of steel, reinforced concrete, or timber, depending on the site
conditions and the structure's load requirements.

2. Shape and Size: Caissons are usually cylindrical, box-shaped, or open-ended, designed to
withstand underwater pressure and provide stability to the structure above.

3. Types

Open Caissons: For shallow depths, allowing excavation at the bottom.

Pneumatic Caissons: For deeper foundations, filled with compressed air to keep water out during
construction.

Floating Caissons: Prefabricated and floated to the site, then sunk to the desired position.

4. Sinking Method: Caissons are sunk by excavating soil from inside them, allowing the structure to
sink into place. The design must accommodate weight distribution and ensure even sinking.

5. Foundation Stability: Designed to distribute loads uniformly and resist lateral forces like water
currents or seismic activity, ensuring stability over time.

6. Waterproofing: Key for underwater caissons, with multiple layers of sealing material to prevent
water ingress.

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TYPES OF CAISSONS

 Box caisson (open at top and closed at bottom)

 Open or well type (open at top and bottom)
 Pneumatic type ( closed at top and open at bottom)

Box caisson and its construction

Fig 2. Box caisson

 It is strong water tight vessel open at top and closed at bottom and made of timber, steel or RCC
 It is build on land cured and then float or launched to pier site where it is placed in position.
 Mainly it is used for shallow depth and for light weight
 The caisson is sunk by filling sand, gravel, or concrete in the empty space inside
 The place where the caisson base is to rest must be levelled and as such box caissons are used in places
where the strata of sufficient bearing capacity is available near the ground.
 In normal practice, the soft natural bottom soil of the river bed is dredged out to some depth and the
trench thus formed is filled with sand to have a levelled base.

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Open or well type (open at top and bottom)

(a) Single well open caisson

 This is a box type structure having no top or bottom(during construction) and mainly consists of
vertical walls.
 The method of construction of a typical single wall open caisson is describe below:
 Wherever necessary the site is made dry by dewatering the area by adopting suitable method (By
constructing cofferdam, sheet piling etc.).
 A pit of suitable size and about 3 to 4 meter deep is excavated at the site where the caisson is to be
sunk.
 The cutting edge is then placed at the bottom of the pit. Above the cutting edge, the wall reinforcements
are suitably tied up and the shuttering for casting the concrete wall is erected.
 The caisson walls are then concreted in lifts to a suitable heights.
 When the freshly laid concrete has gained sufficient strength, sinking operation is started. The caisson
sinks due to its own weight when the soil from the space inside removed by use of clam shell or any
other method.
 As sinking proceeds, additional sections of the caisson walls are successively cast.
 Sinking is stopped while each section is concreted and it is resumed only after the concreted section
has gained sufficient strength.
 When the caisson is sunk to the required depth, its base is plugged by providing 15 to 45 m thick layer
of concrete (concrete seal).
 The concrete for the seal is placed by use of a tremie pipe or by a bottom dump bucket.
 After the concrete seal has set, the water inside the caisson is pumped out and the empty space is filled
with sand, gravel or
 The rate of sinking of the caisson is always slow because the downward moment of the caisson is
resisted by the skin friction of the ground on its walls.
 At times the skin friction becomes so great that the caisson does not sink even after all the earth has
been dredged out from the inside clean down to the cutting edge.
 In such situations, sinking is resorted to by loading the caisson with additional weights in the form of
rails, ingots (block of steel) etc. which are removed afterwards.

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(b) Cylindrical open caisson

Fig 3. Cylindrical open caisson

 This may be defined as a cylindrical shell made up of timber, masonry, steel or reinforced concrete
shod with a cutting edge and which is sunk by excavating the soil within the shell.

 The thickness of the caisson wall must be adequate so that when the inside soil is dredged out, it sinks
under its own weight. To facilitate sinking of the caisson water jets are sometimes used around the
sides which decrease the skin friction. Cylindrical open caisson is also known as well caisson. This
type of caisson is similar in all respect to the single wall open caisson except that its wall is circular
in plan.

 The method of construction of well caisson is exactly similar to that of a single wall open caisson
described earlier. After the well is sunk to the desired depth its bottom is sealed with concrete.

 This type of caisson is commonly adopted for providing foundation for bridges.

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(c) Pneumatic open caissons

Fig 4. Pneumatic open caisson

 This type of caisson is closed at top and open (during construction) at the bottom. The water is
excluded from the caisson chamber by means of compressed air.

 The construction of the pneumatic caisson is similar to the types described above, except that, the
working chamber and shaft are made air-tight. In order that the workmen may carry out excavation
work underneath the caisson and the water may not find its way inside from below, the pressure of the
compressed air in the shaft is kept just higher than that of the water at that depth.

 Each caisson has two air locks. Through one air lock workmen go down for working while through
the other excavated material is taken out. An air lock essentially consists of a steel chamber having
two air-tight.

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Advantages of caissons

1. Strong Foundation: They provide a stable and solid foundation for large structures like bridges, dams, and
piers, especially in soft or water-saturated soil.

2. Deep Penetration: Caissons can be sunk to great depths, making them suitable for deep foundations in
rivers, oceans, or unstable ground conditions.

3. Versatility: They can be adapted to various shapes and sizes, allowing flexibility in design for different
site conditions and project requirements.

4. Underwater Construction: Caissons allow construction to occur underwater without needing to dewater
the site, making them ideal for bridge piers, harbours, and offshore structures.

5. Durability: Made from strong materials like reinforced concrete and steel, caissons are long-lasting and
can withstand environmental factors such as water pressure, corrosion, and weathering.

6. Controlled Construction Environment: Pneumatic caissons create a dry work environment even below
water, allowing workers to perform tasks with precision and safety.

7. Resistance to Lateral Forces: Caissons provide excellent resistance to lateral forces from water currents,
seismic activity, or soil movement, ensuring the structure remains stable.

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Disadvantages of caissons

 High Cost: Building caissons is expensive due to the need for specialized equipment and skilled labor.

 Time-Consuming: The process of constructing caissons, especially for deep foundations, can be slow
and complex.

 Difficult Installation: Caisson installation is challenging in certain soil types,

 especially in rocky or hard soils.

 Health and Safety Risks: Workers are exposed to high risks during caisson sinking, including
decompression sickness (the bends) in underwater caissons.

 Limited Access: Large caissons may restrict access to the construction site, complicating logistics.

 Environmental Impact: Caisson construction in marine or river environments can disturb aquatic
ecosystems

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Advance Foundation Engineering 2024-25

REFRENCES
1. Murthy, V. N. S. - Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering (CBS Publishers & Distributors).

2. Sharma, S. R., & Kaul, R. - Foundation Engineering (S. Chand Publishing).

3. Kumar, G. R. - Basic Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering (New Age International Publishers).

4. Punmia, B. C., & Jain, A. K. - Soil Mechanics and Foundations (Laxmi Publications).

5. Arora, K. R. - Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering (Standard Publishers Distributors).

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