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Caisson Foundation

Caissons are water-tight structures used in construction, derived from the French word for 'box', and come in various types including box, open, and pneumatic caissons. They are primarily utilized for bridge piers and waterfront structures, providing resistance to heavy loads. Each type has its advantages and disadvantages, such as cost, depth feasibility, and construction challenges.

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34 views5 pages

Caisson Foundation

Caissons are water-tight structures used in construction, derived from the French word for 'box', and come in various types including box, open, and pneumatic caissons. They are primarily utilized for bridge piers and waterfront structures, providing resistance to heavy loads. Each type has its advantages and disadvantages, such as cost, depth feasibility, and construction challenges.

Uploaded by

Rajesh Khadka
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Caisson Foundation: Construction, Types,

Diagram, advantages & Use


1 year ago CementConcrete

What is caisson and their types?


The term caisson has been derived from the French word caisson, meaning box. It can be
round or rectangular, which is sunk from the surface of either land or water to the desired
depth. Caissons are used for bridge piers, abutments in rivers and lakes and other shore
protection works. They are used to resist heavy vertical and horizontal loads and are used
in the construction of large waterfront structures as pump houses.

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Comparison between pile, pier, and caisson:


Pier foundation Caisson Pile foundation

Pier foundation is a type of deep foundation, Caissons are water-tight structures


Pile foundation is a typ
which consists of a cylindrical column of large made up of wood, steel, or
foundation, in which th
diameter to support and transfer large reinforced concrete built above the
to a low level by means
superimposed large superimposed loads to ground level and then sunken into
timber, concrete, or ste
firm strata below. the ground.

The types of pile found


The types of caissons are open bearing piles, friction p
The types of pier foundations are masonry or
pneumatic, monolithic, floating, piles, anchor piles, tens
concrete piers and drilled caissons.
excavated, etc. tension or uplift piles, s
piles, etc.

caisson is putting a box into


Pile is a column of mat
Pier is inserted down to the bedrock. underwater and pouring it with
pile driver.
concrete.

Pier has a footing Caisson doesn’t have a Footing. The pile doesn’t have a

Pier is typically dug out and cast in place using Caisson are driven Into surface Piles are driven into su
forms. condition.

Fig1. Schematic Diagram of Caisson

Classifications of Caisson foundation


Caissons may be classified into the following three categories:

1. Box caissons

2. Open caissons

3. Pneumatic caissons.

1. Box caissons.
Box caissons are open at the top and closed at the bottom. They can be made of steel.
R.C.C. or timber. This type of caissons are built on land, then launched and brought to the
site of the pier where they have to be sunk to the position. Box caissons can be used
where,

(i) bearing stratum is available at shallow depth.

(ii) Loads are not heavy,

(iii) For sea wells and break waters.

Advantages of Box Caissons

The advantages of this caisson is its low cost of construction. used when construction of
caissons at site would not be feasible or costly.

Disadvantages of Box caisson


The disadvantages of this type of caisson are that the bearing strata should be level or
made level. This type is feasible only when suitable bearing stratum is available at shallow
depth. Provision should be made for scour protection. The bearing stratum is often not
compact.

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Piles

2. Open caissons.
It is a box of timber, steel or R.C.C. or masonry with both ends open. It is used for building
well as well as bride foundations. Open caissons are called wells. Small caissons consist of
one opening or well while large caissons contain a series of wells.

Advantages of Open caisson (well foundation)

The advantages of open caissons are their feasibility to be sunk to great depths. Their
construction cost is relatively low.

Disadvantages of open caisson

The disadvantages of the open caissons are that the bottom of the caisson cannot be
thoroughly cleaned and inspected. The concrete seal placed in water is not satisfactory and
soil near the cutting edge may require hand excavation by diver. If obstructions like
boulders or logs are encountered the construction gets slowed down.

3. Pneumatic caissons.
A pneumatic caisson is one which has a permanent or temporary roof near the bottom and
its lower end is designed as a working chamber in which compressed air is forced to
prevent the entry of water and thus permits excavation in dry conditions. The essential parts
of pneumatic caissons are:

(1) Working chamber,

(2) Shaft and airlocks.

The working chamber may be made of timber, steel, or R.C.C. but the shaft is usually
made of steel This type of caisson is composed of an inner and outer skin plate of steel with
steel truss or girders as horizontal support to form a box-like structure.

For easy penetration in the soil, steel cutting edges are provided at the bottom. A working
chamber of 3 to 4 meters high is formed by providing an air-tight roof. The access to the
working chamber is kept through the shafts and airlocks.

When a man is required to go into the working chamber, he first enters into the airlock, the
door of the air lock is closed and the pressure is increased equal to that of the working
chamber. Now the door of the shaft is opened and the man enters into the working
chamber. Similarly, at the time of coming out of the working chamber, the process is
reversed.

Working.
The pneumatic caisson is constructed on the river bank and then launched and taken to the
site of the pier. At the pier site, the concrete is filled in between the double walls and sunk
into the river bed. Gene rally two shafts, one for workers, and the other for concrete delivery
and refuse are provided as shown in Fig. 2.

Fig.2. Working of Pneumatic


Caisson
After sinking the caisson into the river bed, the compressed air is forced in the working
chamber to check the entry of water into the working chamber. Now the excavation is
started in the river bed and the caisson is allowed to sink deeper. As the caisson sinks
down to balance the pressure of outside water, the pressure of compressed air is increased
and in this way, water is not allowed to enter the working chamber.

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When the caisson has reached the desired depth, the bottom is prepared for concreting,
and concreting is done through the concrete shaft, forming a thick layer at the bottom that
acts as a seal. Now the air pressure was released and shafts and air locks were removed
from the caisson. The remaining portion is filled with concrete under atmospheric pressure,
Formation of air pockets and development of shrinkage should not be allowed during the
period of concreting and its setting.

Advantages Pneumatic Caissons


The advantages of pneumatic caissons are that all work can be done in dry and there is
control overwork. The foundation is prepared better and the plumb ness of caissons is
easier to control. The concrete placed in dry condition will have good and reliable quality.
The obstruction from boulders and logs can readily be removed and excavation by blasting
may be done if necessary.

Disadvantages of Pneumatic caissons

It has a high cost of construction. They cannot be sunk to depths greater than 35 m
because the higher pressure below this depth cannot be resisted by the human body.

Bearing Capacity of Caissons


The bearing capacity of caissons is obtained in a similar manner as in the case with other
foundations.

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