This is the third edition of this popular book on piling technology, targeting the practising engineer as well as the academic audience. The first two editions, published in 1985 (Surrey University Press) and 1992 (Blackie), were reviewed in Géotechnique 36, No. 2, 300 (1986) and Géotechnique 42, No. 3, 538 (1992). The structure and length of the book remain very similar to the second edition but the material contained in a number of the chapters has been substantially updated to include new work carried out over the past ten years. Many new references, and a number of new and revised figures making use of more recent research, have been included to demonstrate empirical correlations or to support theoretical developments.
The first three chapters cover a brief introduction, site investigation techniques and piling methods. These remain largely unchanged from the previous edition, although the latter chapter has a number of new photographs and figures illustrating more recent developments in piling technology. They do an excellent job of setting the scene for the book and include essential information about different soil characterisation methods, including useful correlations between test output and parameters required for pile design. The chapter on piling methods is quite practical, outlining all the main types of piling, and includes discussion of pile installation methods as well as comments on typical piling rigs. Additional remarks are made on developments in the use of instrumentation during piling, contaminated land and the use of polymer fluids as an alternative to bentonite for bored piles.
The key theoretical developments in this book are in Chapters 4 and 5 covering design methods and underlying theory for single piles and pile groups. These provide a very useful description of design approaches that can be used by practitioners for a wide range of piling problems. Many of the figures have been updated, or new figures added, to illustrate more recent developments in understanding, making use of a wide range of new data. The text has been updated appropriately. Chapter 4, on design of single piles, covers capacity calculations and settlement calculations for both axial and lateral loading. Comments have been included on recent work related to effective stress approaches for driven piles, correlations with cone penetration test (CPT) data and friction degradation. The chapter on pile groups covers axial/lateral capacity and deformation as well as design of piled rafts. A few examples and case studies are used to illustrate the application of some of the design calculations.
Chapter 6 covers the related topic of retaining-wall design, exploring required soil data, wall construction, geotechnical design, structural design and deflections. This is similar to the previous edition, although there are new comments on lateral movements of retaining walls. Chapters 7 and 8 explore pile construction problems, the potential for damage and whether it is possible to detect that damage or not, using specialist tests. Chapter 9 considers approaches that are used to determine the installed capacity of piles, including static load testing and dynamic testing. The latter section outlines the underlying theory for the wave equation analysis technique that is typically used for dynamic testing, as well as a new section on the more recent Statnamic testing. The book is completed by a brief discussion of the economics of piling design and the background to making choices between different approaches.
This reviewer has found Piling engineering to be a very useful reference over the years, whether for his own work, or when providing advice to current or former students (undergraduates and graduates). The book outlines all the key issues that the engineer needs to consider, from the practical perspective as well as the theoretical angle, and provides numerous references for more advanced study. It is written in a very easy, readable style, complemented by many useful figures, and should appeal to the seasoned professional as well as the student new to this topic. It is therefore pleasing to see this significantly updated edition.
