CONCRETE PILES.

Timaru Herald, Volume XC, Issue 13274, 1 May 1907, Page 3

CONCRETE PILES.

The " Otago Daily Tim;;;" of Tuesday says: A large portion of the nciv wharf now being coniiruoted at th= end of the Jetty street wliaif will consist oi reinforced concrete, thus following the t-rtnd of more modem engineering piv.e.iee. The process of making the vaiiouj parts is so interesting as to warrant description from actual observation. The workmen are now -engaged in making v.'hat. is known ;ls she.'t'pLing —lhafc is tha smooth" wall which will retain I the ground at the baclc of the wharf. Each pile is 23ft 6in. long. loin, in width, and Bin. thick. The mat-rib! of whirh it is coinposed is fine coarse s:;r.- enir.gs in about equal proportions, and f/> this is added one part in tlnve of MiTb"rn cernc-nt. reinforcement, or strerj;ih ;, n ; T><r part-, consists of live rods of mi-d flee], threo of which are about five-eighth.-; of an inch in diameter, and two whi' h a'"- nnal-sr. The piles ar-e pointed wit-Is <•>, s;ngle point—that is, the pointed end has the appearance of being- cut off at an angle of about 45deg. The effect of this is to mako each pile press hard against its already driven neighbour.' Th 3 better to ensure tlii?, and to produce' an even surface, the edge of each is grooved, and in the groove thtr-e fits - a. tongue, which guides the pile perpendicularly. The pointed part is also sheathed, with iron, so that it may be driven more easily. The material is cast in a, mould, and it takes six days to "ripen" or mature. whs-n is fit fcr we. Having been turned on edge, ona end is lifted by a " overhead, a truck is inserted under the middle, and the pile is wheeled off to its place. Thh in itself is sufficient, test- of strength. The operations are under (he charge of Mr Davis, who constructed the whole of the Monier pipes for the Drainage Board. As soon as a sufficiency of sheet piling has been mad?, ordinary Diles, which -will be about 15in square, will be commenced.