Research and design a combined model of pile driving and pressing machine

Thu Dau Mot University Journal of Science – Volume 2 – Issue 3-2020 
 310 
Research and design a combined model of pile driving and 
pressing machine 
by Ngo Bao (Thu Dau Mot University) 
Article Info: Received Aug. 20
th
, 2020, Accepted Aug. 27
th
, 2020,Available online Sep. 15
th
,2020 
 Corresponding author: ngobaobk@gmail.com (Ngo Bao MA.) 
 https://doi.org/10.37550/tdmu.EJS/2020.03.068 
ABSTRACT 
The paper presents general theory about making small models for studying large 
machines. Here, the author refers to the design of pile driving and pressing 
machines. To express ideas, the author presents design drawings presented in 
three-dimensional perspective. Currently, pile drivers and pile presses are two 
separate machines, in which their base machine is the same, their working parts 
are slightly different. The author takes advantage of the slight differences to 
combine them into one machine, so as to ensure that this machine is able to pile 
or pile. In addition, the structure of pile making and pressing machines is created 
by the author, which is somewhat simpler than the current construction and 
driving machine. This successful study will form the basis for manufacturing a 
pile driving machine and pile machine into a single machine, greatly reducing the 
costs of procurement and construction machine use. 
Keywords: pile driving machine, pile press machine, model, hydraulic cylinder 
1. Introduction 
Before getting to the big, let’s start with the small. Before manufacturing a passenger 
aircraft, the designer must produce a small aircraft model and spend a lot of time 
learning and testing on that small model. The author of this article, too, plans to build 
the pile driving machine and the pile press into a single machine. Therefore, the author 
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has to build this machine model first. Designing and manufacturing a model that 
combines the driving machine and the pile press will give us two advantages. Firstly, 
there is a practical basis for us to research, learn, test, and then have the right direction 
to build large machines in the future. Second, used as teaching aids for students, 
because this model is related to the subject "Construction machinery". 
During the time studying in the school, students rarely have opportunities to interact 
with pile driving machines, pile presses. Talking about these machines, the learners only 
know through the lectures in the lecturers' class, the textbook or the Internet. These 
machines are high cost, easy to lose safety, unprofessional people, without duties, are 
not allowed to go near the area where they are working. Therefore, despite the fact that 
many of these machines have been used, the non-official (especially students) still 
cannot access to understand them. 
Furthermore, the working principle and the internal structure of pile driving machines and 
pile presses are a curious matter for construction students and all who want to learn. The 
textbooks have written about them, but only talk about theory, people who do not specialize 
in machinery (such as students of construction) are difficult to understand if reading. 
Therefore, it is necessary to have models of these machines for students to study, for 
teachers and other interested people to have real products to learn and research. 
2. The basis for designing the combined model of pile presses and 
presses 
Foundations for creation and research: A machine that can do two tasks of driving 
and pressing piles is unprecedented in the world. Therefore, if the author initially 
designs and builds a small model of this machine, that small model has never been 
available. Clearly, this work represents the invention, whose goal is to build a new 
machine, which is more streamlined and cost-effective than the two machines in use 
today, the pile driving machine and the press machine pile. 
Facilities to make teaching aids: Teaching by real model will be easier for learners to 
understand than teaching with presentations in class. With a model, students can collide 
and disassemble their own hands to record knowledge and remember lessons for a long 
time, even they can remember for a lifetime. But looking at words, drawings in books or 
looking at documents on the internet is rare for anyone to remember. On the other hand, 
the teaching model must be safe for learners, not too small or too big. The model as 
mentioned by the author above is an inexpensive model, not as sophisticated as an 
electronic computer, not as complicated as an internal combustion engine, an electric 
motor... Therefore, if we make it small it feels like a children's toy, not suitable for the 
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student's age; And when we make it big, it is heavy, easy to lose safety, and the cost is 
large. So, we choose the model size length x width x height about 1 x 1 x 2.5 (meter) is 
suitable. Said is appropriate because during practice, students do not have to climb high, 
nor do they have to bend over or squeeze each other to look. 
The facility offers the same operating principle as the actual large machines: We 
cannot have money to buy pile driving machines, pile presses for students to study 
(because their prices are up to several billion VND), nor is it necessary to buy. We just 
need to make miniature, analogous models of those machines, and the principle of 
similar work to those machines is enough for biology. The model we build does not 
require the required load, productivity or efficiency, but rather about creativity, safety 
and demonstrating working principles like real machines. Therefore, the calculation for 
the machine to operate to achieve productivity, speed ... according to requirements, we 
reduce it, but we increase the aesthetics and selection of standard parts and materials. 
When a part of a model is damaged, it can be purchased immediately to replace it. 
An existing money base: With a budget of not more than 20 million VND (the standard 
cost for the foundation level topic) for the whole process of designing and 
manufacturing a satisfactory model of pile driving and pressing machine for students to 
practice, practice as Working on a large machine is also difficult for the author. All our 
calculations and designs always think about the cost, how to suit our budget. High 
expectations, such as: durable, beautiful, performing well, exceeding expectations, we 
strive to achieve, but being 100% perfect is difficult. Therefore, the budget greatly 
affects the design and quality of the products we manufacture. 
3. A brief overview of known pile driving machine and pile press 
Figure 1. Existing pile driving machines [a) Diesel hammer driving machine; b) Falling hammer 
type pile driving machine; c) Vibrating hammer driving machine] 
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Figures 1 and 2 are pile driving machines, pile presses are used in the construction 
industry today. Obviously, they are two separate machines, but have a few similar parts 
that are mutually exclusive. Therefore, the author presents these pictures so that readers 
can see the previous products and partly understand the author's idea of wanting to 
combine these two machines into a single machine that can do both tasks is driving and 
pressing piles in construction. 
Figure 2. Existing pile presses [a) Metal pile pressing; b) Pile press robot; c) Frame for pressing 
piles; d) Overview of pile press system; e) Pile driving machine for roads 
f) Solar piling machine; g) Mini piling machine powered by gasoline] 
Pile driving machine is a machine using a hammer to apply force to the pile head, 
causing the pile to sink deeply into the ground; The pile press is a machine that uses 
force to press on one end of the pile, or clamp the pile body and compress so that the 
other end of the pile sinks to the ground (Nguyen Van Hung, 2003). Currently, the pile 
driving machine and the pile press are two separate types of machine. The author has 
not found a machine that can do two tasks: driving and pressing the pile. 
4. Designing the pile driving machine model 
General description 
The whole machine installation drawing of the driving machine model is as shown in 
the drawings of Figures 3 and 4 below. It is just a machine, but when using piling, it is 
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as shown in figure 3, but when using pile pressing, it is as drawing in figure 4. 
Descriptions, notes, specifications ... the author performed on the picture, readers easily 
understand. All results of the author's design focus on these two drawings. 
Figure 3. Installation drawing of pile driving machine model 
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What's new in this design is to combine two separate machines into a single machine; 
The working part of this combined model consists of two snug tubes, a fixed tube, a 
moving pipe up and down to be used for driving and pressing the pile. Both tubes have 
a groove cut (figure 3) sufficient to insert the stake inside. In this model, the author 
designed a 60mm wide groove, used for driving and pressing round steel piles with a 
diameter of less than 60mm. 
Figure 3. Installation drawing of pile press machine model 
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Describe some main structures and details 
Clamping mechanism (figure 5) 
State 1: Piston rod carries positive pin. Positive pin is a cylindrical cylinder with a cone 
head, which is brought gradually by the piston to the hole of the negative pin. 
The bolt consists of two clamp plates and two springs. When the taper level of 
the positive pin has just been fitted to the negative pin hole, the force of the 
spring brake is applied, making the two clamp plates expand, and the positive 
pin is easily inserted. Immediately after that, the spring pulling the two clamps 
closed, the positive pin step was blocked, unable to pull it out. 
State 2: When the piston needs to return (pull up), the system of pin negative, positive, 
inner tube (hammer) is also pulled up. This is a state of hammer lift. 
Figure 5. Description of clamping / releasing mechanism when driving piles 
State 3: When the hammer is raised at the end of its stroke, the clutch slot in the two 
clamp plates of the negative pin is crushed by the wedge pin, causing the 
spring force to brake, causing the two clamps to open, the positive and negative 
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pin apart. As a result, the negative pin and the inner tube (hammer) fall freely, 
hitting the pile head. As shown in Figure 3, we see that the inside of the inner 
tube has steps, the same steps will hit the pile cap, the force transmitted from 
the steps to the pile cap and from the pile cap to the pile, resulting in the pile 
settling into the ground. This is the piling state. 
State 1, 2, 3 repeats (thanks to external control circuit) until the pile is finished. The pile 
cap is repositioned according to the steps (figure 3) by the operator's hand during the 
piling process. 
Statuses 4, 5, 6, 7: Image description and clamp / release process of the negative pin. 
Main description and details (figure 6) 
Figure 6 shows typical details for a combined model of pile presses. These drawings are 
not sized, so there is no fabrication value. Design file has its own set of drawings, the 
author does not present here. Figure 6 shows typical details for a combined model of 
pile presses. These drawings are not sized, so there is no fabrication value. Design file 
has its own set of drawings, the author does not present here. 
Figure 6. Some main details of the model [1. Outer tube; 2. Inner tube; 3. Hammer; 4. Pile; 5. 
Cylinder; 6. Struts; 7. Hydraulic power pack; 8. Base] 
Thu Dau Mot University Journal of Science – Volume 2 – Issue 3-2020 
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 Outer and inner pipes: are cast steel pipes, the heart fits snugly together. The inner 
tube slides smoothly in the outer tube. This tubular design is different from the 
existing design of the working parts of the pile press, which means that a box-
shaped steel truss system is used. 
 Outer and inner pipes: are cast steel pipes, the heart fits snugly together. The inner 
tube slides smoothly in the outer tube. This tubular design is different from the 
existing design of the working parts of the pile press, which means that a box-
shaped steel truss system is used. 
 Pile: is a steel pipe, welded with a pointed steel tip as the tip of the pile. When 
driving or pressing the pile, the force is applied to the pile head, the tip of the pile 
sinks into the ground. After the pile is closed or pressed, we can also pull the pile up 
by bolting the top of the pile with the inner tube, the piston going back (up) and 
pulling the pile. 
 Cylinder: Use two cylinders fitted on both sides of the outer tube. This type of 
cylinder has a stroke of 1 meter, pipe diameter 40mm, piston rod diameter 25mm. - 
Struts: Use square box steel, a total of 4 struts, support around the outer tube to 
stabilize the whole machine. 
 Hydraulic power pack: Use electric motor with capacity of 1HP, maximum pressure 
of 15Mpa, minimum pressure of 5Mpa; have full distribution valve system, safety 
valve, pressure control valve; with pressure gauge and oil tank. 
 Base: There is a round steel plate in the middle, outside is a square steel frame; At 
four right angles, drill holes to attach the anchor pin to the ground when pressing the 
pile (to counteract the soil's reaction). In the case of large pile presses, we replace 
them with a rectangular base and add counterweights that are loaded on top as 
currently used by the pile presses. If the pile is pressed in a narrow place, we use a 
long rectangular base and anchor the base to the ground. 
5. Calculate the model of pile driving and pressing machine 
combination 
Energy feature 1 hammer hit the head of the pile 
We use the inner tube is a steel pipe with outer diameter of 152mm, inner diameter 
140mm, length 2.4m. The hammer consists of a handle and a hammer head. Rolled is a 
steel pipe with an outer diameter of 114mm, an inner diameter of 98mm, and a length of 
2.2m, with two sides cut off. The hammer head is solid round steel with a diameter of 
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 319 
137mm and a height of 40mm. As an approximate compensation, consider that the 
hammer consists of only 114mm outer prism steel tube, 98mm inner diameter. With the 
density of steel is ρ = 7850kg/m3, we calculate the weight of the inner tube and the 
hammer as follows: 
m1 = ρ.V1 = 7850.2,4.π.(0,154
2
 – 0,142)/4 + ≈ 61 (kg) 
m2 = ρ.V2 = 7850.2,2.π.(0,114
2
 – 0,0982)/4 + ≈ 46 (kg) 
Total weight of inner tube and hammer is: m = m1 + m2 = 61 + 46 = 107 (kg) 
When the hammer falls freely down a section h = 0,9m and hits the head of the pile, the 
hammer energy is equal to gravity: 
W = A = m.g.h = 107.10.0.9 = 930 J 
Comment: We use the energy of 1 hammer as above to hit the pile head, the pile is less than 
50 mm in diameter, sharpened, easily subsided to the ground. The smaller the pile, the 
easier it will sink, the heavier the hammer, the larger the range of movement, the greater the 
energy of one hammer stroke. We are designing a small model, it is necessary that the 
working principle is suitable, the energy of one hammer is big or small, we calculate to see 
the model's capacity, the result does not affect the model value. 
Calculate the pile pressure, pull the pile of the piston rod 
We use 2 cylinders, cylinder structure as shown in Figure 7. Its parameters are: piston 
diameter 0.04m, cylinder diameter 0.04m, piston rod diameter 0,025m. 
 When both pistons come together (i.e. when 
pressing the pile): With hydraulic oil pressure in 
the cylinder from p1 = 5.106 Pa to p2 = 15.106 
Pa, the applied force F is in the range from F1 
winch F. Their values are as follows: 
F1 = 2.p1. S =2. 5.10
6.π.0,042/4 ≈ 12566 (N) 
F2 = 2.p2. S = 2.15.10
6.π.0,042/4 ≈ 37700 (N) 
 When both pistons come back (i.e. when lifting 
the inner tube): With hydraulic oil pressure in the 
cylinder also from p1 = 5.106 Pa to p2 = 15.106 
Pa, the applied force F is in the range from F3 to 
F4. Their values are as follows: 
F3 = 2.p1. S = 2.5.10
6.π.(0,042 – 0,0252)/4 ≈ 7658 (N) 
F4 = 2.p2. S = 2.15.10
6.π. (0,042 – 0,0252)/4 ≈ 22972(N) 
Figure 7. Cylindr 
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 320 
Comment: 
 With the forces F1 and F2 as above, plus the self load of the inner tube and hammer 
(they has a mass of 107 kg, equivalent to a weight of about 1070 N), we can press 
the sharp-tipped piles with the diameter of the pile body. The settlement is less than 
50 mm in normal soil types. Here, we also do not care about our model that can 
squeeze the pile of diameter, what kind of soil is the pile, but we care whether that 
model presses the pile or not, the principle of operation. Is it suitable? The pressing 
of large or small piles is only due to the large or small capacity of the machine. 
 With the above forces F3 and F4, it is also possible to lift the inner tube and hammer 
(they has a weight of 1070 N), and at the same time it is possible to extract piles 
with a diameter of less than 50mm that are sinking deep in the ground (this is 
predicted by experience, will check again when the model is finished fabricating). 
However, the large or small uptake of piles is due to the large or small capacity of 
the machine only, does not affect the value of the model we are designing. 
6. Conclusion 
The author presented the theory, referring to the current known pile driving and pressing 
machines, giving some main drawings and calculations related to the topic "Designing 
model combining driving machine, pile press" of author. The new feature of this topic is 
to combine two separate machines into one machine, convenient for users and 
significantly reducing costs. After the design is complete, the author will create a small 
model for research to build large machines, can register for intellectual property or 
participate in technical creation. At the same time, the small model is also used as 
teaching aids for students of construction and other related disciplines. 
References 
Nguyen Van Hung (2003). Construction Machinery. Science and Engineering Publishing, 189 – 
198. 
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duong-o-to-made-in-viet-nam-20161016141230159.htm 
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guardrail-fence-vibrating-post-driver-hammer-60075628659.html