FEATURE
Underwater construction noise resulting from pile
driving is suspected in harming fish or altering their
normal behavior. Investigations into this issue began
in the U.S. with demonstration tests on the San Francisco-
Oakland Bay Bridge project in 2000, where eight-foot diameter
steel pipe piles were being driven. In following years, more
in-water piling projects were monitored for piles ranging from
12-inch to 166-inch diameter for steel pipe piles, H-piles, concrete
piles, timber piles and steel sheet piling1. This study did
compile data on piling type, size, pile hammer, water depth and
measured underwater noise at various distances with estimates
of sound amplitude reduction with increasing distance. The
study concluded the measured underwater noise was a function
of pile size and pile hammer size, however, it also noted that
there was variation attributed to geotechnical soil conditions,
site geometry, water depths, tide and current conditions.
vilainecrevette / 123RF Stock Photo
Underwater pile driving
noise changing in-water
foundation design
By Duncan Mellor, P.E., Tighe & Bond
PILEDRIVER | 59