ACI 543R-12

Piles are slender structural elements installed in the ground to support a load or compact the soil. They are made of several materials or combinations of materials and are installed by impact driving, jacking, vibrating, jetting, drilling, grouting, or combinations of these techniques. Piles are difficult to summarize and classify because there are many types, and new types are still being developed. This report covers only the types of piles currently used in North American construction projects. A pile type can be assigned a wide variety of names or classifications by various agencies, codes, technical groups, and in various geographical regions. No attempt is made herein to reconcile the wide variety of names used with a given pile type.