Proceedings of the First International Conference on Press-in Engineering 2018, Kochi

Press-in Piling Survey in Ukraine
Michael DOUBROVSKYProfessor and Head of Sea and River Ports Department, Odessa National Maritime University, Odessa, Ukraine
Director, International Press-In Association
Email: doubr@tm.odessa.ua

ABSTRACT
Data related to the piling construction market in Ukraine are analyzed. Areas and projects that are suitable for Press-In
Method implementation are considered. At the Ukrainian construction market, both imported machines and equipmentof local production are in operation. Ukrainian piling contractors try to diversify their participation in the construction
market. Thus, some companies being before dedicated only to civil engineering consider their possible involvement inport, offshore and coastal projects. In this connection, needs of more universal for both civil and marine engineering andmore powerful press-in equipment are increased to provide pressing-in piles of larger diameter and length than before.
To date, such demands are not satisfied and press-in machines usually involved in the Ukrainian construction market
have some essential limitations of application such as value of the developed press-in load; piles section sizes; pileslength; ancillary equipment. Some other limitations of mentioned equipment in the Ukrainian market are: lowperformance, bulky and unhandiness stipulated by too large dimensions; inconvenience of use in the case of restricted
areas; problems of use at the maritime construction sites and other waterfront areas. This paper will be discussing therequirements of the actual national design and construction guidelines. Furthermore, recommendations on Press-Intechnologies development in Ukraine are also presented.
Key words: Press-In Method, Ukrainian piling market, Design and construction guidelines.

1. Introduction

Kiev-city (30,1%). In particular, the most rapid growth

1.1. Some general data
Considering the construction market in Ukraine

was demonstrated by construction of the engineering(territory of the country – about 600 000 square

and residential housing (11,7%).

structures (26,3%),nonresidential premises (202,%)

kilometer; approximately about 43 million population,

Underground part of the building and assembly

see the map on the Fig. 1) we may operate by using someworks takes up to 20%. Working efforts ratio on piling

actual statistic data. Thus, according to the Ministry offoundation engineering is assessed as 10-20% of the total

the Regional Development of Ukraine, in 2017, theexpenses on structures construction in the case of serial

volume of produced construction works was assessed asproduction

UAH 101,1 billion or approximately USD 3,89 billion.

quantity-produced unit construction. For traditional

The essential part of this volume was formed by new

construction methods fulfilled with pile installation,construction, reconstruction and renovation (73,2%);approximately 75-90% of the productive machine time isremainder (26,8%) – by different kinds of repair works.

run to waste for different auxiliary operations.

Five regions had the most sufficient increase of theconstruction works in 2017 in comparison with 2016:
Kirovograd Region (53,4%), Zhitomyr Region (38,9%),Odessa Region (38,4%), Kherson Region (29,5%) and- 587 -andupto50%

inthecaseof

Proceedings of the First International Conference on Press-in Engineering 2018, Kochi

Fig. 1 Map of Ukraine

1.2. Location of the most suitable for the Press-In

development of some large cities (with population moreEngineering construction projects
There are a lot of places and regions in Ukraine

than a million) located in the hilly country. For example,

where Static Press-In Engineering is considered as theand the City of Dnipro (both on Dnipro-River, Photo 3

most suitable construction method regarding natural,and 4). Recent numerous landslides, development of

economical and environmental conditions and limitations

construction projects in the dangerous areas and actualof the considered territories.

tasks of historical architectural heritage protection createdundulating land is character for Ukrainian capital Kyiv

Taking into account a very long sea (river) shoreline

very serious engineering situation. In some current andof the country (Black Sea, Sea of Azov, Danube andfuture projects, the application of the Press-In Method is

Dnipro rivers) the problem of slope stability is very

the most potential approach to solve mentioned problems.

topical one. Among the most dangerous areas from thepoint of view of coast line stability, we may indicate
Odessa-city suburbs, Chernomorsk-city and related

2. Press-In machines and technologies in UkraineAt the moment, different types of press-in machines

marine health-resort zones, Izmail-city precincts. During

are used in Ukraine. In the Ukrainian construction market

several recent years, there were large-scale (sometimes -both imported machines (mainly from Chinese anddisastrous) landslides with heavy damages of both soil

Russian producers) and equipment of local production

slopes and buildings. Some related illustrations areare in operation.

presented on Photo 1 and 2. Another topical aspect is- 588 -Proceedings of the First International Conference on Press-in Engineering 2018, Kochi

Photo 1.

Landslide in Fontanka (near Odessa-city)

Photo 4.

Landslide in Dnipro-city

2.1. Imported Press-In Equipment
Chinese machines are presented in the Ukrainian
market by several producers and trademarks. Amongthem «Liyuan Hydraulic Machine Company Ltd»,«Hunan Sunward Intelligent Machinery co. LTD»,«HUNAN TITAN HEAVY INDUSTRIES CO. LTD»should be mentioned.
Photo 2.

Hunan Changhe Machine Co., ltd offers Titan rigs

Landslide in the city of Chernomorsk (seaside)of different models. For example, piler Z-428 is designedto install reinforced concrete piles of sections, 300х300,
400х400 and 500х500 mm as well as pipe piles of300-600 mm diameter; provided pile’s bearing load
reaches 2100 kN. Heavy Titan rigs may develop pressing
force up to 12 MN (Photo 5).

Photo 3.

Landslide in Kyiv

Photo 5.

- 589 -ZYB pile driver (China)

Proceedings of the First International Conference on Press-in Engineering 2018, Kochi

Hunan NHM Construction Machinery is presented

Production of Russian company “Tayzer” viaby Sunward rigs (for instance, machine DTZ260, Photo

Ukrainian “UkrTayzer” is presented by static driver

6). Besides hydraulic static pile drivers of such brands asSVU-6 for reinforced concrete piles and sheet piles

Starke (Photo 7) and Changsha Tianwei Engineering(Photo 8). The peculiarity of such piler is the use of pulley

Machinery Manufacturing with speed of installation

block mechanism. It provides the performance up to 35

1,0-1,5 m/min are also offered by local dealers.

piles per turn.

Photo 6.

ZYB pile driver (China)

Photo 8.

SVU-6 pile driver (Russia, Ukraine)

2.2. Machines of Ukrainian production
There are several local producers/contractors who
have worked out different original rigs for piles pressing.
In 1996, the company "VIF" (Kyiv) has developed
and launched the first rig to press the concrete piles bystatic force in Ukraine. Further modifications were widelyused on different construction sites in Ukraine (Photo 9).
Essential peculiarity of this equipment is the ability tomove the pressing-in mechanism in two mutuallyperpendicular directions. The maximal pressing-in force
may reach 3 MN with performance up to 30 piles per shift(8 hours).
Photo 7.

Starke pile driver (China)- 590 -Proceedings of the First International Conference on Press-in Engineering 2018, Kochi

application of the original Modular Aggregative Piling
System. This system is implemented at the construction ofpiled foundations and sheet pile retaining structures. The
piling system (Fig. 2) is equipped with the original
construction press-in piling machine and a Modular
Coordinating

SkiddingSystem.

Moredetailed

information about “Transzvuk” innovations is placed inanother report to the 1st ICPE 2018 titled “Press-In
Technologies in Ukraine: Some Recent Developments”.
Photo 9.

VIF pile driver (Ukraine)

In the beginning of the 21st century, “Stikon” started
to use pile pressing-in system of their own design basedon winches and counterweights concepts. The system iscapable to press-in reinforced concrete piles from300x300 to 450x450 mm.
Pile pressing machine UVT 200 was invented by“SSMU-10” (Kherson-city). The machine was designed
to be able to drive a reinforced concrete piles with
350x350 and 400x400 mm diameter. Force for installingor withdrawal of this machine reaches 2000 kN. Length ofpiles is not limited. If the rig is moved by crawler crane, itsFig. 2“Transzvuk” pile driver (Ukraine)

performance is up to 18 piles per day; if the piler is moved
on rails, its performance is up to 20 piles per day.

2.3. Some specific features of the Ukrainian press-in

Hydraulic static pile drivers of such companies as“Viant” (Kyiv) and “Transzvuk” (Odessa) may provide

piling market
After economical crises of 2008-2010, Ukrainianpressing-in force up to 2500 kN. They may drive bothpiling contractors try to diversify their participation in thereinforced concrete piles and sheet piles.

construction market. Thus, some companies dedicated in“Viant” has designed and constructed hydraulic static

the past only to civil engineering now consider

pile driver SV-250 for moving along the rails (Photo 10).

involvement in maritime (port, offshore, coastal) projects.
So needs of more universal (for both civil and marineengineering) and more powerful press-in equipment areincreased to provide pressing-in piles of larger diameterand length. Till now such demands are not satisfied.
Above-mentioned

press-inmachines

usually

involved in the Ukrainian construction market have someessential limitations of application. Some of them are:

Photo 10.

press-in load (mainly up to 2400-3600 kN)

piles section sizes (mainly up to 500 mm)

piles length (mainly up to 14-16 m)

ancillary equipment (i.e. drilling, etc.) is notavailable.

“Viant” pile driver (Ukraine)

The main advantage of the “Transzvuk” is- 591 -Proceedings of the First International Conference on Press-in Engineering 2018, Kochi

Some other limitations of mentioned equipment in

Press-In Engineering may be in use to solve existing

the Ukrainian market are: unhandiness stipulated by toolarge dimensions and weight; inconvenience of use in thetechnical problems


Machines of serial production are represented in
Ukraine mainly by Chinese suppliers

Equipment designed and produced in Ukraine ismore effective for installation of piles of local types

case of restricted areas; problems of use at the maritime
construction sites and other waterfront areas.
3. Press-in piling guidelines
At the moment, there are no specific guidelines(reinforced conctere piles and pipe piles)


There are prospective innovative developments
related to Press-In Engineering technologiesThere are some limitations of use for both imported
and domestic machines stipulated by their technicaldevoted to pile installing technologies, but related items
are considered in some more general codes on foundationengineering.
Regarding the pile installing at least two design andconstruction guidelines are in use in Ukraine. The firstpossibilities(more general) document is the code “Bases andPress-In Engineering approaches based on Giken
technologies and equipment may be successfullyFoundations of Structures” produced in 2009 andimplemented in Ukraine, especially to provide slopes

corrected in 2012 and in 2018 (with participation of thestability in coastal zones and in urban developmentpaper’s author).
In the classification of foundation construction

Due to some recent seminars, exhibitions andpresentations in Ukraine devoted to the Press-In

methods, installing of the piles is mentioned among otherMethod,usually applied piling technologies. Static installation ofPress-In Engineering and related technologies.

Ukrainian market is prepared to meetpiles is determined as one of the main methods forreconstruction and strengthening of the foundations(related additional efforts in the structure’s elements

5. Acknowledgements
Author is grateful to the International Press-In

should be checked and taken into account).

Association for the long-term support and assistance in theIn respect to environmental aspect, application ofPress-In related issues, in particular, it is worth to note thepressing machines is considered as the best due to its

5th IPA Research Grant Award. Author considers fruitfulminimum dynamic actions and noise. The next chapter

cooperation with colleagues from Odessa National

foresees fulfillment of geotechnical monitoring aiming toMaritime University (Faculty of Water Transport anddetermine and to prevent negative influence of piling

Offshore Structures, Department “Sea, River Ports andtechnologies on nature and existing structures. In cases ofWaterways”) and company “Transzvuk” as importantdifficult soil and hydrological conditions, potential naturalelement and a major contribution to the presented

hazards, absence of gained experience in similar projects,research.

it is strongly recommended to involve scientificsupervising and support at stages of design, construction
and during the initial period of structure’s maintenance.

References
Bases and Foundations of Structures. 2009. Main design

The second document is the code “Engineeringregulations. DBN B.2.1-10-2009, Kyiv.

protection of the territories, buildings and structures

Engineering protection of the territories, buildings andagainst landslides and rockslides”. The static installation

structures against landslides and rockslides. 1998.

of piles is considered as a recommended method toDBN B.1.1-3-97, Kyiv.

provide slopes stability.
4. Concluding remarks
Press-in technologies are variously presented in theUkrainian construction market

There are a lot of areas in Ukraine where only- 592 -