They

are heavy

They

are usually unsuitable for rocky ground

They

tend to crack during transport and material handling

They

are more expensive than other retaining wall methods

They

require additional reinforcement for strength

Heavy material which complicates its transportation and handling on site

May corrode or bend or cracks (brittle)

Workers and project managers may not be familiar with its construction process

Higher initial cost

The material may not be locally available and require import

Solar,

wind, hydro, and geothermal

Solar,

local catchment, desalination, and import

Geothermal,

local, imported, and desalinated sources

Local

catchment, imported water, recycled water, and desalination

Recycled,

rainwater, seawater, and desalination

To

add aesthetic value to the structure

To

increase the building’s height

To

strengthen the foundation of an existing structure

To

enhance a building’s energy efficiency

To

reduce construction costs

Impact

hammer driving

Vibratory

hammer driving

Hydraulic

press-in driving

Jetting

Explosive

driving

Class 4

Class 3

Class 1

Class 2

Class 5

They may corrode over time

They have a relatively weak compressive strength

Precast concrete piles are difficult to transport and handle

They are usually more expensive than steel piles

Precast concrete piles are manufactured on site and are affected by weather conditions

Various

local materials to reduce emissions due to transportation

Naturally sourced bricks

Cross laminated timber

Green concrete

Low

emission steel

To

prevent necking and squeezing

To

protect the pile from corrosion

To

ensure the pile does not break during driving

To

protect the pile during transportation

To

increase pile strength during tension loads

Reinforced concrete

Wood framing

Steel structure

Load bearing masonry walls

Stone columns