# What is a Steel Tube Pile?
**A steel tube pile (Dutch: buispaal) is a hollow cylindrical steel section that is driven, vibrated, or drilled into the ground to transfer structural loads to deeper, load-bearing soil or rock layers. Steel tube piles are widely used in heavy civil engineering, marine construction, and building foundations where high bearing capacity and ease of installation are required.**
## Installation methods
### Impact driving
A hydraulic or diesel hammer strikes the pile head, driving the tube into the ground. The method is fast and effective in most soils but generates noise and vibration.
### Vibratory driving
A vibratory hammer clamps onto the pile and uses oscillating forces to reduce soil resistance, allowing the tube to sink under its own weight and the applied vibration. Preferred in granular soils and noise-sensitive areas.
### Drilling and grouting
In hard ground or rock, the tube may be installed in a pre-drilled hole and grouted in place to ensure full load transfer.
## Open-ended vs closed-ended
– **Open-ended** — Soil enters the tube during driving, forming a soil plug. Used when displacing soil is undesirable.
– **Closed-ended** — A steel plate or conical shoe seals the toe, displacing soil laterally. Provides higher end-bearing capacity.
## Typical dimensions
Diameters range from 300 mm for light structures up to 2,500 mm or more for offshore platforms and bridge piers. Wall thicknesses vary from 8 mm to over 50 mm depending on loads and corrosion allowance.
## Applications
– Bridge foundations and abutments
– Port and harbour quay walls
– Offshore wind turbine foundations (monopiles)
– Industrial structures with heavy point loads
– Temporary works such as cofferdams and sheet pile anchors
## Related terms
– Driven pile
– Segmental tube pile
– Monopile
– Pile driving analyser (PDA)
– Bearing capacity
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