Acoustic barrier and method of pile driving
There is disclosed an acoustic barrier ( 40 ) for use in a pile driving method in which a pile (I 0 ) is driven into the ground 60 , the acoustic barrier ( 40 ) comprising: an acoustic dampening layer ( 42 ); and a magnetic element ( 36 ); wherein the acoustic barrier ( 40 ) is arranged to be at least partly wrapped around an axial portion of the pile (I 0 ) so that the acoustic dampening layer ( 42 ) at least partly surrounds the axial portion of the pile (I 0 ), and wherein the magnetic element ( 36 ) is arranged to releasably secure the acoustic barrier ( 40 ) to the pile (I 0 ). There is also disclosed a pile driving method comprising wrapping the acoustic barrier ( 40 ) around an axial portion of a pile (I 0 ), driving an axial length of the pile (I 0 ) into the ground, and removing or repositioning the acoustic barrier ( 40 ). There is also disclosed an acoustic barrier for a pile driving hammer having a support frame which can be detachable attached to the hammer.
1. A method for pile driving comprising:
providing an acoustic barrier comprising an acoustic dampening layer and a magnetic element, wherein the magnetic element is arranged to releasably secure the acoustic barrier to a pile;
wrapping said acoustic barrier at least partly around an axial portion of the pile so that the acoustic dampening layer at least partly surrounds the axial portion of the pile;
driving an axial length of the pile into the ground so that the acoustic barrier moves downwardly with the pile; and
removing or repositioning the acoustic barrier;
wherein the acoustic barrier is removed or repositioned when it reaches a threshold height above ground level; and
wherein the method comprises repositioning the acoustic barrier to a relatively higher axial portion of the pile.
2. The method for pile driving according to claim 1 , wherein the method comprises repeatedly driving an axial length of the pile into the ground and repositioning the acoustic barrier to a relatively higher axial portion of the pile.
3. The method for pile driving according to claim 1 , wherein repositioning the acoustic barrier comprises sliding the acoustic barrier upwardly along the pile without removing the barrier from the pile.