Service 03 · Trenchless construction
Pipe Ramming / Air Hammering
Drive steel casing with pneumatic force when the ground is too loose for an open bore and a directional drill is not the best tool for the crossing.
What it does
Steel casing through loose or unstable ground.
Pipe ramming uses a pneumatic hammer to drive steel casing horizontally through the ground. The leading edge stays open, allowing the soil inside the casing to be removed after each section is installed.
The method can work well in gravel, sand, cobble and wet or flowing conditions. It is also used to install conductor barrels and to line selected old culverts with new steel casing.
Syncore's published fleet includes an 18-inch pneumatic hammer and experience installing casing up to 42 inches in suitable conditions.
42 inPublished casing size in suitable ground
18 inPneumatic hammer in the published fleet
No open trenchAcross the full crossing route
Good fit for
Where pipe ramming earns its keep.
- Steel casing installation
- Road, rail and waterway crossings
- Conductor barrels for drilling projects
- Selected culvert lining projects
- Loose, gravelly or wet ground conditions
- Large-diameter trenchless crossings
Plan the work
Three things that shape the plan.
- 01
A launch pit, receiving area, casing size, required grade and geotechnical information help determine whether ramming is the right method.
- 02
The crew plans for spoil removal from inside the casing and safe handling of each steel section.
- 03
Where exact line and grade are critical, guided augering may be a better choice. Syncore can review both options.
Pipe ramming FAQ
Questions to answer before the crew arrives.
These are the questions that help determine whether this is the right method for the job.
01What ground is pipe ramming suited for?+
It can work well in loose or unstable soil, including gravel, sand, cobble and wet or flowing conditions. It is not a method for driving directly through solid rock.
02How large a casing can Syncore install?+
Syncore publishes casing installations up to 42 inches in suitable conditions. The practical size depends on length, ground, pit access, grade and the casing design.
03What happens to the soil inside the casing?+
The casing is driven open-ended. Material enters the steel pipe and is removed as the installation progresses or after the section is in place, depending on the project plan.
04Can pipe ramming follow an exact grade?+
Ramming is generally less steerable than a guided auger system. If tight line and grade tolerances are essential, Syncore will review whether guided boring is the better fit.
05Can pipe ramming be used for an old culvert?+
Sometimes. A new casing may be rammed or installed through a suitable failed culvert. The existing structure, alignment, access and final diameter all need to be checked first.
Start with the crossing
Planning a pipe ramming project?
Send the route, pipe size, location and timing. Syncore will help work out a practical next step.