1. HIGHWAY & RAILROAD CULVERT INSTALLATION &
REPLACEMENT WITH PIPE RAMMING
PRESENTER(S) NAMES

2. FACTS ABOUT THE U.S RAIL SYSTEM
PIPE RAMMING
CULVERT INSTALLATION AND REPLACEMENT
• Critical part of US transportation
infrastructure.
• More than 150,000 miles of
mainline rail routes.
• Moves more freight than any
other rail system in any other
country.
• SOURCE: American Association
of Railroads

3. DRAINAGE PROBLEMS
PIPE RAMMING
CULVERT INSTALLATION AND REPLACEMENT
• Lack of maintenance
• Lack of inspection programs
• Lack of capacity/flow, flooding
and liability
• Ponding of water causes
pavement and sub grade
deterioration and may lead to
washout failures

4. CULVERT INSTALLATION AND REPLACEMENT
PIPE RAMMING
WASHOUT

5. WASHOUT
PIPE RAMMING
CULVERT INSTALLATION AND REPLACEMENT
• The failure rate has the potential
to cause property damage and
loss of life.
• Lack of maintenance and delays
in repairs has translated into
soaring construction
expenditures.

6. CULVERT INSTALLATION AND REPLACEMENT
PIPE RAMMING
PROBLEMS AREN’T LIMITED TO RAIL

7. What is Pipe Ramming?
PIPE RAMMING
CULVERT INSTALLATION AND REPLACEMENT
A pneumatic hammer installs an open ended steel casing that is cleaned out during and after completion of
pipe installation.

8. PIPE RAMMING APPLICATIONS
PIPE RAMMING
CULVERT INSTALLATION AND REPLACEMENT
Steel casing
installation for:
• Water
• Sewer
• Gas
• Drainage culverts

9. Advantages
PIPE RAMMING
CULVERT INSTALLATION AND REPLACEMENT
• Trenchless
• Able to swallow rock as large as the
inside diameter of the casing
• Method does not remove soil until
casing is installed
• Minimizes voids
–Roads
–Railroads
• Reduced soil compaction

10. Preferred for Adverse Soil Conditions
PIPE RAMMING
CULVERT INSTALLATION AND REPLACEMENT
• Free flowing sand
• Cobble conditions
• Large rock formations
• Excessive ground water

11. SWALLOWS LARGE OBSTRUCTIONS
PIPE RAMMING
CULVERT INSTALLATION AND REPLACEMENT
• Rock swallowed during ram
• Spoil removed post ram
54” Casing

12. CULVERT SWALLOWING
PIPE RAMMING
CULVERT INSTALLATION AND REPLACEMENT
An oversized casing is rammed over existing culvert. After installation is complete, old culvert and spoil is
removed. Steel casing can serve as the drainage culvert or as a carrier pipe for another pipe inserted
within.

13. TELESCOPING METHOD
PIPE RAMMING FOR LONGER DISTANCES
CULVERT INSTALLATION AND REPLACEMENT
An oversized pipe is rammed over the existing culvert until production ceases and is cleaned out. Further
progress is made with smaller casings installed within the oversized pipe in the same manner.

14. METHOD IMPLEMENTATION
Trenchless Culvert Replacement Under Railways with the Pipe Ramming Method

15. RAM SITE LAYOUT
PIPE RAMMING
CULVERT INSTALLATION AND REPLACEMENT
Note: Follow local regulations for sloping or shoring of pit.

16. SITE PREP: CASING PLACEMENT
PIPE RAMMING
CULVERT INSTALLATION AND REPLACEMENT
Rail system I-beam Pipe Mule™
Leveling System

17. STEEL CASING PREP
PIPE RAMMING
CULVERT INSTALLATION AND REPLACEMENT
SOIL SHOE LUBRICATION
Steel Casing
Internal Shoe
External Shoe
Reinforces lead casing and provides an Supplies lubricating fluid to OD and ID of
annulus for lubrication. casing during installation.

18. COLLETS AND RAMMER
PIPE RAMMING
CULVERT INSTALLATION AND REPLACEMENT
Install Pushing Collets/Collars Install Rammer
Collets and collars help to distribute the The rammer is locked into the collets when
ramming force to the face of the pipe. the tool is started.
The collets also lock the rammer into place.

19. SPOIL REMOVAL
PIPE RAMMING
CULVERT INSTALLATION AND REPLACEMENT
Spoil removal for >30” and/or Spoil removal <30” Casing
large spoil/culverts
Seal kit
Manual excavation, HDD culvert cleaning Air and/or water pressure. Seal kit for air
tools, jet washing, auger boring wherever pressure removal.
applicable.

20. PIPE RAMMING CASE STUDIES
HIGHWAY & RAILROAD CULVERT INSTALLATION & REPLACEMENT WITH PIPE RAMMING

21. New Installations – Rockville, MN
PIPE RAMMING
CULVERT INSTALLATION AND REPLACEMENT
• Project
–2 – drainage culverts under
railroad
• Pipe sizes
–1-60” Casing
–1-32” Casing
• Equipment
–24” Rammer
• Ram distance
–1 @ 90’
–1@ 195’
• Free flowing sand
• Holding grade

22. New Installations – Grand Island, NE
PIPE RAMMING
CULVERT INSTALLATION AND REPLACEMENT
• Project
–1 – drainage culvert under railroad
• Pipe sizes
–1-24” Casing
• Equipment
–24” Rammer
• Ram distance
–1 @ 250’
• Free flowing sand with loose coal
dust and other materials
• Installed with 2% grade

23. New Installation - Coeur d'Alene, ID
PIPE RAMMING
CULVERT INSTALLATION AND REPLACEMENT
• Project
–2 – drainage culverts under RR
and Highway
• Pipe sizes
–2 - 48” casings
• Equipment
–23” Rammer
• Ram distance
–1 @ 190’
–1@ 195’

24. New Installations– Maricopa County, AZ
PIPE RAMMING
CULVERT INSTALLATION AND REPLACEMENT
• New culvert installation under rail
bed.
• 84” steel casing
• 24” HammerHead Pipe Rammer

25. TELESCOPING METHOD – ALASKA
PIPE RAMMING
CULVERT INSTALLATION AND REPLACEMENT
• Replacement of 84” dia. culvert
drain with telescoping method
• 96” steel casing, 164 feet.
• 24” HammerHead Pipe Rammer
Collapsed 7’ casing, 164 feet long

26. TELESCOPING METHOD – ALASKA
PIPE RAMMING
CULVERT INSTALLATION AND REPLACEMENT
• Replacement of 84” dia. culvert
drain with telescoping method
• 96” steel casing, 164 feet.
• 24” HammerHead Pipe Rammer
First section of pipe installed.

27. TELESCOPING METHOD – ALASKA
PIPE RAMMING
CULVERT INSTALLATION AND REPLACEMENT
• Replacement of 84” dia. culvert
drain with telescoping method
• 96” steel casing, 164 feet.
• 24” HammerHead Pipe Rammer
Swallowing and removing sections.

28. TELESCOPING METHOD – ALASKA
PIPE RAMMING
CULVERT INSTALLATION AND REPLACEMENT
• Replacement of 84” dia. culvert
drain with telescoping method
• 96” steel casing, 164 feet.
• 24” HammerHead Pipe Rammer
Telescoping 60 feet down sized
sections.

29. TELESCOPING METHOD – ALASKA
PIPE RAMMING
CULVERT INSTALLATION AND REPLACEMENT
• Replacement of 84” dia. culvert
drain with telescoping method
• 96” steel casing, 164 feet.
• 24” HammerHead Pipe Rammer
Trenchless telescoped pipe.

30. New Installation - Dalton Hwy, AK
PIPE RAMMING
CULVERT INSTALLATION AND REPLACEMENT
• Drainage culvert
• Glacial til/new road bed
• Service hwy between Prudhoe
Bay oil reserves & Fairbanks

31. New Installation - Dalton Hwy, AK
PIPE RAMMING
CULVERT INSTALLATION AND REPLACEMENT
• Project
–1 – drainage culvert under service
highway
• Pipe sizes
–1 - 36” casing
• Equipment
–24” Rammer
• Ram distance
–1 @ 160’

32. New Installation - Dalton Hwy, AK
PIPE RAMMING
CULVERT INSTALLATION AND REPLACEMENT
• Project
–1 – drainage culvert under service
highway
• Pipe sizes
–1 - 36” casing
• Equipment
–24” Rammer
• Ram distance
–1 @ 160’

33. THANK YOU
FIRST NAME LAST NAME
PRESENTER TITLE
E: info@hammerheadmole.com
P: 800.331.6653 | INT: +1.262.567.8833 | F: 262.567.5068
W: www.hammerheadtrenchless.com