A compliant foam is introduced into the bottom of a pile casing being resonantly sonically driven into the ground. The foam mixes with earthen material which has entered the interior of the casing and is presenting impedance to the sonic driving of the pile. This foam material effectively makes the earthen material more compliant and thus effectively lowers the impedance presented by such material, thereby increasing the accoustical "Q" of the resonantly vibrating pile member.

An apparatus and method of assisting the driving of a pile into soil containing water by electro-osmosis in which electrical direct current is directed through the soil for reducing friction between the pile and the soil allowing the pile to be more easily driven through the soil. An electrically conductive base is connected to the bottom of the pile and an insulated electrical conductor is connected between the d-c power source and the conductive base. A second electrical conductor is connected to the power source and terminates at a position spaced from but in electrical communication through the soil with the base whereby passage of electrical current between the base and the second electrical conductor reduces friction between the pile and the soil. If the pile is electrically conductive, the conductive base is electrically insulated from the pile in order to direct current through the soil adjacent the base. The second electrical conductor may be connected to the pile if the pile is conductive or in the soil or in water covering the soil. After the pile has been driven, the electrical current may be directed through the soil adjacent the pile to dry the soil thereby increasing the load bearing strength of the soil.

An apparatus and method of assisting the driving of a hollow pile into soil by electro-osmosis in which electrical direct current is directed downwardly through the inside of the pile, out the bottom of the pile, and up the outside of the pile whereby water on the inside of the pile moves through the soil thereby making the pile easier to drive into the soil. The method includes insulating an electrically conductive pile preferably on the inside with an electrical non-conductor and placing water inside of the hollow pile. An electrical circuit having a d-c power source, and an anode and cathode is provided in which the anode is placed in the water inside of the hollow pile and the cathode is placed outside of the hollow pile and in electrical communication with the outside of the electrical conductive pile whereby an electrical circuit is formed between the anode and cathode through the water in the inside of the pile and through the bottom of the pile. When electrical power is supplied to the circuit, water will move down the inside of the pile and up the outside of the pile and into the soil adjacent the pile making the pile easier to drive through the soil. In addition, after the pile has been driven, the current flow may be reversed through the electrical circuit for reducing the water content of the soil adjacent the pile thereby increasing the load bearing strength of the soil.