LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY OF PILES

Load carrying capacity of a single pile can be determined based on:

(1) Static Pile Capacity Equations: These equations are based on parameters obtained from
field and laboratory testing. The static formulae are applicable to bored cast in-situ pile and
driven piles, especially in cohesionless soils
() Dynamic Formulae: These formulae are applicable to driven piles only
(!) Empirical meto!s based on SPT blo"s, DMT, PMT and CPT
(#) Full scale Pile Loa! Test for all types of piles
Static Pile Capacity Equations
The load carried by a pile is e$pressed in equation form as:
b f ult
Q Q Q +
. (1)
"here,
Q
ult
% ultimate bearing capacity of a single pile
Q
f
% bearing capacity furnished by friction or adhesion bet"een the sides of the pile and the soil.
Q
b
% bearing capacity furnished by the soil &ust beneath the base of the pile.
The term Q
f
in equation (1) can be evaluated by multiplying the unit s'in friction or adhesion
bet"een the sides of the pile and the soil (f) by the surface area of the pile (A
s
). The term Q
b
in
equation (1) can be evaluated by multiplying the ultimate bearing capacity of the soil at the
tip(base of the pile (q) by the area of the base of the pile (A
b
). )ence equation (1) can be
e$pressed as:
b s ult
A q A f Q +
()
*quations (1) and () are generali+ed and therefore applicable for all soils. The manner in "hich
some of the terms of equation () are evaluated differs, ho"ever, depending on "hether the pile
is driven in sand or in clay. ,t is convenient, therefore, to consider separately piles driven in sand
and piles driven in clay.
Piles in sand
The net ultimate bearing capacity of the pile is:
b q v s v
b s ult
A N A K
A q A f Q
+
+
tan
-here,
1
v

% effective overburden pressure at the pile tip for end bearing part and average effective
overburden pressure in the layer for s'in friction part.
N
q
% a bearing capacity factor based on angle of shearing resistance, and D(B ratio
K % a coefficient of earth pressure dependent largely on the relative density of the soil.
% angle of friction bet"een the pile and the soil.
The base and shaft friction resistances do not develop linearly "ith depth belo" certain depths.
This is probably mainly due to arching effects in the soil related to its relative density and
compressibility. ,t is therefore recommended that the effective overburden pressure in the above
equation should be calculated linearly "ith depth only do"n to a limiting depth (D
c
) and then
assumed to remain constant belo" this. Tests indicate that the critical depth ranges from about
1. piles diameter for loose sand to about . pile diameters for dense compact sand.
The limiting value of pile end bearing capacity in sands and gravels is 1/ 01(m

and that of
unit s'in friction is 11. '2a.

D/B = 20
D/B = 5
D/B = 70
26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40
175
150
125
100
75
50
25
0
Angle of shearing resistance,
o
(After Tolinson!
B
e
a
r
i
n
g

c
a
"
a
c
i
t
#

f
a
c
t
o
r
,

N
q
"alues o# (A#ter $S Army Corps o# En%ineers&
2ile material

3teel
..45 to ..6!
7oncrete ..8. to 1..
Timber
..6. to 1..
"alues o# K (A#ter $S Army Corps o# En%ineers&
3oil Type 9alues of K
In compression (K
c
) In Tension (K
t
)
3and 1... to ... ../. to ..5.
3ilt 1.. ../. to ..5.
7lay 1.. ..5. to 1...
1ote: The above values do not apply to piles that are prebored,
&etted or installed "ith a vibratory hammer. 2ic'ing K values at
the upper end of the above ranges should be based on local
e$perience.
!
AMERICAN PETROLEUM INSTITUTE 1993 DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS* FOR
PILES IN COHESIONLESS SILICEOUS SOILS
Densit# $oil
%escri"tion
$oil/"ile
friction
angle (!
&iiting
s'in friction
(al)es
('*a!
Nq &iiting )nit en%+
,earing (al)es
(-./
2
!
/er# loose
&oose
-e%i)
$an%
$an%+silt00
$ilt
15 4718 8 112
&oose
-e%i)
Dense
$an%
$an%+silt00
$ilt
20 67 13 212
-e%i)
Dense
$an%
$an%+silt
25 8113 20 418
Dense
/er# %ense
$an%
$an%+silt00
30 2517 40 216
Dense
/er# %ense
3ra(el
$an%
35 11418 50 1210
0The "araeters liste% in this ta,le are inten%e% as g)i%elines onl#1 4here %etaile% inforation s)ch as
in+sit) cone tests, strength tests on high 5)alit# sa"les, o%el tests, or "ile %ri(ing "erforance is
a(aila,le, other (al)es a# ,e 6)stifie%1
00$an%+silt incl)%es those soils 7ith significant fractions of ,oth san% an% silt1 $trength (al)es generall#
increase 7ith increasing san% fractions an% %ecrease 7ith %ecreasing silt fractions1

#
Piles in Clay

#
cN ! c s
A q A f Q
c
b s ult

+
+
"here
A
s
% area of pile shaft
A
b
% area of base of pile
c % average undrained shear strength along the pile
c % average undrained shear strength at base of pile
N
c
% bearing capacity factor % 8
s % shape factor % 1.. for a plain shaft and % 1. for a tapered pile
% diameter of pile
! % length of pile
% adhesion factor "hose value depends on unconfined compression strength, % 1 for soft
clay and :1 for stiff clay.
Recommen!e! "alues o# an! f #or Estimation o# Drille! Sa#t
Si!e Resistance in Coesi'e Soil (Reese an! O)Neill* +,--&
Location along drilled shaft 9alue of Limiting value of load
transfer, f ('sf)
;rom ground surface to depth along
drilled shaft of / ft <
. -
=ottom 1 diameter of the drilled shaft
or 1 stem diameter above the top of
the bell (if s'in friction is being used)
. -
>ll other points along the sides of the
drilled shaft
..// /./
The depth of / ft may need ad&ustment if the drilled shaft is installed in e$pansive
clay, or if there is substantial groundline deflection from lateral loading.
Limitin% "alues o# $nit En! .earin% an! Si!e Resistance
7ohesive 3oil 1on-7ohesive 3oil
?nit 3ide @esistance ('sf). /./ #
?nit *nd =earing ('sf) 6. 1.N or 8. for N 5/
/
To" fi(e feet
noncontri,)ting
Botto one %iaeter
noncontri,)ting
Straight Shaft
*eri"her# of Bell
noncontri,)ting
Botto one %iaeter0
of ste
.oncontri,)ting
Bee! Shaft
0 T7o Diaeter in stiff fiss)re% cla#
I!e"tifi#ati$" $f %$rti$"& $f !rie! &haft& "ege#te! f$r e&ti'ati$" $f
!rie! &haft &i!e re&i&ta"#e i" #$he&i(e &$i )Ree&e a"! O*Nei+ 19,,-
>llo"able pile capacity can be calculated using overall load factor often ta'en as .. i.e.

b s
"
Q Q
Q
+

or 1./ in s'in friction and ! in end bearing, i.e.

. . ! / . 1
b s
"
Q Q
Q +
The lo"er safety factor in s'in friction is because the pea' value of s'in friction on a pile in clay
is obtained at a settlement of only !-6 mm, "hereas the base resistance requires a greater
settlement for full mobili+ation. The frictional resistance on the shaft develops rapidly and
almost linearly "ith settlement and is generally fully mobili+ed "hen the settlement is about
../A of the shaft diameter. Thereafter, it either remains sensibly constant, or decreases slightly
as the settlement is increased further. Bn the other hand, the base resistance is seldom fully
mobili+ed until the pile settlement reaches 1. to .A of the base diameter.
4
FACTOR OF SAFETY
(@ef: ;oundation Cesign, 2rinciples and 2ractices, by C.2. 7oduto)
The design factor of safety depends on many factors, including the follo"ing:
Te type an! importance o# te structure an! te consequences o# #ailure D
;oundations for critical structures, such as ma&or bridges, should have a higher factor of
safetyE those for minor uninhabited structures could use a lo"er factor of safety.
Te soil type D ?se a higher factor of safety in clays
Te spatial 'aria/ility o# te soil D *rratic soil profiles are more difficult to assess, and
therefore &ustify use of a higher factor of safety.
Te torou%ness o# te su/sur#ace e0ploration pro%ram D ,ntensive subsurface
e$ploration programs provide more information on the subsurface conditions, and
therefore can &ustify a lo"er factor of safety.
Te type an! num/er o# soil tests per#orme! D *$tensive laboratory and(or in-situ
tests also provide more information on the soil conditions and can &ustify a lo"er factor
of safety.
Te a'aila/ility o# on1site or near/y #ull1scale static loa! test results D These tests
are the most reliable "ay to determine load capacity, and thus provide a strong basis for
using a lo"er factor of safety.
Te anticipate! le'el an! meto!s o# construction inspection an! quality control D
Thorough methods can &ustify lo"er factors of safety.
Te pro/a/ility o# te !esi%n loa!s actually occurrin% !urin% te li#e o# te
structure D 3ome structures, such as office buildings, are unli'ely to ever produce the
design live loads, "hereas others, such as tan's, probably "ill. Thus, the later might
require a higher factor of safety
,t is good practice to use higher factors of safety for analysis of up"ard loads (uplift
capacity) because uplift failures are much more sudden and catastrophic.
Table belo" presents typical factors of safety for design of drilled shafts that "ill support
ordinary structures.
Typical Factors o# Sa#ety #or Desi%n o# Drille! Sa#ts (Cast in1situ Piles&
Cesign ,nformation ;actor of 3afety
3tatic Load
Test
3oil 7onditions 3ite 7haracteri+ation
2rogram
Co"n"ard
Loading
?p"ard
Loading
Fes ?niform *$tensive ... !...
Fes *rratic >verage ./. #...
1o ?niform *$tensive ./. /...
1o ?niform >verage !... 4...
1o *rratic *$tensive !... 4...
5
1o *rratic >verage !./. 4...
1ote: ,f the static load testing program is very e$tensive and the subsurface conditions are
"ell-characteri+ed, the factors of safety for do"n"ard and uplift loads might be
reduced to about 1.5 and ./, respectively.
The actual factor of safety for both do"n"ard and up"ard loading (i.e., the real capacity divided
by the real load) is usually much higher than the design factor of safety used in the formula.
This is because of the follo"ing:
-e usually interpret the soil strength data conservatively
The actual service loads are probably less than the design loads, especially in buildings
other than "arehouses
The as-built dimensions of the foundations may be larger than planned
3ome (but not allG) of the analysis methods are conservative.
6
LOADING CONDITIONS )After US Ar'. C$r%& $f E"gi"eer&-
(1) Usual
These con%itions incl)%e noral o"erating an% fre5)ent floo% con%itions1 Basic
allo7a,le stresses an% safet# factors sho)l% ,e )se% for this t#"e of loa%ing con%ition1
(2) Unusual
8igher allo7a,le stresses an% lo7er safet# factors a# ,e )se% for )n)s)al loa%ing
con%itions s)ch as aintenance, infre5)ent floo%s, ,arge i"acts, constr)ction, or
h)rricanes1 9or these con%itions allo7a,le stresses a# ,e increase% )" to 33 "ercent1
&o7er safet# factors for "ile ca"acit# a# ,e )se% as %escri,e% ,elo7:
(3) Extreme
8igh allo7a,le stresses an% lo7 safet# factors are )se% for e;tree loa%ing con%itions
s)ch as acci%ental or nat)ral %isasters that ha(e a (er# reote "ro,a,ilit# of
occ)rrence an% that in(ol(e eergenc# aintenance con%itions after s)ch %isasters1
9or these con%itions allo7a,le stresses a# ,e increase% )" to 75 <1 &o7 factor of
safet# for "ile ca"acit# a# ,e )se% as %escri,e% ,elo71
FACTOR OF SAFET/
The )ltiate a;ial ca"acit#, ,ase% on geotechnical consi%erations, sho)l% ,e %i(i%e%
,# the follo7ing factors of safet# to %eterine the %esign "ile ca"acit# for a;ial loa%ing:
-etho% of Deterining =a"acit# &oa%ing
=on%ition
-ini) factor of $afet#
=o"ression Tension
Theoretical or e"irical
"re%iction to ,e (erifie% ,# "ile
loa% test
>s)al
>n)s)al
?;tree
210
115
1115
210
115
1115
Theoretical or e"irical
"re%iction to ,e (erifie% ,# "ile
%ri(ing anal#@er
>s)al
>n)s)al
?;tree
215
112
114
310
2125
117
Theoretical or e"irical
"re%iction not (erifie% ,# "ile
loa% test
>s)al
>n)s)al
?;tree
310
2125
117
310
2125
117
8
Recommen!e! Factor o# Sa#ety on $ltimate Geotecnical Capacity .ase! on Speci#ie!
Construction Control2 (Re#3 AAS4TO Speci#ication #or 4i%5ay .ri!%es&
,ncreasing 7onstruction 7ontrol
3ubsurface e$ploration H
(1)
H H H H
3tatic 7alculation H H H H H
Cynamic ;ormula H
-ave equation H H H H
Cynamic measurement and analysis H H
3tatic load test H H
;actor of safety !./. .5/ ./ ...
()
1.8.
H
(1)
% 7onstruction control specified on 7ontract 2lans
H
()
% ;or any combination of construction control that includes an approved static load test,
a factor of safety of .. may be used.
1.
E0ample
>s sho"n in the figure and no ground "ater encountered, appro$imate a$ial capacity of the
concrete pile if the coefficient of lateral pressure (K) is assumed to be ..8/ and the ;o3 % .
Solution:
7ritical depth, D
c
% . dia. of pile % . 1 % . ft
N
q
% /. for % !/ tan % tan I(!/) % ..#8!
( ) ( )
'ips 1/5 lbs 1/4465 1../!1 8 . 16516 5 . !5#!5
1
#
/. /4. / 1 #8! . . 8/ . . /4. . 1 #8! . . 8/ . .

/4. .
tan

+ +
1
]
1

+
1
]
1

+
,
_

+ +

b q v s v b s ult
A N A K A q A f Q
Q
design
% Q
ult
(;o3 % 1/5( % 56./ 'ips
E0ample3
3ame conditions as in the e$ample above, e$cept that J-L is located 1. ft belo" the 13L.
Solution:
( )
( ) 'ips 1!..#/ lbs 1!.#/ 54.5 #5.16 54.5 #4 . 1 846. 14.6. 4#..
1
#
/. 18!4 1 #8! . . 8/ . . / 18!4 1.

18!4 16.
1.

16. .
tan

+ + + +
1
]
1

+
1
]
1

+
,
_

+
+
,
_

+
+

b q v s v
b s ult
A N A K
A q A f Q

Q
design
% 1!..#/( % 41./ 'ips
11
25 ft
A
%esign
= B
-e%i) %ense to
%ense san%
= 128 "cf
= 35
o
K = 0125 (ass)e%!
12C
0
20
25
=
r
i
t
i
c
a
l

D
e
"
t
h
,

D
c

=

2
0
D
128 ; 20 = 2560 "sf
2560 "sf
D
e
"
t
h
,

f
t
E(er,)r%en "ress)re, "sf
0
10D
20D
25D
128 ; 10 = 1280 "sf
1280 F 10 ; (128 + 6214! = 1236 "sf
1236 "sf
De"th
34&
E(er,)r%en *ress)re, "sf
E0ample3
> 1 diameter concrete pile is driven at a site as sho"n in the ;igure. The embedded length of
pile is !/ ft. ;ind out the design capacity using a ;o3 % .
E0ample3
> 1 diameter concrete pile is driven at a site as sho"n. ;ind out the design capacity of the pile
using a ;o3 % .
Q
ult
% 8.# K 1#.1 % 1.4./ 'ips
Q
design
% 1.4./( % /!./ 'ips
1
35 ft
A
%esign
= B
.orall# consoli%ate% cla#
= 104 "cf
q
u
= )nconfine% co"ression
strength = 1400 "sf
= 012 for 017 tsf (q
u
!
12C
Solution:
c % q
u
( % 1#..( % 5.. psf
'ips 5#. lbs 5#16 / . #8#/ 485
1 56/ . . 8 5.. !/ 1 5.. 8 . .
#

+
+
+
+

cN ! c
A q A f Q
c
b s ult

Q
design
% 5#.( % !5.1 'ips
20 ft
A
%esign
= B
.orall# consoli%ate% cla#
= 105 "cf
q
u
= 1400 "sf

1
= 012 for 017 tsf (q
u
!
12C
15 ft
E(erconsoli%ate% cla#
= 126 "cf
q
u
= 4000 "sf

2
= 0156 for 210 tsf (q
u
!
Solution:
tip friction ult
Q Q Q +
'ips 8.# lbs 8!4! /558 !8/6#
1/ 1 /4 . . ... . 1 8 . . 5..
1 1 1
1 1
+
+
+
+


! c ! c
A f A f A f Q
surf"ce surf"ce surf"ce friction
'ips 1#.1 lbs 1#1!5
1
#
8 ...

tip c tip
A N c Q
E0ample3
> 1# square pre-stressed concrete pile is to be driven in a clay soil as sho"n in the figure. ;ind
the required length of pile if ;o3 % .
1!
& =B
A
%esign
= 80 'i"s
=&AG
= 115 "cf
q
u
= 2400 "sf
= 0176
14C s5)are
Solution:
Q
ult
% ;o3 Q
esi#n
% 6. % 14. 'ips
c % q
u
( % #..( % 1.. psf
Q
tip
% cN
c
A
tip

% 1.. 8 L(1#1#)((11)M
% 1#5.. lbs % 1#.5 'ips
tip friction ult
Q Q Q +
'ips ! . 1#/ 5 . 1# 14.
tip ult friction
Q Q Q
Q
friction
% f A
surf"ce
% c A
surf"ce
1#/.! % ..541..(1##(1) !
! % 67 ft
NA0FAC DM1234 METHOD
BEARING CAPACIT/ FACTORS H N5
0 (%eg! 26 28 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 32 40
N5
(Dri(en *ile
10 15 21 24 22 35 42 50 62 77 86 120 145
N500
(Drille% *iers!
5 8 10 12 14 17 21 25 30 38 43 60 72
EART4 PRESS$RE COEFFICIENTS 8
4C
AND 8
4T
PILE T/PE 6HC 6HT
Dri(en single 8+*ile 015 H 110 013 H 015
Dri(en single Dis"laceent *ile 110 H 115 016 H 110
Dri(en single Dis"laceent
Ta"ere% *ile
115 H 210 110 H 113
Dri(en Iette% *ile 014 H 012 013 H 016
Drille% *ile (&ess than 24
Diaeter!
017 014
FRICTION ANGLE 7
PILE T/PE
$teel 20
=oncrete 3/4
Ti,er 3/4
0&iit to 28 if 6etting is )se%
00(a! Jn case a ,ailer or gra, ,)c'et is )se% ,elo7 gro)n% 7ater ta,le, calc)late en%
,earing ,ase% on not e;cee%ing 281
(,! 9or "iers greater than 24+inch %iaeter, settleent rather than ,earing
ca"acit# )s)all# controls the %esign1 9or estiating settleent, ta'e 50< of the
settleent for an e5)i(alent footing resting on the s)rface of co"ara,le
gran)lar soils1
1#
RECOMMENDED 0ALUES OF ADHESION )NA0FAC DM1234-
2,L* TF2* 7B13,3T*17F
B; 3B,L
7B)*3,B1, 7,
23;
>C)*3,B1, 7
>
(%
7), 23;
T,0=*@ >1C
7B17@*T*
9ery 3oft . D /. . D /.
3oft /. D /.. /. D #6.
0edium 3tiff /.. D 1... #6. D 5/.
3tiff 1... D ... 5/. D 8/.
9ery 3tiff ... D #... 8/. D 1!..
3T**L
9ery 3oft . D /. . D /.
3oft /. D /.. /. D #4.
0edium 3tiff /.. D 1... #4. D 5..
3tiff 1... D ... 5.. D 5.
9ery 3tiff ... D #... 5. D 5/.
Bere8a"t8e( et a3 )1991- The$r.: Reati$"&hi% ;et<ee" a"! N
q
%eg
28 30 32 34 36 38 40
Nq
L/B = 25 12 17 25 40 58 82 137
L/B = 50 2 14 22 37 56 88 136
1/
D/NAMIC FORMULA
The E"gi"eeri"g Ne<& F$r'=a
c s
$%
&
+

7here
R = a(erage resistance of the soil to "enetration
s = set or "enetration of the "ile "er ,lo7
h = free fall of the haer
W = 7eight of haer
c = energ# loss %)e to te"orar# co"ression res)lting fro elastic co"ression of
the "ile = 011 inch for stea haer an% 1 inch for %ro" haer
The 8ile# for)la ta'es into acco)nt the energ# losses %)e to elastic co"ression of
the "ile, the soil an% the "ac'ing asse,l# on to" of the "ile, all re"resente% ,# a ter
c, an% the energ# losses %)e to i"act, re"resente% ,# an efficienc# factor . Th)s
$% c s &
,
_

1
The elastic co"ression of the "ile an% the soil can ,e o,taine% fro the %ri(ing trace
of the "ile1 The co"ression of the "ac'ing asse,l# )st ,e estiate% se"aratel# ,#
ass)ing a (al)e of the stress in the asse,l# %)ring %ri(ing1
Dri(ing for)la sho)l% norall# ,e )se% onl# for "iles in san%s an% gra(els an% )st
,e cali,rate% against the res)lts of static loa% tests on siilar "iles in siilar soil
con%itions1
EMPIRICAL METHODS
14
1) STANDARD PENETRATION TEST (SPT)
-e#erhof (1276! has recoen%e% the follo7ing correlation ,et7een the a;ial ca"acit#
of a single "ile in gran)lar soil:
s t
DA N n mNA & +
4here
R = *ile =a"acit# (.!
m = 40010
3
for %ri(en "iles
120 10
3
for ,ore% "iles
N = $*T in%e; at the "ile toe o,taine% ,# a(eraging ,lo7s o(er length 6 + 10B a,o(e
an% 2 + 4B ,elo7 the ,ase1
At = *ile toe area
n = 210
3
for %ri(en "iles
110
3
for ,ore% "iles
N = A(erage $*T in%e; along the "ile
D = *ile e,e%ent length
As = *ile )nit shaft area
The stan%ar% *enetration Test is s),6ect to a )ltit)%e of errors an% )ch care )st
,e e;ercise% 7hen )sing the test res)lts1 9or this reason, a ini) factor of safet# of
4 sho)l% ,e a""lie% to the calc)late% ca"acit#1 (Kef: =ana%ian 9o)n%ation ?ngineering
-an)al, 2
n%
e%ition!
Alternate Form of e!er"of (1#$%) met"o& for &r'(en )'les
15
>ltiate ,earing ca"acit# at ,ase N
B
D
N q
b
b
#.. #. ('./
2
!
4here N = $*T resistance in the (icinit# of the "ile ,ase
D, = &ength of "ile e,e%%e% in the san%
B = Diaeter of "ile
9or "iles %ri(en into non+"lastic silts, an )""er liit of 300N is recoen%e%1
A(erage $'in 9riction o(er the length of "ile is %eterine% as
N q
s

('./
2
!
4here N is the a(erage (al)e of $*T resistance o(er the e,e%%e% length of the "ile
7ithin the san% strat)1
The (al)e of qs o,taine% a,o(e sho)l% ,e hal(e% in the case of sall %is"laceent
"iles s)ch as steel 8 "iles1
9or ,ore% "iles, the (al)es of q, an% qs are a""ro;iatel# 1/3 an% 1/2, res"ecti(el#, of
the corres"on%ing (al)es for %ri(en "iles1
16
2* A+IA, -APA-IT. /ASED ON STATI- -ONE0PENETRATION TESTS
-ana&'an Foun&at'on En1'neer'n1 anual
The ca"acit# of a "ile in gran)lar soil can ,e co")te% fro the res)lts of a static cone+
"enetroeter test1 The test is ,est s)ite% for silts an% san%s that are loose to e%i)
%ense1 Jt is %iffic)lt to carr# o)t this test in gra(els an% in %ense san%s1
The ca"acit# of a single "ile in gran)lar soil a# ,e %eterine% fro:
D A f A q &
s s t c
+
4here
qc = "oint resistance fro the cone+"enetration test1 (Jt is recoen%e% that for "iles
7ith B L 500 , a %esign (al)e of qc saller than the eas)re% a(erage qc, or
e(en e5)al to the ini) eas)re% (al)e ,e )se%!1 (Kef: =ana%ian 9o)n%ation
?ngg1 -an)al!1
fs = a(erage )nit si%e shear eas)re% ,# the static cone+"enetroeter test1
At = cross+sectional area of "ile at toe
As = $haft area "er )nit length of "ile
D = ?,e%ent length of the "ile in soil
The 9E$ to a""l# to the ca"acit# fro static cone+"enetroeter testing sho)l% ,e
,et7een 215 an% 3, %e"en%ing on the n),er of cone tests "erfore% an% on the
o,ser(e% (aria,ilit# of the test res)lts1
Ot"er A))roa2"es
Tomlinson (2001)
*lot all rele(ant qc/%e"th "rofiles together an% %ra7 an a(erage line for the section
aro)n% the "ile ,ase1 A loa% factor of 210 H 215 is then a""lie% to the ,ase resistance
(A,q,! %e"en%ing on the scatter of the "rofile1
18
Practic in Nthrlan!s
9or en% ,earing ca"acit#, )se ean of t7o a(erages qc1 an% qc2, for single "rofile,
%eterine%:
(1! ,et7een 017B an% 4B ,elo7 the "ile ,ase (5c1!1 Jf qc increases stea%il# ,elo7 the
"ile, the a(erage is %eterine% onl# to %e"th 017B1 Jf a "rono)nce% %ecrease in qc
occ)rs ,et7een 017B an% 4B, the lo7est (al)e 7ithin that range is ta'en as qc11
(2! 8B a,o(e the ,ase (qc2!1 The a(erage (al)e of qc2 a,o(e the ,ase sho)l% ,e
%eterine%, 7or'ing )"7ar% fro the ,ase, )sing onl# (al)es, 7hich %ecrease
fro or e5)al to that at the ,ase1
The (al)e of en% ,earing ca"acit# (q,! sho)l% ,e restricte% to15 -*a1
$haft resistance "er )nit area (qs! can ,e %eterine% fro (al)es of local slee(e
resistance (fs!1 8o7e(er, fs )st ,e )lti"lie% ,# a factor to allo7 for the effect of "ile
installation on the %ensit# of the san%1 The factor %e"en%s on the aterial an% en%
sha"e of the "ileM s)ggeste% (al)es ,eing 111 for a concrete "ile 7ith a "ointe% en% an%
017 for a steel 8 "ile1
$haft resistance can also ,e %eterine% fro %irect correlations 7ith cone resistance,
e1g1 qs = 01012qc for ti,er, "recast concrete an% steel %is"laceent "iles1
The (al)e of qs sho)l% ,e restricte% to 0112 -*a1
.
3* A+IA, -APA-IT. /ASED ON PRESSUREETER TEST
The )ltiate en% ,earing ca"acit#, "", for close%+en%e% "iles is gi(en ,# the follo7ing
e5)ation1 The ca"acit# for o"en+en%e% "iles is half of that:
[ ]
v % lme p
p ' A Q + (
7here
A = "ile ,ase area
#le = e5)i(alent liit "ress)re
h = hori@ontal "ress)re at the ,ase le(el
( = total (ertical "ress)re at the ,ase le(el
$ = ,earing ca"acit# factor
% lm
v u
p
q

7here qu is )ltiate ,earing ca"acit#, ( is total

(ertical stress at the foration le(el an% h is the total hori@ontal stress at the
"ress)reeter test le(el1 ' (al)es can ,e o,taine% fro Ta,le ,elo7
Beari"g Ca%a#it. Fa#t$r+ 3 f$r A>ia. L$a!e! Pie& )After LCPC1SETRA+ 19,?-
3ro)n% t#"e "l ('*a! =ategor# Bore% "iles
an% sall
%is"laceent
"iles
9)ll
%is"laceent
"iles
=la# 0 H 1200
J 112 118
$ilt 0 H 700
9ir cla# or arl 1800 H 4000
JJ 111 312 H 412
=o"act silt 1200 H 3000
=o"ressi,le san% 400 H 800
$oft or 7eathere%
roc'
1000 H 3000
$an% an% gra(el 1000 H 2000
JJJ 118 216
Koc' 4000 H 10000
/er# co"act san%
an% gra(el
3000 H 6000 J/ 111 H 1180 118 H 312
0 312 for %ense san% or gra(elM 412 for loose san% or gra(el

liite% %ata ,ase
Li'it %re&&=re #l is %efine% theoreticall# as Nth ma%imum #rssur rach! !urin& a
#rssurmtr tst at 'hich th ca(it) 'ill continu to %#an! in!finitl)O1 Jn realit#,
1
this is not "ossi,le as the e,rane e;"ansion is restricte%1 The liit "ress)re can ,e
o,taine% ,# e;tra"olating the test c)r(e to infinit#1 -Pnar% re%efine% the liit "ress)re
as the "ress)re re5)ire% to %o),le the ca(it# %iaeter1
The liit "ress)re is also %efine% "racticall# as the "ress)re reache% 7hen the soil
ca(it# has ,een inflate% to t7ice its initial (ol)eM #l is the "ress)re at *c/*o = 11
NE@CASTLE FULL1DISPLACEMENT PRESSUREMETER
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50
CA0IT/ STRAIN+ A
P
R
E
S
S
U
R
E
+

B
P
a
&iiting *ress)re
The e5)i(alent liit "ress)re, #le %e"en%s on the %istance the "ile "enetrates the
,earing la#er an% the %egree of hoogeneit# of that la#er1 A hoogeneo)s la#er is
%efine% as one in 7hich the a;i) (al)e of #l is less than 115 of the ini) (al)e
of #l (#l in!1 The a;i) (al)e of #l is ta'en as 115#l in for a non+hoogeneo)s
la#er1 The e5)i(alent liit "ress)re, #le is ta'en as the a(erage liit "ress)re 7ithin a
%istance " ,elo7 an% a %istance a,o(e the "ile ,ase le(el, that is
[ ]
+

i lmi lme
( p
"
p
1
7here #li is the liit "ress)re o(er %e"th +i, 7hich is the thic'ness of a la#er at 7hich
#l is eas)re% s)ch that

@1F Q1 F@n = ")

" an% are %istances %e"en%ing on the "ile %iaeter an% e,e%ent length1 is
e5)al to " or the %istance ,et7een the "ile ,ase an% the to" of the ,earing la#er 7hich
e(er is sallest1 " is gi(en ,#:
" = 015 if Be R 1
= Be/2 if Be L 1
4here
Be= 4,ase area of "ile / ,ase "erieter of "ile
Jt is ass)e% that the "ile "enetrates the ,earing la#er s)ch that the e5)i(alent
e,e%ent %e"th,
e
, is greater than 5B, 7here
e
is gi(en ,#:

i lmi
lme
e
( p
p

1
' is re%)ce% to '
e
if
e
R 5B, 7here '
e
is gi(en ,#

,
_

,
_

+
B

B
'
'
e e
e
1.
/
6 . .
6 . .
The )ltiate friction ca"acit#, "f, is gi(en ,#:
[ ]
i si f
( q Q
7here
qsi = )nit s'in friction for soil la#er i an% (
i
is the thic'ness of soil la#er i1 The )nit friction
is o,taine% fro Ta,le ,elo7 rea% in con6)nction 7ith 9ig)re ,elo71
!
The &ee#ti$" $f !e&ig" #=r(e& f$r ="it fri#ti$" )after LCPC SETRA+ 19,?-
$oil t#"e #l
(-*a!
Bore%
concrete
Bore% an% line% Dri(en 3ro)te%
=oncrete $teel =oncrete $teel &o7
"ress)re
8igh
"ress)re
$oft cla# 0+017 A A A A A B
$tiff cla# 112+2 A, (B! A, (B! A A, (B! A B ?0
/er# stiff cla# L2 A, (B! A, (B! A A, (B! A, B ?0
&oose san% 0+017 A A A A A B
-e%i) %ense san% 1+2 B, (=! A, (B! A B, (=! B = ?
/er# %ense san% L215 =, (D! B, (=! B =, (D! = D ?
=o"letel# 7eathere% chal' 0+017 A A A A A B
*artiall# 7eathere% chal' L1 =, (D! B, (=! B =, (D! = ? ?
-arl 115+4 D, (9! =, (D! = 9 9 9 3
$tiff arl L415 9 3 3
4eathere% roc' 215+4 3 3 3 3 3 3
9ract)re% roc' L415 3 3 3
=)r(es in "arentheses onl# a""l# for 7ell+constr)cte% "iles
0 Jf #l R 115 -*a
#