Foundation Engineering

CE-404
Introduction to Deep Foundations

1
 DEFINITION

1. Deep Foundations are those

 in which the depth of the foundation is very large in
comparison to its width.
 Which are not constructed by ordinary methods of open pit
excavations.
 When Used?

 In cases where
 The strata of good bearing capacity is not available near the ground
 The space is restricted to allow for spread footings

 In these cases the foundation of the structure has to be taken

deep with the purpose of attaining a bearing stratum which is
suitable and which ensures stability and durability of a structure.
 The bearing stratum is not the only case. There may be many
other cases. For example, the foundation for a bridge pier must
be placed below the scour depth, although suitable bearing
stratum may exist at a higher level.
 Forms of Construction

 Most common forms of construction pertaining to deep

foundations are:
 Pile Foundation (more commonly used in building construction)
 Cofferdams
 Caisson or Well Foundation
 Pile Foundations

 The term ‘Pile Foundation’ denotes a construction for the

foundation of a wall or pier which is supported on piles.
 Where Used :
 stratum of required bearing capacity is at greater depth
 steep slopes are encountered
 Compressible soil or water-logged soil or soil of made-up type

 Examples: Piles are used for foundation for buildings, trestle-bridges

and water front installations (piers, docks etc ).

 Advantages:
 Provides a common solution to all difficult foundation site
problems
 Can be used for any type of structure and in any type of soil
 Pile foundations 6

End bearing piles

Piles are structural members that are made of
steel, concrete or timber.

They are used to build pile foundations, which

are deep and which cost more than shallow
foundations.

When one or more upper soil layers are highly

compressible and too weak to support the
load transmitted by the superstructure, piles
are used to transmit the load to underlying
bedrock or a stronger soil layer.
 Pile foundations 7

Frictional piles

When bedrock is not encountered at a

reasonable depth below the ground surface,
piles are used to transmit the structural load
to the soil gradually.

The resistance to the applied structural load is

derived mainly from the frictional resistance
developed at the pile-soil interface. This
resistance is also called negative skin friction.
 Pile foundations 8

Lateral load on piles

When subjected to horizontal forces, pile

foundations resist by bending, while still
supporting the vertical load transmitted by
the superstructure.

This type of situation is generally encountered

in the design and construction of earth-
retaining structures and foundations of tall
structures that are subjected to high wind or
to earthquake forces.
Expansive Soil 9
 Pile foundations 10

Piles in expansive soils

Expansive and collapsible soils may extend to
a great depth below the ground surfaces.

Expansive soils swell and shrink as their

moisture content increases and decreases
respectively, and the pressure of the swelling
can be considerable.

Shallow foundations are not suitable for such

conditions.

Pile foundations are alternative and are

extended beyond the active zone of swelling
and shrinking.
Collapsible soil / Loess Soil 11
 Pile foundations 12

Piles in collapsible soils

Soils such as loess are collapsible in nature.

When the moisture content of these soils increase, their

structures may break down.

A sudden decrease in the void ratio of soil induces large

settlements of structures supported by shallow foundations.

In such cases, pile foundations may be used. Piles in such cases

are extended into stable soil layers.
 Pile foundations 13

Uplifting forces on foundations

The foundations of some structures (e.g.

transmission towers, offshore platforms
etc below the water table) are subjected to
uplifting forces.

Piles are sometimes used for these

foundations to resist the uplifting forces.

Offshore Platform
 Pile foundations 14

Erosion effects on foundations

Bridge abutments and piers are

usually constructed over pile
foundations due to soil erosion.

Shallow foundations are not

suitable for such conditions.
 15

Types of Piles along with their Load

carrying capacity
 Steel piles 16

Steel piles generally are either pipe piles or rolled steel H-section piles.
Pipe piles can be driven into ground with their ends open or closed.
General facts about steel piles
Usual length: 15 – 60 m (50 – 200 ft)
Usual load: 300 kN – 1200 kN (67 – 256 kip / 33 – 128 ton)
Advantages Disadvantages
• Easy to handle with respect to • Relatively costly
cutoff and extension to the
desired length • High level of noise during pile
driving
• Can stand high driving stresses
• Subject to corrosion
• Can penetrate hard layers such
as dense gravel and soft rock • May be damage or deflected
from the vertical side during
• High load-carrying capacity driving through hard layers or
past major obstructions.
Pipe Piles 17
H section Pile 18
 Concrete piles - precast 19

Two categories: (a) precast piles (b) cast-in-situ piles

General facts about precast concrete piles
Usual length: 10 – 15 m (30 – 50 ft)
Usual load: 300 kN – 3000 kN (67 – 675 kip / 33 – 337 ton)

Advantages
• Can be subjected to hard Disadvantages
driving
• Difficult to achieve proper cutoff
• Corrosion resistant
• Difficult to transport
• Can be easily combined with a
concrete superstructure
 Concrete piles – precast prestressed 20

Precast piles can be prestressed by use of high-strength steel pre-stressing

cables.
During casting of piles, the cables are pre-tensioned to about 900-1300
MN/m2 (130-190 ksi), and concrete is poured around them.
General facts about precast prestressed concrete piles
Usual length: 10 – 45 m (30 – 150 ft)
Max length: 60 m (200 ft)
Max load: 7500 – 8500 kN (1700 – 1900 kip / 850 – 950 ton)
Advantages and disadvantages are same as those of precast piles
 Concrete piles – cased cast-in-situ 21

Cast-in-situ piles are built by making a hole in the ground and then filling
it with concrete. These piles are divided into two broad categories: (a)
cased, and (b) uncased.
General facts about cased cast-in-situ concrete piles
Usual length: 5 – 15 m (15 –50 ft)
Max length: 30 – 40 m (100 – 130 ft)
Usual load: 200 –500 kN (45 – 115 kip / 22 – 57 ton)
Max Load: 800 kN (180 kip / 90 ton)

Advantages
Disadvantages
• Relatively cheap
• Thin casing may be damaged
• Allow for inspection before
during driving
pouring concrete
• Easy to extend
 Concrete piles – uncased cast-in-situ 22

General facts about uncased cast-in-situ concrete piles

Usual length: 5 – 15 m (15 –50 ft)
Max length: 30 – 40 m (100 – 130 ft)
Usual load: 300 –500 kN (67 – 115 kip / 33 – 57 ton)
Max Load: 700 kN (160 kip / 80 ton)

Advantages Disadvantages
• Initially economical • In soft soils, the sides of the hole
may cave in, squeezing the
concrete
23
Bored pile – defect 24
 Timber Piles

 Transmission of load takes place by the frictional resistance of

ground and the pile surface.
 Economical to support light structure.
 Piles made from timber of tree like Sal, Teak, Deodar, Babul, Khair
etc.
 Khair piles can stand against action of sea water and thus used for
marine works.
 May be circular, square in x-section.
 Piles are driven with the help of pile driving machine in which drop
hammers delivers blows on the pile head.
 Brooming of pile head is prevented by providing an iron ring of less
than 25mm in diameter than the pile head at the pile top.
 Timber Piles

 To facilitate driving, the lower end is pointed and provided with a

cast iron conical shoe.
 Max load should not exceed 20 tonnes.
 Piles are subjected to decay for alternate dry and wet condition
(on account of variation of ground water level)
 Diameter varies from 30 to 50cm.
 Length should not be more than 20 times the least sectional
dimension.
Advantages of Timber Piles:
 Economical where timber is easily available.
 Can be driven rapidly & as such saves time.
 Do not need heavy machinery and elaborate technical supervision.
 Being light, they can be easily handled.
 They can be easily withdrawn if needed.
Disadvantages of Timber Piles:
 Timber piles must be cut off below the permanent ground water
level to prevent decay.
 Liable to decay or deteriorate by salt water/insects.
 Restricted length. It is rather difficult to procure piles in required
size and length.
 Low bearing capacity.
 They are not very durable unless suitably treated.
 It is difficult or rather impossible to drive these piles into hard
stratum
 Composite Piles

 Piles of two different materials are driven one over the other, so as to
enable them to act together to perform the function of a single pile.
 This type of composite pile is used with the object of achieving
economy in the cost of piling work.
Composite Piles
 31
Why Bored Piles are too Common in Pakistan ?

• These are labor-intensive, and labor is cheap in

Pakistan

• The expertise is well-developed

• The longer time required for construction is socially

accepted by the clients

• The pressure of development is not enormous on the

construction industry
 Group Action 32

Group of piles means when we have more than 1 pile in

a row. Many factors influence the pile group stability.
The major factors are Geometry of the group, soil
conditions and direction of loads.
The efficiency of pile group depends on the following
factors:
1. Spacing of piles
2. Total number of piles in a row and number of rows in
a group, and
3. Characteristics of pile (material, diameter and length)
 Assignment Number 02 33

Study the procedure of Plate load Test and write a

detail report on it.

Submit on 26th Dec, 2019