Statistical Evaluation of CPT and CPTu Based Methods for Prediction of Axial Bearing Capacity of Piles

Piles are structural members made of steel, concrete, or wood installed into the ground to transfer superstructure loads to the soil. Nowadays, many structures are built on poor lands, and therefore piles have crucial roles in such structures. Performing in-situ tests such as cone penetration (CPT) and piezocone penetration tests (CPTu) have always been of great importance in designing piles. These tests have a brilliant consistency with reality, and as a result, the outcome data can be used in order to achieve reliable pile designing models and reduce uncertainty in this regard. In this paper, the capability of various CPT and CPTu based methods developed from 1961 to 2016 has been investigated using four statistical methods. Such CPT and CPTu based methods are adopted for direct prediction of axial bearing capacity of piles using CPT and CPTu field data. For this purpose, 61 sets of field data prepared from CPT and CPTu have been collected. The data sets were utilized in order to calculate the axial bearing capacity of piles (Q_E) through 25 different methods. In addition, the measured axial pile capacities (Q_M) have been collected, recorded and prepared from field static load tests, respectively. Then, four different statistical approaches have been applied to assess the accuracy of these methods. Finally, the most reliable and accurate methods are presented.

     

On the Study of Pile Driving Formula Based on Blow Counts

Accuracy of predicting pile capacities by pile driving formulas have been investigated. Five test piles were driven up to a depth of about 9 m of clay deposit and the penetrations due to final blows were recorded. The pile bearing capacity of each pile was predicted using 6 different pile driving formulas and the predicted pile capacity was compared with measured pile capacity from the pull up tests. Hiley formula, Modified Engineering News Record (ENR) formula, Janbu formula, Dutch formula, Danish formula, and Gates formula were used. The performance and accuracy of each formula was evaluated and the correlation coefficient of each pile driving formula was determined for a more accurate pile capacity prediction. Methods used to evaluate the performance of each formula were; (1) the best fit line for Q _p versus Q _m (2) cumulative probability for Q _p/Q _m and (3) the arithmetic mean and standard deviation for Q _p/Q _m. From the study, it was found that using Dutch formula provided the most accurate pile capacity estimate compared to the other formulas with an average of 7% deviation from value obtained from the field pull up test. It was followed by the Danish formula, Janbu formula, Hiley formula, Modified ENR formula, and Gates formula. The ability to predict the accuracy of estimating pile capacity using an appropriate method is very important and valuable to contractors, developers, geotechnical engineers, and manufacturers.     

A New Computer Program for Pile Capacity Prediction using CPT Data

An interactive computer program “GLAMCPT” is developed for application in soil profiling and prediction of pile load capacity using cone penetration test (CPT) and laboratory soil test results. GLAMCPT calculates pile capacity according to 10 selected methods from European design codes, refereed international publications and recommendations of professional institutions. To demonstrate the capabilities of the program, a database of comprehensive ground investigation and full-scale pile tests in sand, at a Belgian site, is analysed using GLAMCPT. The database comprises 11 static tests and 12 dynamic tests on piles of different construction techniques, including driven pre-cast concrete piles and screwed cast in-situ piles, installed using 5 different procedures. Prior to pile installation, CPTs were carried out at each proposed pile location. Comparison of GLAMCPT predictions with the observed pile capacities reveals that the most accurate of the existing methods yields an average, μ, of predicted to observed pile head capacity [P_uh(p)/P_uh(m)] equal to 0.94. The most consistent method produces a coeffcient of variation (COV) of [P_uh(p)/P_uh(m)] equal to 0.1 and ranking index (RI) of 0.08. Parametric studies have been carried out using GLAMCPT to formulate an improved predictive method, which yielded: μ = 0.99, COV = 0.07 and RI = 0.04.     

Estimating Pile Set-up Using 24-h Restrike Resistance and Computed Static Capacity for PPC Piles Driven in Soft Lousiana Coastal Deposits

In this paper, the CPT-based predicted ultimate pile resistances (R_p) were compared with the measured pile resistances (R_m) at different elapsed time for the piles driven into saturated soft clays where piles displayed significant set-up effect. The measured pile resistances were based on 115 restrike records collected from 95 production piles, and 74 records of 9 tested piles. The predicted ultimate pile resistances were calculated from the LCPC, the Schmertmann, and the de Ruiter–Beringen methods, respectively. With the significant pile set-up effect taken into account, the relationship between measured resistances and predicted capacities at different times after pile installation were investigated. The ratios of the measured pile resistances to the predicted capacities scattered in a large spectrum. The ratios fluctuated and stayed within a range of 0.6–1.6 for different CPT methods since end of initial driving until more than 2 months after pile installation. Plots of the ratios versus the predicted pile capacities using different CPT methods have revealed that the ratio (R_m/R_p) presented a strong dependence on the predicted capacities. Great research efforts have been devoted to the analyses of the ratios of the 24-h measured resistance to the predicted capacity based on different CPT methods, in an attempt to find a feasible empirical correlation. It is found that a simple linear relationship exists between the quad root of the ratio and the predicted capacity. The developed empirical equations will give pile foundation engineers an insight into the ultimate resistances of driven piles demonstrating significant pile set-up effects. Pile set-up makes pile resistances grow with time, and it might be one of the reasons that cause the frequently reported large discrepancy between calculated static capacity and measured resistance at a certain time after pile installation.     

Prediction of ultimate axial load-carrying capacity of piles using a support vector machine based on CPT data

The support vector machine (SVM) is a relatively new artificial intelligence technique which is increasingly being applied to geotechnical problems and is yielding encouraging results. In this paper SVM models are developed for predicting the ultimate axial load-carrying capacity of piles based on cone penetration test (CPT) data. A data set of 108 samples is used to develop the SVM models. These data were obtained from the literature containing pile load tests and each sample contains information regarding pile geometry, full-scale static pile load tests and CPT results. Moreover, a sensitivity analysis is carried out to examine the relative significance of each input variable with respect to ultimate strength prediction. Finally, a statistical analysis is conducted to make comparisons between predictions obtained from the SVM models and three traditional CPT-based methods for determining pile capacity. The comparison confirms that the SVM models developed in this paper outperform the traditional methods.     

Piles shaft capacity from CPT and CPTu data by polynomial neural networks and genetic algorithms

Cone penetration test (CPT) is one of the most common in situ tests which is used for pile design because it can be realized as a model pile. The measured cone resistance (q_c) and sleeve friction (f_s) usually are employed for estimation of pile unit toe and shaft resistances, respectively. Thirty three pile case histories have been compiled including static loading tests performed in uplift, or in push with separation of shaft and toe resistances at sites which comprise CPT or CPTu sounding. Group method of data handling (GMDH) type neural networks optimized using genetic algorithms (GAs) are used to model the effects of effective cone point resistance (q_E) and cone sleeve friction (f_s) as input parameters on pile unit shaft resistance, applying some experimentally obtained training and test data. Sensitivity analysis of the obtained model has been carried out to study the influence of input parameters on model output. Some graphs have been derived from sensitivity analysis to estimate pile unit shaft resistance based on q_E and f_s. The performance of the proposed method has been compared with the other CPT and CPTu direct methods and referenced to measured piles shaft capacity. The results demonstrate that appreciable improvement in prediction of pile shaft capacity has been achieved.     

Numerical ANFIS-Based Formulation for Prediction of the Ultimate Axial Load Bearing Capacity of Piles Through CPT Data

This study explores the potential of adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference systems (ANFIS) for prediction of the ultimate axial load bearing capacity of piles (P_u) using cone penetration test (CPT) data. In this regard, a reliable previously published database composed of 108 datasets was selected to develop ANFIS models. The collected database contains information regarding pile geometry, material, installation, full-scale static pile load test and CPT results for each sample. Reviewing the literature, several common and uncommon variables have been considered for direct or indirect estimation of P_u based on static pile load test, cone penetration test data or other in situ or laboratory testing methods. In present study, the pile shaft and tip area, the average cone tip resistance along the embedded length of the pile, the average cone tip resistance over influence zone and the average sleeve friction along the embedded length of the pile which are obtained from CPT data are considered as independent input variables where the output variable is P_u for the ANFIS model development. Besides, a notable criticism about ANFIS as a prediction tool is that it does not provide practical prediction equations. To tackle this issue, the obtained optimal ANFIS model is represented as a tractable equation which can be used via spread sheet software or hand calculations to provide precise predictions of P_u with the calculated correlation coefficient of 0.96 between predicted and experimental values for all of the data in this study. Considering several criteria, it is represented that the proposed model is able to estimate the output with a high degree of accuracy as compared to those results obtained by some direct CPT-based methods in the literature. Furthermore, in order to assess the capability of the proposed model from geotechnical engineering viewpoints, sensitivity and parametric analyses are done.     

Failure analysis of CPT-based direct methods for axial capacity of driven piles in sand

Due to variety of current pile bearing capacity methods based on cone penetration test (CPT) measurements, there is always a need for evaluating performance of existing methods to make proper choices of methods as well as safety factors for optimum design. In this regard, geotechnical databases are known as useful tools which facilitate evaluation of existing methods. This paper deals with axial bearing capacity of driven piles in sand using CPT-based methods. A database of seventy-six records is employed to analyze different criteria of interpreting static pile load test results to select the most consistent approach with the CPT-based methods. Then, performance of nine commonly used direct CPT-based methods was evaluated. Finally, via a failure probability and cost optimisation approach, optimum safety factors are presented and discussed. Analysis of different failure criteria shows that the Hansen 80% criterion leads to more consistent results with the CPT-based methods. In addition, almost all of the investigated methods showed promising performance. The attained safety factors range from 1.6 to 3.1 for all records, 1.4 to 3.1 for piles in compression, and 1.4 to 2.2 for the piles in tension. Then, efficiency of methods was evaluated and the methods with higher efficiency are introduced.     

Cone Penetration Test Based Direct Methods for Evaluating Static Axial Capacity of Single Piles

The direct cone penetration test (CPT) based pile design methods use the measured penetrometer readings by scaling relationships or algorithms in a single-step process to enable the assessment of pile capacity components of shaft and base resistance (f _p and q _b, respectively) for evaluation of full-size pilings. This paper presents a state-of-the-art review of published works that focus on direct CPT evaluation of static axial pile capacity. The review is presented in a chronological order to explicate the evolution over the past six decades of an in situ test based solution for this soil-structure interaction problem. The objective of this study is an attempt to assemble maximum published methods proposed as a result of past investigations in one resource to afford researchers and practitioners with convenient access to the respective design equations and charts. In addition to an all-inclusive summary table and the design charts, a compilation of significant findings and discussions thereof are presented. Furthermore, potential future research directions are indicated, with special emphasis on the optimal use of the modern multi-channel hybrid geophysical-geotechnical seismic CPT to evaluate the complete axial pile load–displacement response.     

群桩基础竖向承载力的可靠性分析

由CPT和静载试验结果综合确定钻孔灌注桩竖向极限承载力,以沿深度方向的一维平稳高斯随机场作为桩基土层土性参数的数学模型,利用相关函数法和变异函数法计算土层的相关范围,进而对相同场地各试桩的承载力进行折算后检验其概率分布,并估计有关统计参数;考虑群桩效应,由桩基沉降反算其作用效应,计算单桩及群桩的可靠度指标。并与未采用随机场模型的计算结果相比较,对竖向荷载下桩基可靠性进行了较系统的研究。     

大直径深长钻孔灌注桩竖向承载力特性试验研究

在唐山LNG罐区对9根大直径钢筋混凝土灌注桩进行了竖向荷载现场试验,其中桩端后注浆工艺试桩3根,三岔双向挤扩工艺试桩3根,挤扩支盘工艺试桩3根。基于现场静荷载和桩身应力测试结果,分析了3种不同施工工艺钻孔灌注桩竖向荷载传递规律。试验结果表明：3种不同施工工艺的大直径深长钻孔灌注桩试桩荷载-沉降曲线没有明显拐点,后注浆工艺试桩荷载传递过程表现为摩擦桩的特性,桩侧阻力几乎承担全部荷载,而三岔双向挤扩支盘工艺和挤扩支盘工艺试桩荷载传递过程表现为端承摩擦桩的特性,桩端阻力占总荷载的20%～30%;3种不同施工工艺试桩的轴力及桩-土相对位移变化规律基本相似,桩侧桩端阻力非同步发挥且相互影响,桩侧摩阻力均表现出强化现象。对整个罐区要求单桩承载力特征值不小于8 100 kN。3种施工工艺的钻孔灌注桩承载力均能满足要求。     

Static load tests of driven concrete piles under CFRP confinement

ABSTRACT

This paper describes compressive static load tests of concrete driven piles confined by Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer (CFRP). The tested piles include one concrete pipe pile and one concrete rectangular pile which are all partially confined by CFRP, and other two piles with the same dimensions without CFRP application. Tests program was performed to obtain the behaviours of these composite piles. Four Static Loading Tests (SLTs) were conducted and the results shown that those two types of composite pile demonstrate less vertical displacement with the same loading of traditional concrete piles. Furthermore, the traditional methods of Load-settlement (Q-s) curves, Settlement-lg (Load) (s-lgQ) curves and Settlement-lg (Time) curves are analysed. Due to un-plunging condition, the interpretation methods of Davisson’s, DeBeers, Double-Tangent as well as Chin’s methods are demonstrated for the ultimate bearing capacity of these four piles. It is concluded that the CFRP confinement increased the ultimate bearing capacity and this composite material can be perfectly applied in geotechnical condition.     

A full-scale field study for performance evaluation of axially loaded large-diameter cylinder piles with pipe piles and PSC piles

This paper presents the results from a pile load testing program for a bridge construction project in Louisiana. The testing includes two 54-in. open-ended spun cast concrete cylinder piles, one 30-in. open-ended steel pile and two (30- and 16-in.) square prestressed concrete (PSC) piles driven at two locations with very similar soil conditions. Both cone penetration tests (CPTs) and soil borings/laboratory testing were used to characterize the subsurface soil conditions. All the test piles were instrumented with vibrating wire strain gauges to measure the load distribution along the length of the test piles and measure the skin friction and end-bearing capacity, separately. Dynamic load tests were performed on all test piles at different times after pile installations to quantify the amount of setup with time. Static load tests were also performed on the PSC and open-ended steel piles. Due to expected large pile capacities, the statnamic test method was used on the two open-ended cylinder piles. The pile capacities of these piles were evaluated using various CPT methods (such as Schmertmann, De Ruiter and Beringen, LCPC, Lehane et al. methods). The result showed that all the methods can estimate the skin friction with good accuracy, but not the end-bearing capacity. The normalized cumulative blow counts during pile installation showed that the blow count was always higher for the PSC piles compared to the large-diameter open-ended cylinder pile, regardless of pile size and hammer size. Setup was observed for all the piles, which was mainly attributed to increase in skin frictions. The setup parameters “A” were back-calculated for all the test piles and the values were between 0.31 and 0.41.     

大型石化地基振冲碎石桩处理现场试验研究

针对大型炼厂工程地基处理的复杂性,开展了振冲碎石桩的现场试验。利用静力触探试验检测桩体密实度和判别饱和砂土液化。基于旁压试验、标准贯入试验和重型动力触探试验结果,分析了施工前后地基承载力和土体工程特性变化情况。以单桩和复合地基载荷试验结果验证了桩间土、单桩及复合地基的承载性能。研究结果表明,振冲碎石桩对桩长范围的砂土具有明显的挤密效应,工程特性和场地的均匀性在处理后有了明显改善和提高,有效地消除了桩长范围内砂土的液化可能性。静载荷试验结果表明,振冲碎石桩复合地基承载力能达到设计要求;振冲碎石桩对砂土层下卧黏性土层的加固作用不明显,部分深度范围内土体强度降低;当地面以下10 m内不存在厚度大于5 m的软土夹层时,较薄的软土夹层状对挤密加固其余深度的砂土未产生明显影响,对地基承载力影响亦较小。     

Large-scale pile tests in Mercia mudstone: Data analysis and evaluation of current design methods

Full-scale load tests were carried out on six instrumented large diameter bored, cast in-situ piles formed in Mercia mudstone, as part of the design of a new Viaduct in Cardiff, UK. In this paper, the results from six test piles and extensive data from 218 ground investigation boreholes are systematically processed in order to study the load transfer and resistance mechanisms in Mercia mudstone. Data from strain gauges embedded in each pile are first analysed to calibrate the load-deformation relationship of each pile as-built, taking into account (i) the non-linearity of concrete and (ii) the effect of partial steel encasement on pile stiffness at various levels. The shaft and base capacity of the piles are each predicted using 10 calculation methods belonging to the four basic categories: (i) Undrained analysis, (ii) Drained analysis, (iii) Mixed approach and (iv) Empirical correlation. It is found that the shaft capacity prediction methods are moderately consistent. The standard deviations of the ratio Q _sp/Q _sm of predicted to observed shaft capacity lies in the range 0.06–0.24. However, 8 of these methods are over-conservative, giving Q _sp/Q _sm values in the range 0.29–0.67. The remaining two methods yield Q _sp/Q _sm = 1.01 and 1.49. In contrast, the prediction methods for base capacity are found to be much less consistent. The ratio Q _bp/Q _bm of predicted to measured base capacity falls in the interval 0.52–1.93, with corresponding standard deviations of 0.16–0.82. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

大直径超长灌注桩水平承载性能的参数敏感性

大直径超长灌注桩是高规格建（构）筑物桩基工程的发展趋势,但有关其水平承载性能的研究还较少。依托江苏靖江文化中心大直径超长灌注桩建设项目,通过现场试桩试验获得了桩身水平受力及承载变形特征。采用孔压静力触探（CPTU）测试p-y曲线法构建了大直径超长灌注桩水平承载数值计算模型,在与现场试桩结果比对验证之后,进一步研究了桩径尺寸效应、桩顶嵌固形式、桩身倾角、竖向载荷对大直径超长灌注桩的影响规律。最后通过计算各影响因素的参数敏感度,实现了对大直径超长灌注桩水平承载性能参数敏感性的客观定量评价。研究结果表明：原位测试CPTU可以很好地应用于大直径超长灌注桩的水平承载分析,大直径超长灌注桩参数敏感度由大到小依次为：桩顶嵌固形式、尺寸效应、竖向荷载、桩身倾角。     

Field study on the behavior of pre-bored grouted planted pile with enlarged grout base

This paper presents the results of field tests performed to investigate the compressive bearing capacity of pre-bored grouted planted (PGP) pile with enlarged grout base focusing on its base bearing capacity. The bi-directional O-cell load test was conducted to evaluate the behavior of full scale PGP piles. The test results show that the pile head displacements needed to fully mobilize the shaft resistance were 5.9% and 6.4% D (D is pile diameter), respectively, of two test piles, owing to the large elastic shortening of pile shaft. Furthermore, the results demonstrated that the PHC nodular pile base and grout body at the enlarged base could act as a unit in the loading process, and the enlarged grout base could effectively promote the base bearing capacity of PGP pile through increasing the base area. The normalized base resistances (unit base resistance/average cone base resistance) of two test piles were 0.17 and 0.19, respectively, when the base displacement reached 5% D_b (D_b is pile base diameter). The permeation of grout into the silty sand layer under pile base increased the elastic modulus of silty sand, which could help to decrease pile head displacement under working load.

     

Computerised processing of ground investigation data and use in predicting the load-settlement behaviour of piled foundations

A new computer program “PILESET” is developed for use in predicting the bearing capacity and load-settlement behaviour of axially loaded single piles. The program can analyse almost any soil profile and accommodates (a) displacement piles (b) replacement (c) friction piles, (d) end-bearing piles, (e) under-reamed piles and (f) partially sleeved piles. A variety of soil input data can be used, including: (i) standard penetration tests, (ii) cone/piezo-cone tests, (iii) pressure-meter tests and (iv) laboratory tests. The above data types can be combined, if desired, for pile analysis by PILESET. The program calculates the shaft and base capacities of a pile based on 23 methods published in design guides in over 10 European countries. PILESET also predicts the pile load-settlement curve using five published methods, which include two modified load transfer (t-z) approaches formulated by the author. To demonstrate the capabilities of the program, analysis is carried out for case study involving seven full-scale screw piles formed in sand and tested to failure. In each case, the load-settlement curve computed using the author’s modified method in PILESET is found to be in excellent agreement with the actual pile test results.     

A design method for plastic tube cast-in-place concrete pile considering cavity contraction and its validation

Bearing capacity calculation method and field static load test (SLT) program were carried out simultaneously to study the bearing characteristics of individual Plastic Tube Cast-in-Place Concrete Pile (TC pile), which are increasingly being employed for support of embankments in southeast China. The bearing capacity calculation method considering pile setup (i.e., setup calculation method) was built up according to the cylindrical cavity contraction and horizontal consolidation theories. A series of SLTs on different dates were applied to study the bearing behavior of TC pile and to verify the validity of the established setup calculation method. During TC piles installation, there is about 45% contraction in cylindrical volume due to the extraction of steel casing. Both theoretical and experimental results show that the calculated outcomes considering cylindrical cavity contraction agree well with measured ones. The difference value between them is not more than 12%. On the other hand, if the cylindrical cavity contraction is ignored, the calculated bearing capacities of TC piles are overestimated by 160–300%. The setup of TC pile is mainly due to the increment of pile shaft resistance with time elapsed. Cylindrical cavity contraction accompanied by TC pile installation causes much loss of pile shaft resistance.