Model tests on open-ended concrete pipe piles jacked in sand

Abstract

An experimental study of the performance of concrete pipe piles during installation under different penetration speeds and static load tests on the piles in sand is presented. The applied jacking force, the amount of pile penetration, length of soil plug formed and ultimate bearing capacity were measured during the model tests. The results showed that the concrete pipe piles were partially plugged and the behavior of the soil plug was significantly affected by the penetration speed. The lower the penetration speed, the larger the soil plug formed which in turn leads to a greater ultimate bearing capacity. The size of soil plug can be evaluated by the m value defined as the ratio of the volume of the soil plug to that of the penetrated pile wall. The relationship between the m value and the penetration speeds can be used to estimate the amount of soil plug and the depth of penetration for an open-ended concrete pipe pile jacked into sand.     

Field Investigations of Two Super-long Steel Pipe Piles in Offshore Areas

A research on super-long piles has been primarily based on cast-in-place bored piles. In this article, field tests associated with selected measuring technologies were conducted on two super-long steel pipe piles in offshore areas to investigate the behaviors and performance of super-long steel pipe piles. The strain along the pile shaft was monitored by adopting the Brillouin optical time domain reflection and fiber Bragg grating techniques. Static load tests were also conducted on two test piles to determine the bearing capacities. In addition, the axial forces, relative displacements between piles and soils and pile shaft resistances were calculated based on the measured strain. According to the results of the static load tests, the ultimate bearing capacities of the two test piles are greater than 15,000 and 15,500 kN. Both of these values meet the design requirements. In addition, the two test piles can be treated as pure friction piles, and the load transfer mechanism and relationships between the pile shafts and relative displacements are also discussed. Finally, recommendations for practical engineering and significant conclusions are presented.     

Field Evaluation of the Vertical Bearing Capacity of a Screw Pretensioned Spun High-Strength Concrete Pile

This study has evaluated the vertical bearing capacity by conducting static load tests for noise-free and vibration-free screw pretensioned spun high-strength concrete (PHC) piles installed using two different methods (end-squirting shoe and pre-boring methods). Vertical bearing capacity differences seem to occur due to the displacement of soils near the external circumference of a pile, depending on the installation method. A method by which to evaluate the bearing capacity of screw concrete piles is suggested by considering the equations that already have been used to calculate the bearing capacity of piles. Based on static load tests and analysis, the pile installed using the end-squirting shoe method was assumed to be a bored pile and it was reasonable to use the equation proposed by the Japanese Geotechnical Society. At the same time, the pile installed using the pre-boring method was deemed a low soil displacement pile and so it was reasonable to apply the equations proposed for calculating the bearing capacity of the driven pile suggested by the Architectural Institute of Japan.     

Self-expanded piles: A new approach to unconventional piles development

Abstract

In onshore and offshore fields of ocean engineering, piles are used as foundation systems for various structures. Piles are classified into different types depending on their materials, geometries, and particularly, installation methods, which have advantages or limitations. Companies and engineers have developed a new group of piles, because of necessity to improve their performance in terms of increasing the bearing capacity, reducing impacts of traditional installation procedures, implementing by low- torque power equipment, and utilizing them in widely different ground conditions, including in a marine environment. In the present study, three different models of a new pile with an expander body are introduced to increase the shaft and pile-toe diameters and its self-expansion in the embedment depth under the titles of the Bubble pile (BP), Self-Expanded pile (SEP) and Wing pile (WP). The main subject of this research is to achieve increased bearing capacity, reduced installation effects, and decreased required installation torque. The frustum-confining vessel of Amirkabir University of Technology (FCV-AUT) was employed for this purpose. Up to 14 axial compressive and tensile load tests were carried out on different model piles on sand collected from Anzali shore located on the northern coast of Caspian Sea in Iran, with relative densities of 45% to 50% within FCV-AUT. Comparing the performance of introduced pile with traditional pile corresponding to the same characteristics, the results indicated a significant increase in the axial bearing capacity and reduced disturbance effect of the pile. Also, a lower installation torque of the SE pile was required compared to the helical pile. The test results also demonstrated that the new pile could resist considerable compressive and uplift loads, and could be a possible alternative to traditional piles in the onshore sector.     

海上风电钢管桩自平衡法现场试验研究

一种新型钢管桩预装荷载箱法被研发出用于自平衡法海上风电钢管桩基检测试验,并通过现场自平衡试验研究探究了海上打入桩桩基础特性。该方法首次成功应用于海外某海上风电场直径1.4 m的超长大直径钢管桩承载力检测,用于探究其承载特性和桩侧桩端阻力发挥规律。现场试验显示,该新型检测方法达到了预期的测试效果和经济效益,与现有钢管桩自平衡法相比,对土的影响更小,可靠度更高,为类似土层和直径的超长钢管桩承载力试验提供了新的途径。     

Postgrouted helical piles behavior through physical modeling by FCV

Piling procedure may disturb the surrounding soil, due to the installation particularly for cast-in-place piles. It causes a reduction in the soil strength parameters and, consequently, pile capacity. To overcome shortcomings and also for improving piles’ capacity, postgrouting as a compensation method is recognized and more developed in recent years. Helical piles, those are used widely in marine and land projects, although, are driven by torque implementation, but soil disturbance is noticed, where number of the helices become up to 3 and more. In this paper, an experimental study program is performed by frustum-confined vessel (FCV) to investigate bearing capacity of model helical piles and also postgrouted cases’ performance. FCV has been used because of its linear distribution of vertical and horizontal stresses from zero at top to maximum at bottom which simulates real field stress conditions. Through experimental study, small-scale helical model piles were made of 4-mm-thick steel plate and have been used with a length of 750?mm. The shaft and helix diameters of model piles have been 32 and 89?mm, respectively. So, the helix-to-shaft ratio (wing ratio) was about 2.8. The helical model piles installed in fine-grained sand as a surrounding soil and then axial loading tests before and after grouting were performed to achieve ultimate pile capacity. Results indicated postgrouting can improve both ratios of toe and frictional soil–pile interactions including upgrading β and N_t factors. In addition, the post grouting phenomena can change the pile geometry due to treated soil bond, resulting better functioning. Therefore, it is a proper method to improve helical piles performance and compensate installation effects in capacity mobilization.     

海上复杂地质条件下大直径钢管桩时效性试验研究

通过对3根海上复杂地质条件下的大直径钢管桩采取高应变初打与不同休止时间复打相结合的试验方法,得到不同休止时间钢管桩承载力、侧阻力及端阻力大小,以此对不同桩侧土及持力层对钢管桩时效性的影响进行了研究。研究结果表明:1)钢管桩承载力时效性现象明显,且随时间增长迅速; 2)钢管桩侧阻力的恢复系数远大于端阻力; 3)桩侧黏性土强度的恢复是钢管桩侧阻力增加的主要原因; 4)砂土层虽提供的侧阻力较大,但其对侧阻力增长的贡献不如黏性土; 5)持力层越硬,端阻力与承载力的恢复性越差。     

Neural Network Model for Predicting the Resistance of Driven Piles

Although numerous investigations have been performed over the years to predict the behavior and resistance of piles, the mechanisms are not yet entirely understood. Predicting pile resistance is a difficult task because there are a large number of parameters affecting the capacity that have complex relationships with each other. It is extremely difficult to develop appropriate relationships between various essential parameters, including the soil condition, pile type, driving condition, time effect, and others. This paper describes the application of an artificial neural network (ANN) to predict the resistance of driven piles in dynamic load tests. The training and testing of the ANN were based on 165 data points for driven piles at various construction sites in Korea. Predictions on the tip, shaft, and total pile resistance were made for piles with available corresponding measurements of such values. The effect of the essential parameters on the pile resistance values was investigated through parametric analysis using ANN modeling. The results of this study indicate that the ANN model serves as a reliable and simple predictive tool to appropriately consider various essential parameters for predicting the resistance of driven piles.     

Field and Theoretical Study of the Response of Super-Long Bored Pile Subjected to Compressive Load

In this article, two full-scale pile loading tests were conducted to observe the field performance of the super-long bored piles, and a simplified approach for nonlinear analysis of the load-displacement behavior of a single pile was presented. The field tests on piles indicates that, under the maximum test load, more than 70% of the pile top settlement is caused by the compression of pile shaft. For practical purposes, the pile top settlement can be reduced through improving the pile shaft strength. When the load reaches the maximum test load, the proportion of the load carried by the pile tip is approximately 30%. The super-long pile is functioning as an end-bearing friction pile. The skin friction at shallow depth is fully mobilized and decreases from a peak value with increasing load. However, the skin friction of deeper soil is not fully developed due to less relative displacement. Furthermore, a BoxLucas1 model is used to capture the relationship between unit skin friction and pile-soil relative displacement, whereas a hyperbolic model is used to describe the relationship between toe stress and pile base displacement. Based on the BoxLucas1 model and the hyperbolic model, a load transfer method is used to clarify the response of a single pile, and a computational flow chart is developed. The efficiency and accuracy of the present method is verified using the field tests on piles. The proposed simple analytical approach is economical and efficient, resulting in savings in time and cost.     

软黏土中成桩工艺对HSCM桩抗压承载性能影响的模型试验研究

螺旋桩芯劲性复合桩（helix stiffened cement mixing pile,简称HSCM桩）是一种新型复合桩,其成桩工艺会对桩身及其承载性能有较大影响。为验证HSCM桩在软黏土中同步旋进注浆工艺的可行性,并研究其成桩参数对抗压承载性能的影响,设计了2组缩尺模型试验,包括不同叶片数量与钻进速度的HSCM桩与对比螺旋桩。通过在高岭土制备的软黏土中成桩,并进行抗压承载性能及桩身几何尺寸测试,分析HSCM桩的成桩参数与水泥土桩身间的关系。试验结果表明：同步旋进注浆工艺能够在螺旋桩周围形成倒圆台状的水泥土桩身,水泥土桩身的平均黏结直径约为叶片直径的1.17～1.35倍;适当增加叶片数量能够使水泥与土体充分拌和,提高水泥土桩身的完整性与连续性,以改善HSCM桩的成桩质量;钻进速度大幅提高会导致注浆量不足,减小水泥土桩身的黏结直径与刚度;试验条件下HSCM桩的抗压极限承载力是螺旋桩的3.83～3.93倍,桩径扩大提高了侧摩阻力,注浆工艺加固并提高了土体强度,弥补了叶片在旋进过程中扰动土体造成强度降低的问题。     

Axial compressive bearing capacity of piles in ‎oil-contaminated sandy soil using FCV

ABSTRACT

Oil and its derivatives contaminate many soils and not only affect their chemical and biological properties but also their geotechnical properties. As oil contamination may deteriorate the functioning of piles, this paper addresses the effects of oil contamination on soil–pile interactions. Axial compressive bearing capacities of two close-ended, instrumented piles were investigated in different oil-contaminated sand using frustum confining vessel. Three different oils (gasoil, crude oil, and used motor oil) at different contamination levels were considered and using some strain gauges, the toe, shaft, and the net total bearing capacity of piles, as well as load distributions along the pile length, were derived. The results show that the presence of oil between soil particles has considerable adverse effects on bearing capacities of model piles, especially the shaft bearing capacity. The oil viscosity and percentage, as well as the contaminated sand bed thickness around the piles, are the most influential parameters. The higher the oil viscosity and oil content, the lower the values of the piles’ bearing capacities in comparison to the uncontaminated sand. With some modifications on the bearing capacity parameters of CFEM method, a good agreement was observed between measured and calculated bearing capacity values.     

端承型桩承载力离心模型试验中的粒径效应研究

利用modeling of models的方法研究端承型桩承载力离心模型试验中的粒径效应。在模拟同一原型时,不同桩径的模型桩,桩身压缩性及桩长均不同,导致侧摩阻力发挥机理及程度不同,本文分别探讨了桩端阻力,侧摩阻力及承载力(桩顶荷载)的粒径效应对承载机理和承载特性的影响。结果表明,桩端阻力的粒径效应作用规律与浅基础一致,可以借用浅基础的粒径效应定量评价方法评价端承桩承载力离心模型试验中的粒径效应。侧摩阻力的粒径效应比桩端阻力的粒径效应显著。由于侧摩阻力的影响,相同条件下承载力的粒径效应比桩端阻力有所增强。对于极限桩端阻力和极限承载力,粒径效应均随长径比的增加而减弱。     

Premature refusal of large-diameter,deep-penetration piles on an offshore platform

Open-ended pipe piles are commonly driven into the seabed to support offshore platforms. This paper presents a case of practical offshore driven pile installation experiences associating with premature refusal. Pile drivability and capacity are analyzed using sufficient driving records. Dynamic loading tests were performed three months after the driving in order to determine the pile capacity after refusal. The test results are detailed in this paper compared with back analysis of measured pile driving records. Empirical equations are provided to predict soil resistance during driving and after setup according to the driving records and dynamic loading tests. Analyzing this practical engineering case is hoped to lead to a better understanding of pile driving, especially when premature refusal occurs. The sufficient details of the engineering data in this paper are also expected to enrich the engineering experience and literature of offshore piles in offshore engineering.     

Flexural performances of prestressed high strength concrete piles reinforced with hybrid GFRP and steel bars

Abstract

This study developed prestressed high-strength concrete (PHC) piles reinforced with high-strength materials (glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars) for flexural performance enhancement. Flexural strengths and behaviors of PHC piles reinforced with hybrid GFRP and steel bars were experimentally investigated, respectively. Large-scale specimens with total lengths of 12,000?mm and diameters of 600?mm were constructed and tested under bending, accompanied by evaluation of effects of non-prestressed reinforcement type and longitudinal reinforcement ratio. J-factors were calculated to evaluate deformability of all the specimens. PHC piles reinforced with GFRP bars were demonstrated to have much higher flexural capacity than those reinforced with steel bars. Moreover, strains at the midspans of cross sections of all the specimens basically conformed to the assumption of plane section. Failure of PHC piles reinforced with GFRP bars was attributable to gradual concrete crushing, while that of PHC piles reinforced with steel bars resulted from steel yielding. Results of this study were expected to provide theoretical basis for wide engineering applications of PHC piles reinforced with hybrid GFRP bars and steel bars in marine structures.     

Bearing Behavior of Cast-in-Place Expansive Concrete Pile in Coral Sand Under Vertical Loading

The low side friction of piles in coral sand results in the low bearing capacity of foundations. In this paper, expansive concrete pile is utilized to improve the bearing capacity of pile foundations in coral sand. Both model tests and numerical simulation are performed to reveal the bearing mechanism of expansive concrete pile in coral sand.Results showed that the lateral earth pressure near pile increases obviously and the side friction of piles is improved,after adding expansion agent to the concrete. The horizontal linear expansion is 1.11% and the bearing capacity increased 41% for the pile, when 25% expansion agent is added. Results in finite element numerical simulation also show that ultimate bearing capacity increases with the increase of the linear expansion ratio. Besides, the area for obvious increase in side friction is below the surface of soil about three times the pile diameter, and the expansion leads to a high side friction sharing of the pile. Therefore, the cast-in-place expansive concrete pile is effective in improving the bearing capacity of piles in coral sand.     

Field Study on the Behavior of Destructive and Non-Destructive Piles Under Compression

This paper presents a series of full-scale load tests on long bored piles instrumented with strain gauges along the shafts, including eight field tests of piles loaded to failure and one non-destructive pile load test. The load-displacement response, skin friction, end resistance, and the threshold of the pile-soil relative displacement for fully mobilizing skin resistance were discussed. A simple softening model was proposed to describe the degradation behavior of the skin friction along the pile-soil interface and the load-displacement relationship developed at the pile base. It is found that the shaft resistance degradation investigated in the non-destructive load test only occurs at a shallow depth, and the skin friction of deeper soil is not fully developed. However, unlike the results of the non-destructive load tests, the softening is accompanied by a reduction in skin friction and observed to be along the whole pile depth. The thresholds of pile-soil relative displacement for fully mobilizing skin resistances in different soils have been found to be in the range 0.6% to 2.4% of the pile diameter. Moreover, in practical applications, a bilinear model is assumed to be feasible in analyzing the load-settlement relationship developed at the end of non-destructive pile, whereas the load transmission curve of the soils below the pile base corresponds to a softening model in the field tests of piles loaded to failure.     

大直径钢管桩水平静载试验内力变形测试及分析

为解决在钢管桩水平静载试验中更加高效、安全和准确进行桩身内力变形测试和分析的问题,文章针对打入钢管桩中的应变传感器和测斜管分别提出实用且可靠的安装、保护和测试方法;将该方法应用于西非某码头工程,在大直径钢管桩水平静载试验中进行应力和变形测试。研究结果表明,该安装和保护方法实用且可靠,可保证水平试验过程中钢管桩的内力变形情况得到如实测试和记录,对研究分析大直径钢管桩受水平荷载时桩身弯矩和水平位移的变化情况意义重大,可为类似项目的设计和施工提供参考。     

A CPT-based model to predict the installation torque of helical piles in sand

Helical piles present a possible alternative to driven displacement piles in the offshore sector. While this type of pile is used widely in the onshore environment, design methods tend to be highly empirical and there is considerable uncertainty around the bearing resistance and the installation resistance required to install large diameter piles necessary to resist uplift. The paper combines a theoretical model for estimating torque resistance from the literature with a cone penetration test (CPT)-based model originally developed to estimate the axial resistance of helical piles and to predict the installation torque required to install piles in sand. The model appears to be able to capture the general installation behavior of piles across a range of scales and in various sand states.     

珊瑚礁地质大直径钢管打入桩承载特性研究

马尔代夫中马友谊大桥采用钻孔灌注桩基础,主墩基础施工过程中,将35根大直径钢护筒施沉至中等—强胶结礁灰岩地层,作为钻孔平台的临时桩基础。以主墩大直径钢护筒沉桩记录为依据,并结合高应变动力检测方法,对珊瑚礁地质大直径打入桩的承载性能进行研究。研究结果表明:1)以钙质砂为主的覆盖层侧阻力较小; 2)礁灰岩侧阻力随胶结程度的增加而增大; 3)中等—强胶结礁灰岩可以作为打入桩的持力层,端阻力约占总承载力的70%; 4)打入桩的承载力恢复系数较小,仅为1.1。     

A new look at the phenomenon of offshore pile plugging

Abstract

Open‐pipe piles are widely used for offshore structures. During the initial stage of installation, soil enters the pile at a rate equal to the pile penetration. As penetration continues, the inner soil cylinder may develop sufficient frictional resistance to prevent further soil intrusion, causing the pile to become plugged. The open‐ended pile then assumes the penetration characteristics of a closed‐ended pile. The mode of pile penetration significantly alters the soil‐pile interaction during and after installation. This affects the ultimate static bearing capacity (mainly in granular materials), the time‐dependent pile capacity (in clays), and the dynamic behavior and analysis of the piles.

Following a summary demonstrating the effects of pile plugging, a review of the common view of offshore pile plugging is undertaken. The interpretation of plugging by referring to the average plug length has led to the erroneous conclusion that in most piles significant plugging action does not occur.

Establishment of an analogy between soil samplers and open‐ended piles enabled correct identification of plugging by referring to the incremental changes in plug length. Examination of case histories of plugging of offshore piles revealed that beyond a certain penetration depth‐to‐diameter ratio, most piles are plugged.