Assessment of direct CPT and CPTU methods for predicting the ultimate bearing capacity of single piles

Twelve methods to determine axial pile capacity directly based on cone penetration test (CPT) and piezocone penetration test (CPTU) data are presented, compared and evaluated. Analyses and evaluation were conducted on three types of piles of different size and length. All the tested piles have failed at the end of static load test. Both the CPT methods and the CPTU methods were used to estimate the load bearing capacities of the investigated piles (Q_p). The static load test was performed to determine the measured load bearing capacities (Q_m). The pile capacities determined through different methods were compared with the measured values obtained from the static load tests. Two criteria were selected as bases of evaluation: the best fit line for Q_p versus Q_m and the arithmetic mean and standard deviation for the ratio Q_p/Q_m. Results of the analyses showed that the best methods for determining pile capacity are the two CPTU methods. Furthermore, the CPTU method is simple, easy to apply, and not influenced by the subjective judgements of operating staff. Therefore, it is quite suitable for the application in pile engineering practice.     

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.

     

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.     

Development of analytical models to estimate the increase in pile capacity with time (pile setup) from soil properties

This paper presents the analyses of twelve prestressed concrete (PSC) instrumented test piles that were driven in different bridge construction projects of Louisiana in order to develop analytical models to estimate the increase in pile capacity with time or pile setup. The twelve test piles were driven mainly in cohesive soils. Detailed soil characterizations including laboratory and in situ tests were conducted to determine the different soil properties. The test piles were instrumented with vibrating wire strain gauges, piezometers, pressure cells that were monitored during the whole testing period. Several static load tests (SLTs) and dynamic load tests were conducted on each test pile at different times after end of driving (EOD) to quantify the magnitude and rate of setup. Measurements of load tests confirmed that pile capacity increases almost linearly with the logarithm of time elapsed after EOD. Case pile wave analysis program was performed on the restrikes data and was used along with the load distribution plots from the SLTs to evaluate the increase in skin friction capacity of individual soil layers along the length of the piles. The logarithmic linear setup parameter “A” for unit skin friction was calculated of the 70 individual clayey soil layers and was correlated with different soil properties such as undrained shear strength (S_u), plasticity index, vertical coefficient of consolidation (c_v), over consolidation ratio and sensitivity (S_t). Nonlinear multivariable regression analyses were performed, and three different empirical models are proposed to predict the pile setup parameter “A” as a function of soil properties. For verification, the subsurface soil conditions and setup information for additional 18 PSC piles collected from local database were used to compare the measured versus predicted “A” parameters from the proposed models, which showed good agreement.

     

瞬态面波预测单桩承载力模型研究

总结了现有单桩竖向承载力检测技术存在的一些问题,结合实例提出了一种预测单桩承载力的间接方法———瞬态面波法。剪切波速与标贯击数之间也存在着相关关系,通过标贯击数建立起剪切波速与桩侧摩阻力及桩端阻力的相关模型,应用瞬态面波测试技术可快速检测桩周土剪切波速,确定单桩承载力。     

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.     

双层高岭黏土中沉桩特性模型试验

为了揭示黏土中静压沉桩的宏观力学特性,采用西澳大学的梁式离心机压桩系统,通过在双层高岭黏土中进行一系列1g重力场情况下的T-bar触探测试试验、静压沉桩试验、桩拉伸试验和压缩试验,对比分析了T-bar分别在均质软质黏土和双层黏土中随贯入深度变化测得的不排水剪切强度的特性;研究了桩体在贯入过程中沉桩阻力、桩端阻力以及桩侧摩阻力的发展规律;并对桩身径向总应力在沉桩过程中的变化规律进行了探讨;此外,还揭示了不同桩型沉桩终压力与桩承载力之间的关系。结果表明：在黏土中沉桩时,桩侧摩阻力在整个沉桩阻力中发挥主要的作用;对于同一土层而言,当桩超过土层分界面以下2D（D为桩径）范围后,桩端阻力并不受相邻土层性质的影响;随着压桩后时间的推移,桩侧摩阻力对承载力的时效影响较桩端阻力大。     

考虑桩底沉渣的随钻跟管桩竖向承载特性模型试验研究

随钻跟管桩施工不能完全清除桩底岩土沉渣,从而影响桩基端承力。为揭示桩底沉渣对随钻跟管桩承载力的影响机制,开展了考虑桩底沉渣影响的随钻跟管桩竖向承载特性模型试验研究。试验结果表明:在密砂地层中,具有桩端水泥土扩大头的随钻跟管桩,其桩顶荷载-沉降曲线为缓降型,而模拟试验的其他管桩均为陡降型;桩底沉渣降低随钻跟管桩的极限承载力在22%以内,且其桩顶荷载主要由桩侧摩阻力承担,承担占比超过90%;与存在一定厚度沉渣的钻孔灌注桩相比,随钻跟管桩的桩底沉渣对降低承载力的影响相对较小;靠近桩端的轴力随着沉渣厚度的增加而减小,沉渣越厚,减少的幅度越明显;桩端水泥土扩大头施工可提高随钻跟管桩约37%的承载力,且桩端阻比均小于15%。现场原位测试(桩长为15.5 m,长径比为15.50)和室内模型试验(桩长为1 m,长径比为15.87)结果均表明:存在桩底沉渣时,随钻跟管桩是以发挥侧摩阻力为主的端承摩擦型桩。研究成果有助于进一步加深对随钻跟管桩承载性状的认识。     

Load–settlement behavior of rock-socketed drilled shafts using Osterberg-Cell tests

Osterberg-Cell (O-Cell) tests are widely used to predict the load–settlement behavior of large-diameter drilled shafts socketed in rock. The loading direction of O-Cell tests for shaft resistance is opposite to that of conventional downward load tests, meaning that the equivalent top load–settlement curve determined by the summation of the mobilized shaft resistance and end bearing at the same deflection neglects the pile-toe settlement caused by the load transmitted along the pile shaft. The emphasis is on quantifying the effect of coupled shaft resistance, which is closely related to the ratios of pile diameter to soil modulus (D/E_s) and total shaft resistance to total applied load (R_s/Q) in rock-socketed drilled shafts, using the coupled load-transfer method. The proposed analytical method, which takes into account the effect of coupled shaft resistance, was developed using a modified Mindlin’s point load solution. Through comparisons with field case studies, it was found that the proposed method reasonably estimated the load-transfer behavior of piles and coupling effects due to the transfer of shaft shear loading. These results represent a significant improvement in the prediction of load–settlement behaviors of drilled shafts subjected to bi-directional loading from the O-Cell test.     

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.

     

静压管桩桩-土作用机制及其竖向承载力确定方法

为深入研究静压管桩桩土的作用机制及其竖向承载力的确定方法,以长春地区建筑工程使用的静压管桩为例,采用数值模拟方法和桩的载荷试验,分析了桩对桩周土的挤压作用以及桩端阻力变化规律。结果表明：桩被压入土体过程中,主要受到桩侧摩阻力和桩端阻力的作用,并造成桩周及桩端附近土体受到挤压而变形;随着桩入土深度的增加,桩顶荷载逐渐增大,而且桩径越大,相应深度的桩顶荷载就越大;同时,随着桩入土深度的增加,桩端阻力在单桩竖向承载力中的比例有规律地下降。根据桩端阻力在单桩承载力中所占比例与入土深度的关系,提出了静压管桩单桩承载力特征值的计算方法;对比建议公式和经验公式计算结果,其比值为0.57~1.26,两者结果接近。因此,文中所提出的单桩承载力特征值的确定方法是可行的。     

Numerical study of the 3D failure envelope of a single pile in sand

The paper presents a comprehensive study of the failure envelope (or capacity diagram) of a single elastic pile in sand. The behavior of a pile subjected to different load combinations is simulated using a large number of finite element numerical calculations. The sand is modeled using a constitutive law based on hypoplasticity. In order to find the failure envelope in the three-dimensional space (i.e. horizontal force H, bending moment M and vertical force V), the radial displacement method and swipe tests are numerically performed. It is found that with increasing vertical load the horizontal bearing capacity of the pile decreases. Furthermore, the presence of bending moment on the pile head significantly influences the horizontal bearing capacity and the capacity diagram in the H–M plane manifests an inclined elliptical shape. An analytical equation providing good agreement with the 3D numerical results is finally proposed. The formula is useful for design purposes and the development of simplified modeling numerical strategies such as macro-element.     

桩端后注浆对单桩承载性状的作用效应研究

以桩的长径比l/d、桩间距与桩径之比s/d、注浆加固体厚度h为因素,以单桩极限承载力Qu与某一荷载下的桩顶沉降Sp为评价指标,设计L9(34)正交试验方案,采用有限元法进行了桩端后注浆对单桩承载性状的作用效应研究,得出各因素作用效应的重要性次序和作用规律。研究表明,无论对桩基承载力还是对桩基沉降,桩间距与桩径之比都是最重要的影响因素,s/d较大时采用桩端后注浆来提高桩基承载力,减小桩基沉降,效果更显著;桩端后注浆使桩的端阻增大,承载性状改变,由摩擦桩逐渐过度为端承摩擦桩、摩擦端承桩或端承桩。     

Interpretation of load tests on bored piles in the city of Matera

This paper briefly reviews several calculation methods to evaluate the bearing capacity expressed in terms of undrained strength (c_u) of piles bored in clay for their entire length and of piles whose tip is embedded into weak rock. The scope of the paper is to compare the results obtained with those from full-scale pile tests. These tests were carried out within the city of Matera which is well studied from a geotechnical point of view and for which there are statistically significant data on the geomechanical properties of the Subapennine Blue clays and the underlying Gravina Calcarenites. This represents the first attempt to show, on the basis of laboratory and field data, the influence of variability of the above mentioned soils and rocks on the real behaviour of deep foundations.For piles completely bored into Matera clay, the calculation in terms of total stress are able to interpret sufficiently well the bearing capacity of the piles. For piles having their toe embedded in calcarenite, the variability of the strength of the weak rock presents greater uncertainties in the calculation of base and soft resistance.     

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.     

钻孔压浆桩的承载特点及单桩承载力的评价

钻孔压浆桩是一种新型端承-摩擦灌注桩,其承载能力要明显高于其他钻孔灌注桩。根据与相近场地条件钻孔灌注桩的实际测桩结果所作的对比分析,钻孔压浆桩可以形成较高的侧摩阻力,在极限荷载中,侧摩阻力的构成比达65%~75%。      

End bearing capacity comparison of screw pile with straight pipe pile under similar ground conditions

In the present study, the end bearing capacity of screw and straight pipe pile under similar pile tip area and ground conditions were investigated. The effect of increasing overburden pressure was also considered in this research. Pile load tests on close-ended screw and straight pipe piles were conducted in the small scale. Dry Toyoura sand was used to develop the model ground. The sand was compacted at relative density of 70, 80 and 92 %. It was observed that in case of straight pipe pile, load settlement curve plunges downward without increase in load around settlement equals to 10 % of pile tip diameter, whereas in case of screw pile, the load settlement curve plunges around settlement equals to 15 % of pile tip diameter. Moreover, the screw piles having helix-to-shaft diameter ratio 2–4.1 showed 2–12 times higher end bearing capacity than straight pipe piles with similar pile shaft diameter. It was also observed from the test results that the end bearing capacity of single-helix screw pile was in average 16.25 % less than straight pipe pile with similar pile tip area and ground conditions irrespective of the effect of increasing overburden pressure.     

轴向荷载对斜桩水平承载特性影响试验及理论研究

斜群桩受水平荷载作用时,群桩中的基桩受到径向荷载、轴向荷载和弯矩的共同作用。为研究轴向荷载对斜桩水平承载特性的影响,完成了3根单桩以及1组1×2斜桩的大尺寸模型试验。试验结果表明：轴向拉力作用会降低斜桩的水平刚度和极限承载力;而轴向压力作用则会使其水平刚度和极限承载力提高。基于桩侧浅层土体楔形破坏假定,推导了考虑轴向荷载影响的斜桩水平极限土抗力计算公式,提出了桩侧土抗力的p-y曲线方法,并通过模型试验及现场试验验证其合理性。     

软土地区扩孔灌浆预制管桩承载力研究

对软土地区的管桩竖向承载力试验成果进行了统计分析,研究表明：逾70%的管桩实际采用的竖向承载力不足管桩桩身强度的50%,未能充分发挥管桩桩身材料具有较高强度的优势。开发了适用于软土地区的扩孔灌浆管桩专利技术,通过在桩端设置尺寸大于桩身外径的端板,实现沉桩的同时在桩周形成大于桩身外径的空间,并利用管桩余浆等胶凝材料在此空间进行注浆形成扩孔灌浆管桩。对13根试验桩进行竖向抗压、抗拔和抗水平力足尺试验,表明该工艺可显著提高管桩桩端和桩侧土的阻力,以提高管桩的竖向承载力和抗侧移刚度,并在某重点工程中进行了应用,取得较好的社会经济效益