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.