NPTEL – ADVANCED FOUNDATION ENGINEERING-I

Module 8
Lecture 34
PILE FOUNDATIONS
Topics

1.1 ULTIMATE CAPACITY OF GROUP

1.2 PILES IN SATURATED CLAY

1.3 PILES IN ROCK

1.4 CONSOLIDATION SETTLEMENT OF GROUP PILES

1.5 ELASTIC SETTLEMENT OF GROUP PILES

1.6 UPLIFT CAPACITY OF GROUP PILES

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ULTIMATE CAPACITY OF GROUP

PILES IN SATURATED CLAY

Figure 8.57 shows a group pile in saturated clay. Referring to this figure 8., the ultimate
load-bearing capacity of group piles can be estimated in the following manner:

Figure 8.57 Ultimate capacity of group piles in clay

1. Determine 𝛴𝛴 𝑄𝑄𝑢𝑢 = 𝑛𝑛1 𝑛𝑛2 (𝑄𝑄𝑝𝑝 + 𝑄𝑄𝑠𝑠 ). From equation (19), 𝑄𝑄𝑝𝑝 = 𝐴𝐴𝑝𝑝 [9𝑐𝑐𝑢𝑢(𝑝𝑝) ]

Where

𝑐𝑐𝑢𝑢(𝑝𝑝) = 𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑡𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑒 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 𝑡𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑒 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝 𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡
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Also, from equation (48),

𝑄𝑄𝑠𝑠 = 𝛴𝛴 𝛼𝛼𝛼𝛼𝑐𝑐𝑢𝑢 ∆𝐿𝐿

So
𝛴𝛴 𝑄𝑄𝑢𝑢 = 𝑛𝑛1 𝑛𝑛2 [9𝐴𝐴𝑝𝑝 𝑐𝑐𝑢𝑢(𝑝𝑝) + 𝛴𝛴 𝛼𝛼𝛼𝛼𝑐𝑐𝑢𝑢 𝛥𝛥𝛥𝛥] [8.130]

2. Determine the ultimate capacity by assuming that the pile in the group act as a
block with dimensions of 𝐿𝐿𝑔𝑔 × 𝐵𝐵𝑔𝑔 × 𝐿𝐿. The skin resistance of the block is

𝛴𝛴 𝑝𝑝𝑔𝑔 𝑐𝑐𝑢𝑢 𝛥𝛥𝛥𝛥 = 𝛴𝛴 2�𝐿𝐿𝑔𝑔 + 𝐵𝐵𝑔𝑔 �𝑐𝑐𝑢𝑢 𝛥𝛥𝛥𝛥

Calculate the point bearing capacity:

𝐴𝐴𝑝𝑝 𝑞𝑞𝑝𝑝 = 𝐴𝐴𝑝𝑝 𝑐𝑐𝑢𝑢(𝑝𝑝) 𝑁𝑁𝑐𝑐∗ = (𝐿𝐿𝑔𝑔 𝐵𝐵𝑔𝑔 )𝑐𝑐𝑢𝑢(𝑝𝑝) 𝑁𝑁𝑐𝑐∗

Obtain the value of the bearing capacity factor, 𝑁𝑁𝑐𝑐∗ , from figure 8. 58. Thus the
ultimate load is

𝛴𝛴 𝑄𝑄𝑢𝑢 = �𝐿𝐿𝑔𝑔 𝐵𝐵𝑔𝑔 �𝑐𝑐𝑢𝑢(𝑝𝑝) 𝑁𝑁𝑐𝑐∗ + 𝛴𝛴 2�𝐿𝐿𝑔𝑔 + 𝐵𝐵𝑔𝑔 �𝑐𝑐𝑢𝑢 𝛥𝛥𝛥𝛥 [8.131]

3. Compare the values obtained from equations (130 and 131). The lower to the two
values is 𝑄𝑄𝑔𝑔(𝑢𝑢) .

Figure 8.58 Variation of 𝑁𝑁𝑐𝑐∗ 𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤ℎ 𝐿𝐿𝑔𝑔 /𝐵𝐵𝑔𝑔 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 𝐿𝐿/𝐵𝐵𝑔𝑔

PILES IN ROCK

For point bearing piles resting on rock, most building codes specify that 𝑄𝑄𝑔𝑔(𝑢𝑢) = 𝛴𝛴 𝑄𝑄𝑢𝑢 ,
provided that the minimum center-to-center spacing of piles is 𝐷𝐷 + 300 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚. For H-piles
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and piles with square cross section, the magnitude of D is equal to the diagonals
dimensions if the pile cross section.

Example 14

The section of a 3 × 4 group pile in layered saturated clay is shown in figure 8. 59. The
piles are square in cross section (14 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖.× 14 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖. ). The center-to-center spacing, d, of the
piles n 35 in. determine the allowable load-bearing capacity of the pile group. Use
𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹 = 4.

Figure 8.59

Solution

𝛴𝛴 𝑄𝑄𝑢𝑢 = 𝑛𝑛1 𝑛𝑛2 [9𝐴𝐴𝑝𝑝 𝑐𝑐𝑢𝑢(𝑝𝑝) + 𝛼𝛼1 𝑝𝑝𝑐𝑐𝑢𝑢(1) 𝐿𝐿1 + 𝛼𝛼2 𝑝𝑝𝑐𝑐𝑢𝑢(2) 𝐿𝐿2 ]

From figure 8. 22, 𝑐𝑐𝑢𝑢(1) = 1050 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙/𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 2 ; 𝛼𝛼1 = 0.86 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 𝑐𝑐𝑢𝑢(2) = 1775 𝑙𝑙𝑏𝑏/𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 2 ; 𝛼𝛼2 = 0.6.

(3)(4) 14 2 14
𝛴𝛴 𝑄𝑄𝑢𝑢 = �(9) �12 � (1775) + (0.86) �4 × 12 � (1050)(15) + (0.6) �4 ×
1000
14
12
� (1775)(45) = 3703 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘�

For piles acting as a group,

𝐿𝐿𝑔𝑔 = (3)(35) + 14 = 119 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖. = 9.92 𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓

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𝐵𝐵𝑔𝑔 = (2)(35) + 14 = 84 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖. = 7 𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓

𝐿𝐿𝑔𝑔 9.92
= = 1.42
𝐵𝐵𝑔𝑔 7

𝐿𝐿 60
= = 8.57
𝐵𝐵𝑔𝑔 7

From figure 8. 58, 𝑁𝑁𝑐𝑐∗ = 8.75. From equation (131)

𝛴𝛴 𝑄𝑄𝑢𝑢 = 𝐿𝐿𝑔𝑔 𝐵𝐵𝑔𝑔 𝑐𝑐𝑢𝑢(𝑝𝑝) 𝑁𝑁𝑐𝑐∗ + 𝛴𝛴 2�𝐿𝐿𝑔𝑔 + 𝐵𝐵𝑔𝑔 �𝑐𝑐𝑢𝑢 𝛥𝛥𝛥𝛥

= (9.92)(7)(1775)(8.75) + (2)(9.92 + 7)[(1050)(15) + (1775)(45)] = 4313 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘

Hence, 𝛴𝛴 𝑄𝑄𝑢𝑢 = 3703 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘.

3703 3703
𝛴𝛴 𝑄𝑄𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 = = ≈ 926 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘
𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹 4

CONSOLIDATION SETTLEMENT OF GROUP PILES

The consolidation settlement of a group pile in clay can be approximately estimated by

using the 2:1 stress distribution method. The procedure of calculation involves the
following steps (refer to figure 8.60):

Figure 8.60 Consolidation settlement of group piles

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1. Let the depth of embedment of the piles be L. the group is subjected to a total load
of 𝑄𝑄𝑔𝑔 . If the pile cap is below the original ground surface, 𝑄𝑄𝑔𝑔 equals the total load
of the superstructure on the piles minus the effective weight of soil above the pile
group removed by excavation.
2. Assume that the load 𝑄𝑄𝑔𝑔 is transmitted to the soil beginning at a depth of 2L/3
from the top of the pile, as shown in figure 8. 60. The load 𝑄𝑄𝑔𝑔 spreads out along 2
vertical: 1 horizontal line from this depth. Lines 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎′ 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏′ are two 2:1 lines.
3. Calculate the stress increase caused at the middle of each soil layer by the load
𝑄𝑄𝑔𝑔 :

𝑄𝑄𝑔𝑔
∆𝑝𝑝𝑖𝑖 = �𝐵𝐵 [8.132]
𝑔𝑔 +𝑧𝑧 𝑖𝑖 �(𝐿𝐿𝑔𝑔 +𝑧𝑧 𝑖𝑖 )

Where

∆𝑝𝑝𝑖𝑖 = 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 𝑡𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑒 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 𝑖𝑖

𝐿𝐿𝑔𝑔 , 𝐵𝐵𝑔𝑔 = 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙ℎ 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤ℎ 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑡𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑒 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝 𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔, 𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟
𝑧𝑧𝑖𝑖 = 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 𝑧𝑧 = 0 𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝑡𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑒 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑡𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑒 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙, 𝑖𝑖

For example, in figure 8. 60 for layer 2, 𝑧𝑧𝑖𝑖 = 𝐿𝐿1 /2; for layer 3, 𝑧𝑧𝑖𝑖 = 𝐿𝐿1 + 𝐿𝐿2 /2; and for
layer 4, 𝑧𝑧𝑖𝑖 = 𝐿𝐿1 + 𝐿𝐿2 + 𝐿𝐿3 /2. Note, however, that there will be no stress increase in clay
layer 1 because it is above the horizontal plane (𝑧𝑧 = 0) from which the stress distribution
to the soil starts.

4. Calculate the settlement of each layer caused by the increased stress:

∆𝑒𝑒
∆ 𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑖 = �1+𝑒𝑒(𝑖𝑖) � 𝐻𝐻𝑖𝑖 [8.133]
𝑜𝑜 (𝑖𝑖)

Where

∆𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑖 = 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 𝑖𝑖

∆𝑒𝑒(𝑖𝑖) = 𝑐𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣 𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏 𝑡𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑒 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 𝑖𝑖
𝑒𝑒𝑜𝑜 = 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣 𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 𝑖𝑖 (𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐)
𝐻𝐻𝑖𝑖 = 𝑡𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 𝑖𝑖 (𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁: 𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼 𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 60, 𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 2
𝐻𝐻𝑖𝑖 = 𝐿𝐿1 ; 𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 3, 𝐻𝐻𝑖𝑖 = 𝐿𝐿2 ; 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 4, 𝐻𝐻𝑖𝑖 = 𝐿𝐿3 ).

Relations for ∆𝑒𝑒(𝑖𝑖) are given in chapter 1.

5. Total consolidation settlement of the pile group is then

∆ 𝑠𝑠𝑔𝑔 = 𝛴𝛴 𝛥𝛥 𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑖 [8.134]

Note that consolidation settlement of piles may be initiated by fills placed nearby,
adjacent floor loads, and lowering of water tables.
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Example 15

A group pile in clay is shown in figure 8.61. Determine the consolidation settlement of
the pile groups. All clays are normally consolidated.

Figure 8. 61

Solution

The stress distribution pattern is shown in figure 8.61. Hence

𝑄𝑄𝑔𝑔 (500)(1000 )
𝛥𝛥 𝑝𝑝(1) = �𝐿𝐿 = 21 21 = 1554 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙/𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 2
𝑔𝑔 +𝑧𝑧1 ��𝐵𝐵𝑔𝑔 +𝑧𝑧1 � �9+ ��6+ �
2 2

(500)(1000 )
𝛥𝛥 𝑝𝑝(2) = (9+27)(6+27) = 421 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙/𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 2

(500)(1000 )
𝛥𝛥 𝑝𝑝(3) = (9+36)(6+36) = 265 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙/𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 2

𝐶𝐶𝑐𝑐(1) 𝐻𝐻1 𝑝𝑝 𝑜𝑜 (1) +𝛥𝛥𝑝𝑝 (1)

𝛥𝛥 𝑠𝑠1 = 1+𝑒𝑒 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 � �
𝑜𝑜 (1) 𝑝𝑝 𝑜𝑜 (1)
NPTEL – ADVANCED FOUNDATION ENGINEERING-I

21
𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑜(1) = (6)(105) + �27 + � (115 − 62.4) = 2603 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙/𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 2
2

(0.3)(21) 2603 +1554

𝛥𝛥 𝑠𝑠1 = 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 � � = 0.703 𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 = 8.45 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖.
1+0.82 2603

𝐶𝐶𝑐𝑐(2) 𝐻𝐻2 𝑝𝑝 𝑜𝑜 (2) +𝛥𝛥𝑝𝑝 (2)

𝛥𝛥 𝑠𝑠2 = 1+𝑒𝑒 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 � �
𝑜𝑜 (2) 𝑝𝑝 𝑜𝑜 (2)

𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑜(2) = (6)(105) + (27 + 21)(115 − 62.4) + (6)(120 − 62.4) = 3500 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙/𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 2

(0.2)(12) 3500 +421

𝛥𝛥 𝑠𝑠2 = 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 � � = 0.07 𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 = 0.84 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖.
1+0.7 3500

𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑜(3) = (6)(105) + (48)(115 − 62.4) + (12)(120 − 62.4) + (3)(122 − 62.4) =

4025 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙/𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 2
(0.25)(6) 4025 +265
𝛥𝛥 𝑠𝑠2 = 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 � � = 0.024 𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 ≈ 0.29 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖.
1+0.75 4025

Total settlement, ∆ 𝑠𝑠𝑔𝑔 = 8.45 + 0.84 + 0.29 = 9.58 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖.

ELASTIC SETTLEMENT OF GROUP PILES

In general, the settlement of a pile group under similar working load per pile increases
with the width of the group (𝐵𝐵𝑔𝑔 ) and the center-to-center spacing of piles (d). this fact is
demonstrated in figure 8.62 obtained from the experimental results of Meyerhof (1961)
for pile groups in sand. In this figure 8., 𝑠𝑠𝑔𝑔(𝑒𝑒) is the settlement of the pile group and s is
the settlement of isolated piles under similar working load.

Figure 8.62 Settlement of pile groups in sand (after Meyerhof, 1961)

NPTEL – ADVANCED FOUNDATION ENGINEERING-I

Several investigations relating to the settlement of group piles with widely varying results
have been reported in the literature. The simplest relation for the settlement of group piles
was given by Vesic (1969) as

𝐵𝐵𝑔𝑔
𝑠𝑠𝑔𝑔(𝑒𝑒) = � 𝐷𝐷 𝑠𝑠 [8.135]

Where

𝑠𝑠𝑔𝑔(𝑒𝑒) = 𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝

𝐵𝐵𝑔𝑔 = 𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤ℎ 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝 𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠

𝐷𝐷 = 𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤ℎ 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒ℎ 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 𝑡𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑒 𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔

𝑠𝑠 = 𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒ℎ 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙

For pile groups in sand and gravel, Meyerhof (1976) suggested the following empirical
relation for elastic settlement:

2𝑞𝑞 �𝐵𝐵𝑔𝑔 𝐼𝐼
𝑠𝑠𝑔𝑔(𝑒𝑒) (𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖. ) = [8.136]
𝑁𝑁𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐

Where

𝑞𝑞 = 𝑄𝑄𝑔𝑔 /(𝐿𝐿𝑔𝑔 /𝐵𝐵𝑔𝑔 ) (𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 𝑈𝑈. 𝑆𝑆. 𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇/𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 2 ) [8.137]

𝐿𝐿𝑔𝑔 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 𝐵𝐵𝑔𝑔 = 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙ℎ 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤ℎ 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑡𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑒 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝 𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟 (𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓)

𝑁𝑁𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 =
𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝 𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛 𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤ℎ𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 (≈
𝐵𝐵𝑔𝑔 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏 𝑡𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑒 𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑡𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑒 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝)

𝐼𝐼 = 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 = 1 − 𝐿𝐿/8𝐵𝐵𝑔𝑔 ≥ 0.5 [8.138]

𝐿𝐿 = 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙ℎ 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝

Similarly, the pile group settlement is related to the cone penetration resistance as
𝑞𝑞𝐵𝐵𝑔𝑔 𝐼𝐼
𝑠𝑠𝑔𝑔(𝑒𝑒) = [8.139]
2𝑞𝑞 𝑐𝑐

Where

𝑞𝑞𝑐𝑐 = 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝 𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤ℎ𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 𝑡𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑒 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠
NPTEL – ADVANCED FOUNDATION ENGINEERING-I

In equation (139), all symbols are in consistent units.

UPLIFT CAPACITY OF GROUP PILES

The efficiency of group piles under compressive load was discussed in section 21.
However, under certain circumstances, group piles may be used for construction of
foundations subjected to uplifting load (figure 8. 63). As in equation (127), the group
efficiency under uplift may be expressed as

Figure 8.63 Group piles subjected t uplifting load

𝑇𝑇𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢 (𝑔𝑔)
𝜂𝜂𝑇𝑇 = [8.140]
𝑇𝑇𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢

Where

𝜂𝜂𝑇𝑇 = 𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔 𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒 𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢 𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢

𝑇𝑇𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢 (𝑔𝑔) = 𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛 𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢 𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝 𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔

𝑇𝑇𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢 = 𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛 𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢 𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑦𝑦 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝

Note that

𝑇𝑇𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢 (𝑔𝑔) = 𝑇𝑇𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢 (𝑔𝑔) − (𝑛𝑛1 × 𝑛𝑛2 )𝑊𝑊 − 𝑊𝑊𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 [8.141]

NPTEL – ADVANCED FOUNDATION ENGINEERING-I

Where

𝑇𝑇𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢 (𝑔𝑔) = 𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔 𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢 𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝

𝑊𝑊 = 𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 − 𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤ℎ𝑡𝑡 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒ℎ 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝

𝑛𝑛1 × 𝑛𝑛2 = 𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 𝑡𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑒 𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔

𝑊𝑊𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 = 𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒 𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤ℎ𝑡𝑡 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐

At present, few field and laboratory experimental results relating to the evaluation of 𝜂𝜂𝑇𝑇
are available in the literature. Das and Azim (1985) conducted a limited number of model
tests to determine the group efficiency, 𝜂𝜂𝑇𝑇 , of pile groups, embedded in saturated clay.
The results of this study are shown in figure 8. 64, from which the following general
conclusions may be drawn:

Figure 8.64 Efficiency of pile groups embedded in saturated clay and subjected to
uplifting force

1. For a pile group, 𝜂𝜂𝑇𝑇 increases linearly with the 𝑑𝑑/𝐷𝐷 ratio until it reaches 100%.
The 𝑑𝑑/𝐷𝐷 ratio at which 𝜂𝜂𝑇𝑇 reaches a value of 100% is about 12(𝐿𝐿/𝐷𝐷).
2. For given 𝑑𝑑/𝐷𝐷 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 𝐿𝐿/𝐷𝐷 ratios, the magnitude of 𝜂𝜂𝑇𝑇 decreases with the increase
of the number of piles in a group.
3. For a given 𝑑𝑑/𝐷𝐷 ratio and number of piles in a group, the magnitude of 𝜂𝜂𝑇𝑇
decreases with the increase of 𝐿𝐿/𝐷𝐷.

Group efficiency, however, may be a function of the consistency of the clay.

NPTEL – ADVANCED FOUNDATION ENGINEERING-I

Figure 8.65 shows the laboratory model tests results for group efficiency of rough piles
embedded in loose and dense sand (Das, 1984). The group piles in this case had a 𝐿𝐿/𝐷𝐷
ratio of 15. Note that the magnitude of 𝜂𝜂𝑇𝑇 is a function of 𝐿𝐿/𝐷𝐷, 𝑑𝑑/𝐷𝐷, the number of piles
in the group, and the relative density of the sand.

Figure 8.65 Efficiency of piles groups embedded in sand and subjected to uplifting force
(based on laboratory model test results of Das, 1984)