HYDRODYNAMICS

PILES
Piles on Clay (Cohesive Soil)
A. Ultimate Bearing Capacity of
Piles, Qb
Qb = cNcAp
c = cohesion of soil
c = 0.5qu
Nc = 9 (bearing capacity Factor)
Ap = area of pile at the tip
qu = unconfined compressive
strength
B. Ultimate Frictional Capacity of
Piles, Qf
1) Alpha Method, α
2) Lambda Method, λ
3) Beta Method, β
𝑄𝑢
Qu = Qb + Qf FS =
𝑄𝑑𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑔𝑛
Qu = ultimate capacity of piles
Qdesign = design capacity of piles
FS = Factor of Safety
α (Alpha) Method λ (Lambda) Method

Qf = λ(σv + 2c)PL
Qf = cLαP
c = cohesion of soil
c = cohesion of soil c = 0.5qu
c = 0.5qu L = length of pile
L = length of pile P = perimeter of pile
P = perimeter of pile λ = frictional coefficient
α = adhesion factor or frictional σv = average vertical pressure at
mid-height of the pile being
constant analyzed
β (Beta) Method

Qf = β(σv)PL
*For Normally Consolidated Clays,
β = (1 – sinϕR)
β = frictional coefficient
L = length of pile
*For Over Consolidated Clays,
P = perimeter of pile
β = (1 – sinϕR)(tan ϕR)( 𝑂𝐶𝑅)
σv = average vertical pressure at
mid-height of the pile being
analyzed
Piles on Sand (Cohesionless Soil)
A. Ultimate Bearing Capacity of
Piles, Qb
Qb = PvNqAp
Pv = soil pressure at the tip
Nq = bearing capacity factor
Ap = area of pile at the tip
B. Ultimate Frictional Capacity of
Piles, Qf
Qf = PAKμ
P = perimeter of pile
A = Area of Pv diagram
K = coefficient of lateral pressure
between pile and sand or shaft
pressure factor and is assumed
between 0.6 to 1.25
Capacity of Group Piles

*Efficiency of group piles, E

𝑄𝑔𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑝
E=
𝑄𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑑𝑢𝑎𝑙

2 𝑚+𝑛−2 𝑆+4𝐷
E =
π𝐷𝑚𝑛