5/24/2021

GROUP PILES

Week 8-9 Discussion

Pile Group Capacity

row 1
 Single Pile Failure Mode S
𝑄 = 𝑁𝑄 row 2
Where: S
𝑄 = Ultimate capacity of individual pile(𝑄 = 𝑄 + 𝑄 ) row 3
𝑄 = 𝑁 𝐶 𝐴 and ∑ 𝑄 = 𝛼𝐶 𝑃𝐿
𝑄 = 𝑢𝑙𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑔𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑝 𝑐𝑎𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑏𝑎𝑠𝑒𝑑 𝑜𝑛 𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑑𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝑝𝑖𝑙𝑒𝑠
S S S

E= 𝑜𝑟
( )

E= pile group efficiency

d= diameter of pile
S= spacing of piles center to center
𝜃= in degrees
n= no. of piles in row
m= no. of rows of piles

Prepared By: Engr. Judy Bravo Tordilla, RCE 1

 5/24/2021

a
a= 2s+d
 Block Failure Mode

𝑄 = 𝑄 + 𝛴𝑄
b= s+d
Where: b
𝑄 = α𝐶𝑢𝑃𝐿 −− −𝐴𝑙𝑝ℎ𝑎 𝑀𝑒𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑑

P= 2a+2b

𝑄 =CuNc(axb) S S
Nc= Terzaghi's bearing capacity Q
Cu= Cohesion of soil a
α= Adhesion factor b
L= length of Piles

L
𝑄

Problem 1:

A Pile group consist of four friction piles in cohesive soils. Each pile has a diameter of 0.30 m and a spacing of 0.90
m center to center. Unit weight of clay is 19.8KN/m^3 with an unconfined compressive strength qu=190KN/m^2 .
Length of pile is 10m. S=0.90

Terzaghis Bearing Capacity factor

Nc=5.7,𝛼 = 0.56 0.30

a.) Determine the block capacity of the pile group using

0.9 0.9+d=1.2m
a factor of safety of 3.0

Block Failure Mode

𝑄 = 𝑄 + 𝛴𝑄 Cu= = = 95𝐾𝑝𝑎
0.9+d=1.2m
𝑄 =CuNc(axb) 𝑄 = α𝐶𝑢𝑃𝐿 P= 2a+2b  Allowable:
𝑄 = (95)(5.7)(1.2x1.2) P= 2(1.2)+2(1.2)=4.8m 𝑄
𝑄 = 𝑄 =1111.12KN
𝑄 = 779.76KN 𝐹𝑆
𝑄 = 0.56 95 4.8 10 = 2553.6𝐾𝑁
𝑄 = 779.76 + 2553.6 3333.36𝐾𝑁
𝑄 =
3
𝑄 =3333.36KN

Prepared By: Engr. Judy Bravo Tordilla, RCE 2

 5/24/2021

b.) Determine the allowable group capacity based on individual pile failure. Use factor of
safety of 2 and Nc= 9 for ultimate bearing capacity of the pile.

 Allowable: Q
𝑄 = 𝑁𝑄 𝑄
𝑄 =
𝐹𝑆
𝑄 = 𝑄 + 𝛴𝑄
For Group Piles
 𝑄 = 𝐶𝑢𝑁𝑐𝐴𝑝 10m
𝑄 = (4)(561.83)=2247.35KN 𝑄
𝜋
𝑄 = 95 9 0.3
4 2247.35
𝑄 =
𝑄 =60.44KN 2

 𝑄 = 𝛼𝐶 𝑃𝐿 𝑄 =1123.67KN
𝑄
𝑄 = 0.56(95)𝜋(0.3)(10)
c.) Determine the capacity of the pile group
𝑄 = 501.40𝐾𝑁
𝑄 = 1111.12𝐾𝑁 (𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑤𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑝𝑖𝑙𝑒 𝑔𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑝) 0.30m
𝑄 = 60.44 + 501.40 = 561.83𝐾𝑁

 Allowable:
.
𝑄 = = = 280.915𝐾𝑁

Problem 2:
a
A pile group shown in the figure consist of 9 piles, each 0.30m diameter
arranged in 3x3 matrix at a spacing of 0.75m. The piles are driven into a clay
having unconfined compression strength of qu=150Kpa. Use Nc=9 and α=1
a.) capacity of pile group base on individual pile failure using factor of safety b
of 3.
b.) Capacity of pile group based on block failure using factor of safety of 3.
c.) Minimum center to center spacing if piles to achieve 100% efficiency.

𝑄 = 𝑁𝑄 Cu= = = 75𝐾𝑝𝑎
Q S=0.75 S=0.75

𝑄 = 𝑄 + 𝛴𝑄  Allowable: Q
𝑄
 𝑄 = 𝐶𝑢𝑁𝑐𝐴𝑝 𝑄 = 𝑄 12m
𝜋 𝐹𝑆
𝑄 = 75 9 0.3
4 For Group Piles
𝑄 =47.71KN
𝑄 = (9)(895.94)=8063.46KN 𝑄
 𝑄 = 𝛼𝐶 𝑃𝐿
8063.46 L=12
𝑄 = 1(75)𝜋(0.3)(12) 𝑄 = =2687.82KN
3 0.30m
𝑄 = 848.23𝐾𝑁

𝑄 = 47.71 + 848.23 = 895.94𝐾𝑁

Prepared By: Engr. Judy Bravo Tordilla, RCE 3

 5/24/2021

a
b.) Capacity of pile group based on block failure using factor of
safety of 3.
Block Failure
a=2s+d
𝑄 = 𝑄 + 𝛴𝑄 b=2s+d b
a=2(0.75)+0.3 =1.8m
𝑄 =CuNc(axb) b=2(0.75)+0.3= 1.8m
𝑄 = (75)(9)(1.8x1.8)
𝑄 =2187KN S=0.75 S=0.75
𝑄 = α𝐶𝑃𝐿 P= 2a+2b

𝑄 = 1 75 7.2 12 = 6480𝐾𝑁 P= 2(1.8)+2(1.8)=4.8m

𝑄 = 2187 + 6480 a
b
𝑄 =8667KN

 Allowable:
𝑄 L
𝑄 = 𝑄
𝐹𝑆
8667𝐾𝑁
𝑄 =
3
𝑄 =2889KN
𝑄

S S
c.) Determine the minimum center to center
spacing of piles to achieve 100% efficiency

E= S
( ) a=2s+d
b=2s+d S

𝑄 𝐵𝐹𝑀 = Q + Q

𝑄 = CuNc((2s+0.3)(2s+0.3) + 4(2𝑠 + 0.3)[𝛼 𝐶 𝐿 ]

𝑄 (𝑆𝐹𝑀)= 𝑁𝑄

75(9)((2s+0.3)(2s+0.3)+4(2s+0.3)(1)(12)(75)
1=
.

S=0.70m

Prepared By: Engr. Judy Bravo Tordilla, RCE 4

 5/24/2021

Problem 3:
The pile group shown in Figure consists of 9 piles, each 0.30 m in
diameter, arranged in a 3x3 matrix at a spacing, s = 0.75 m. The pile
penetrates a soft clay 𝐿 = 3 m, 𝑐 = 60 kPa, 𝛼 = 1), a medium
dense clay (𝐿 = 5 m, 𝑐 = 78 kPa, 𝛼 = 1), and a stiff clay (𝐿 = 4 m,
𝑐 = 95 kPa, 𝛼 = 0.8). Assume Nc = 9 and FS = 3

a.) Determine the capacity of pile group based on single

pile failure mode
𝑄 = 𝑁𝑄
𝑄 = 𝑄 + 𝛴𝑄
 𝑄 = 𝐶𝑢𝑁𝑐𝐴𝑝
𝜋 𝑄 = 60.44 + 823.308𝐾𝑁 = 883.748𝐾𝑁
𝑄 = 95 9 0.3
4 𝑄 = 9 883.748 = 7953.732𝐾𝑁
𝑄 =60.44KN
 Allowable:
 𝛴𝑄 = 𝛼𝐶 𝑃𝐿 𝑄 7953.732
𝑄 = = = 2652.49𝐾𝑁
𝐹𝑆 3
𝛴𝑄 = 𝑃[𝛼 𝐶 𝐿 + 𝛼 𝐶 𝐿 + 𝛼 𝐶 𝐿 ] 𝑃 = 𝜋 0.3 = 0.942

𝛴𝑄 = 0.942[(1)(60)(3) + 1(78)(5) + 0.8(95)(4)]

𝛴𝑄 =823.308KN

S=0.75 S=0.75
b.) Determine the capacity of pile group based on block failure mode

a=2(0.75)+0.30=1.8m
Block Failure Mode
0.75
𝑄 = 𝑄 + 𝛴𝑄 a=2s+d
b=2s+d 0.75
𝑄 =CuNc(axb)
𝑄 =(95)(9)(1.80x1.80) P= 2a+2b
𝑄 =2770.2KN P= 2(1.8)+2(1.8)=7.2

𝛴𝑄 = 𝑃[𝛼 𝐶 𝐿 + 𝛼 𝐶 𝐿 + 𝛼 𝐶 𝐿 ]
b=2(0.75)+0.30=1.8m
𝛴𝑄 = 7.2[(1)(60)(3) + 1(78)(5) + 0.8(95)(4)] a
b
𝑄 = 6292.8𝐾𝑁
𝑄 = 2770.2𝐾𝑁 + 6292.8𝐾𝑁
𝑄 =6063KN L
𝑄
 Allowable:
𝑄 90636𝐾𝑁
𝑄 = = = 3021.00𝐾𝑁
𝐹𝑆 3
𝑄

Prepared By: Engr. Judy Bravo Tordilla, RCE 5

 5/24/2021

S S
c.) Determine the minimum center to center
spacing of piles to achieve 100% efficiency

E= S
( ) a=2s+d
b=2s+d S
𝑄 𝐵𝐹𝑀 = Q + Q

𝑄 = CuNc((2s+0.3)(2s+0.3) + 4(2𝑠 + 0.3)[𝛼 𝐶 𝐿 + 𝛼 𝐶 𝐿 + 𝛼 𝐶 𝐿 ]

𝑄 (𝑆𝐹𝑀)= 𝑁𝑄

CuNc((2s+0.3)(2s+0.3) + . [[( )( )( ) + ( )( ) . ( )( )] ]
1=
.

S=0.66m

Coyle and Suleiman Method

Case 1: Pile group Capacity for S>3 Diameters

𝐴. 𝐶𝑜ℎ𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑠𝑜𝑖𝑙, 𝑄 = 𝐸𝑔 𝑁𝑄

E= 1 − 𝜃 − − 𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑒 − 𝐿𝑎𝑏𝑎𝑟𝑟𝑒 𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛

tan𝜃 =

Eg= 0.7 at S =3diameters

Eg=1 at S> 8diameters

𝐵. 𝐶𝑜ℎ𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑙𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑠𝑜𝑖𝑙, 𝑄 = 𝑁𝑄

Case 2: Block Capacity for S<3 Diameters

𝑄 = 𝑄 + 𝛴𝑄

𝑄 =CuNc(axb)
𝑄 = α𝐶𝑃𝐿 −− −𝐴𝑙𝑝ℎ𝑎 𝑀𝑒𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑑
P= 2a+2b

Prepared By: Engr. Judy Bravo Tordilla, RCE 6

 5/24/2021

Problem 4:
A pile group consist of 9 friction piles in cohesive soil. Each piles diameter is 0.30m and
center to center spacing is 1.2m. The ultimate capacity of each pile is 300KN
a.) Compute the design capacity of the pile group using a factor of safety of 2 if the soil is cohesionless.
b.) Compute the pile group efficiency using converse –Labarre equation.
c.) Compute the design capacity of the pile group using a factor of safety of 2 as suggested by Coyle and
Suleiman
S=1.2 S=1.2
a.) design capacity of the pile group using a factor of safety of 2 if the soil is
cohesionless.
𝑄 = 𝑁𝑄
b.) pile group efficiency using
1.2
 𝑄 = 300𝐾𝑁 converse –Labarre equation
𝑄 = 9(300) 1.2
Eg= 1 − 𝜃
𝑄 =2700KN
.
tan𝜃 = tan𝜃 = 𝜃=14.04
.
 Allowable:
𝑄 n=3
𝑄 =
𝐹𝑆 m=3
2700
𝑄 = = 1350𝐾𝑁 Eg= 1 − 14.04 Eg= 0.792 or 79.2%
2 ( )( )

Cont.

c.) design capacity of the pile group using a factor of safety of 2

as suggested by Coyle and Suleiman

S=1.2
3(0.3)=0.9
𝑄 = 𝐸𝑔 𝑁𝑄
𝑄 = 0.792(9)(300)
𝑄 =2134.8KN

 Allowable:
𝑄
𝑄 =
𝐹𝑆
2134.8
𝑄 = 𝑄 =1069.2KN
2

Prepared By: Engr. Judy Bravo Tordilla, RCE 7

 5/24/2021

Problem 5: Board Exam Nov. 2009:

A nine pile group consist of 0.30m diameter friction concrete piles 12 m long. The Piles are
driven into clay having an unconfined compressive strength of 180 Kpa and the unit weight of
clay is 18KN/m^3 . The spacing of piles is 0.75m, center to center. Assuming a bearing capacity
factor of Nc=9 , α=1.0
S=0.75 S=0.75
a.) Find the allowable group of pile capacity based on individual pile failure using
factor of safety of 3.0
b.) Find the block capacity of pile using factor of safety of 3.0
c.) Find the minimum pile spacing in order to achieve a 100% efficiency.
0.75
Solution:
a.) allowable group of pile capacity based on individual pile failure 0.75
𝜋
𝑄 = 𝐸𝑔 𝑁𝑄 Cu= = = 90𝐾𝑝𝑎 Nc=9 𝐴 = 0.30 =0.0707
4
 𝑄 = 𝑄 + 𝛴𝑄  𝑄 = α𝐶𝑢𝑃𝐿 𝑃 = 𝜋(0.3) =0.942
 𝑄 = 𝐶𝑢 𝑁𝑐 𝐴 𝑄 = 1(90)(0.942)(12) 𝑄 = 𝐸𝑔 𝑛𝑄
𝑄 = 90(9)(0.0707)
𝑄 = 1017.36KN
𝑄 =57.27KN 𝑄 = 57.27 + 1017.36𝐾𝑁 = 1074.63𝐾𝑁

Try This one!

Prepared By: Engr. Judy Bravo Tordilla, RCE 8