Pile Foundation

Pile Foundation
• Flow of presentation
1). Pile Load capacity for single pile
2). Pile Load capacity for Group of pile
3). Pile Load Test
4). Workout examples
Pile Load capacity for single pile
 Single Pile Load Carrying Capacity

There are four method to find pile capacity

• Static pile load formulae
• Pile driving formulae
• Correlations with penetration test data
• Pile load test
 Single Pile Load Carrying Capacity

Static formula for pile load capacity:

The ultimate load capacity is given by
Qu = Qp + Qs
Qu = ultimate failure load
Qp = base resistance of the pile
Qs = Shaft resistance developed by friction

between the soil and the pile shaft

Single Pile Load Carrying Capacity
Qu

Fill

Soft Layer

Skin friction Qs Firm Soft

Qu = Q p + Q s
Qp
 Driven Piles in Sand
Qu = Qp + Qs
Where,
Qp= qp Ap
Qs= fs As
qp= q’ Nq + 0.4 γ B Nγ
q’ =effective vertical pressure at the pile tip
B= pile tip width,
γ =unit weight of soil
Nγ = bearing capacity factors for deep foundation
qp =is the ultimate bearing capacity of the soil at the pile tip
Ap =area of the pile tip;
fs = average unit skin friction and
As = effective surface area of the pile in contact with soil
Contd…
• It has been established that the effective vertical pressure
at the pile tip increases with depth only until a certain
depth of penetration known as critical depth. The critical
depth depends upon the angle of shearing resistance of the
soil and the width of the pile. Its value can be taken as
10 B for loose sands
20 B for dense sand
• fs= K бv tan δ δ δ
where,
бv= effective vertical pressure; fs fs
K= earth pressure coefficient ;
tan δ= coefficient of friction between sand and the pile
material
 Table for value of k and δ

Pile Material δ K K
(Loose Sand) (Dense Sand)
Steel 20˚ 0.5 1

Concrete 0.75 ø 1.0 2

Timber 0.65 ø 1.5 4

 Driven Piles in Clay
• Qu = Qp + Qs
where, Qp = qp x Ap
qp = cNc
where Nc = 9 for piles
Qs = α c’ As
• Qu = c Nc Ap + α c’ As
α= adhesion factor, for soft clay 1 and 0.3 for
hard and stiff clay.
c’ = average cohesion along the shaft length
 Bored Piles in Sand
For sand
• Qu = q’ Nq Ap + K бv tan δ As
• K= 1- sinØ
= varies from 0.3 to 0.75
= 0.5
 Bored Piles in Clay
For clay
• Qu = c Nc Ap + α c’ As
where, As = eff. Shaft area in developing skin
friction
α = 0.5 for straight shaft in dry soil
= 0.3 for drilling with slurry
Qall. = Qu / F.O.S.
• F.O.S. = 2.5 to 4
 Dynamic Pile Formula
• Dynamic pile formulae are also useful in
estimating pile capacity.
• These are based on the laws governing the
impact of elastic bodies.
• Kinetic energy delivered by the hammer
during driving = work done on pile
 Dynamic Pile Formula
Whηh = RS
w = weight of hammer (KN)
h = height of drop (cm)
ηh = efficiency of hammer
R = pile resistance
S = pile penetration per blow (cm) or
set
 Dynamic Pile Formula
• Engineering News Formula, ultimate carrying capacity
Qa,

• W = weight of the hammer falling through a height and S=

real set per blow
• C = empirical factor,
• = 0.254 cm for steam hammer
• = 2.54 cm for drop hammer
• F = factor of safety, usually taken as 6
• ηh = 0.7 – 0.9
 Dynamic Pile Formula
• As per IS: 2911 part I: 1964
• Modified Hiley formula is considered to be superior to the Engineering News formula,

• P = weight of pile
• e = coefficient of restitution
= 0.4 for RCC
= 0.3 to 0.5 for steel
• R = ultimate driving resistance in tones.
• W = weight of hammer in tones
• h = effective fall of the hammer. It is equal to the height of free fall of hammer in
cm taken at its full value
• ηh = efficiency of the blow that represents the ratio of energy after impact to the
striking energy of the ram
• S = the final set or penetration per blow in cm
• C = total elastic compression
 Comments on dynamic formula
1). Dynamic formula are best suited to coarse
grained soils for which the shear strength is
independent of rate of loading.
2). This formula is the uncertain about the
relationship between the dynamic and static
resistance of soil.
3). In case of submerged loose uniform fine
sands, impact of driving may cause
liquefaction of soil.
 Comments on dynamic formula
4). For clays, the dynamic formulae are valueless
because the skin friction developed in clay during
driving is very less than which occurs after a
period of time.
5). Dynamic formulae give no indication about
probable future settlement or temporary
changes in soil structure.
6). The formulae do not take into accounts the
reduced bearing capacity of pile when in a group.
 Comments on dynamic formula
7). Law of impact used for determining energy loss
is not strictly valid for piles subjected to
restraining influence of the surrounding soil.
8). In engineering news formulae, the weight of the
pile and hence its inertia effect is neglected.
9). Energy losses due to vibration, heat and damage
to dolly or packing are not accounted for.
10). In Heiley’s formulae, a number of constants are
involved, which are difficult to determine.
 CORRELATIONS WITH PENETRATION
TEST DATA
• Static cone penetration test data and standard
penetration test data are often used to determine the
pile load capacity.
• The unit point resistance of driven piles qpu can be
taken as equal to the static cone resistance qc. Here qc
is to be taken as the average value of qc over a
distance of 3 pile diameters (3 D) above and one pile
diameter (1D) below the level of the pile cap. For the
pile to attain its full point bearing resistance, it should
be driven at least 5D inside the bearing stratum.
qpu = qc
Where qc = average value of cone resistance
 CORRELATIONS WITH PENETRA TION
TEST DATA
• The unit point resistance of driven piles in
sand including H piles, can also be determined
using N values according to the equation:
• qpu= 40 N ( D / B) KN/ m2 <= 400 N
where,
qpu = point resistance (KN/ m2)
D = depth of pile
B = dia. Of pile
N = corrected blow counts
 CORRELATIONS WITH PENETRA TION
TEST DATA
Skin friction resistance for the driven piles can also be
obtained with the help of penetration test data, by using
the
Meyrhof (1956) correlations:

In terms of N values,
• For displacement piles, fs = 2 Nav KN / m2
• For H piles, fs = Nav KN / m2
• Where, Nav = average field value of N along the length
of the pile.
• A maximum value of fs = 100 KN / m2 for displacement
piles and 50 KN / m2 for H piles is taken.
Pile Load capacity for Group of
piles
 Group of Piles
• A single pile is seldom used as a foundation, Normally there
will be a minimum of three piles under a column or a
foundation element because of alignment problem and
inadvertent eccentricities.
• A cap or a slab is cast over the heads of the piles to distribute
the load.
• The settlement of a group of piles is normally different from
that of comparable single pile under that load.
• Spacing of piles depends upon,

- Overlapping of stresses of adjacent piles

- Cost of foundation
- Efficiency of pile group
- Method of installing a pile and type of soil
 Spacing of piles in a Group
• Spacing for straight uniform diameter piles may vary
from 2 to 6 times the diameter of the pile.
• For friction pile, the minimum spacing recommended
is 3d.
• For end bearing pile passing through relatively
compressible strata the spacing of piles should not
be less than 2.5d.
• For end bearing pile resting on stiff clay spacing may
be preferable to 3.5d.
• For compaction piles, the spacing may be 2d.
Group Efficiency

η= ( Qg(u)/N ∑Qu ) x 100

 Group Efficiency
• Group eff. Is given by
1). Felds rule
2). Converse-Labarre formula
 Group Efficiency
Felds rule:
Load capacity of individual pile is the value of an
isolated single pile, less one sixteenth for each
diagonal or straight row pile.
 Converse-Labarre formula
is used to determine the
group efficiency of piles.
This formula are empirical
and give efficiency factors
less than unity.

If piles are installed in

sand, efficiency factors
greater than unity can be
obtain by Vesic by his
experimental investigation.
 Group efficiency in sand

 Vesic(1967) carried out tests on 4 and 9 pile Groups into sand

under controlled coditions.Piles of spacing 2,3,4 and 6 times
diameter were used in this tests. The test were conducted in
homogeneous and medium dense sand.
 Group efficiency in clay
• The effect of driving piles into cohesive soils(clay and silts) is
very different that of cohesion less soils.
• There is possibility of lifting of the pile during driving process
and also heaving of the soil.
• In case of driven piles, following steps should be kept in view.
1) piles should be placed at greater distances apart.
2) Piles should be driven from center of the group towards
the edges.
3) The rate of driving of each pile should be adjusted as to
minimize the development of pore water pressure.
 Design of Pile Groups
• The failure of pile group may due to
1). Individual pile failure
2). Block pile failure

For individual pile Qun = n Qup

where Qup = Individual pile load
For Block failure Qug = PL fs + A qp
where qp = qu / 2
A = c/s area of pile group at base
P = perimeter of pile group
 Negative skin friction
• large ground settlement due to consolidation
of soft soils will drag down piles and induce
negative skin friction (NSF) along the pile-soil
interfaces, as illustrated in Figure 1. NSF will
induce additional drag load on the piles which
may cause structural failure of piles due to
overstress, or down drag settlement which
may compromise the serviceability of super-
structures.
 Negative Skin friction
Qu
•When soil layer surrounding pile
shaft settle more than pile,
downward drag occurs on pile.

• This downward drag is known as

-ve skin friction
Fill
•Impose extra load on pile.
Soft Layer

-Ve skin friction = Qnsf Firm Soft

Qp
Qu’= Qu - Qnsf
Pile Load test
 PILE LOAD TESTS
Sound theoretical basis for analysis and design of pile foundation has been
developed.

However, the actual pile capacity may differ from theoretically calculated
capacity due to:

 Uncertainties in evaluating design parameters

 Variation in sub-surface
 Method of installation etc.

Thus pile load test to verify the pile capacity constitutes a basic approach
towards quality assurance.

Pile foundations are designated for tests more frequently in comparison to

other foundation units for two main reasons:

 Inability to visually inspect the pile after installation

 Limited understanding of material surrounding the pile
 PILE LOAD TESTS

Purpose:

 To study load settlement behavior

 Assessment of safe load carrying capacity
 Suitability of type of pile
 Effect of piling on adjacent structures

The initial load test should preferably be carried out prior to execution of
piling at work site
Pile Load Test
 Pile Load Test

Pile Load Test (static)

• the test load is measured by a load cell
• deformation is measured with dial gauges,
wire-mirror-scale, and surveying instruments
• apply load in 10 to 15% increments,
maintaining a 2½ minute interval
• check deformation readings immediately
before and after applying load
 Pile Load Test
Pile Load Test (static)
• incrementally increase load until reaching
200% of the design load or until continuos
jacking is required to maintain the test load
• remove the load in 4 equal decrements
• plot the load-settlement data using the
Davisson method
• the point where the load-settlement curve
crosses the failure criterion is the failure load
(Qf)
Pile Load Test
 PILE LOAD TESTS
As per IS 2911

Safe load Min. of following:

1). 50 % of load at which total settlement = 10 % of pile dia.(7.5 %

for under reamed pile)

2). 2 /3 of final load at which total settlement is 12mm

3). 1/2 to 2/3 of load at which net settlement = 6mm

1 A 12 m long, 300 mm diameter pile is driven in a uniform deposit of sand (ø =
40˚). The water table is at a great depth and is not likely to rise. The average dry
unit weight of sand is 18 KN / m3. Using N q values of Berezantzev, calculate the
safe load capacity of the pile with a factor of safety of 2.5. Nq= 137.
• For concrete piles, adopt, δ = (3 / 4 ) ø’= .(3/4) x 40° = 30° and
K = 2.0, for dense sand.

For L /D = 15, the critical length of the pile = 15 x 0.3 = 4.5 m

Limiting vertical effective stress, σ at 4.5 m = 18 x 4.5 = 81 kN/m2.

From 4.5 m to 12.0 m, unit point
bearing resistance and skin friction resistance remain constant at σ = 81
kN/m2

The ultimate pile load capacity Qu is given by

Qu = qpuAb + fsAs
• Qpu= σ Nq and fs(av) = σav Ktanδ
Skin friction resistance over length 4.5 m:
Average σ = 81 /2 = 40.5 KN / m2
fs(av) = σav x 2 x tan30˚
= 46.8 KN / m2
Skin friction resistance = 46.8 x π x 0.3 x 4.5
= 198 kN
• Skin friction resistance over the remaining length 7.5 m:
σav = 81 kN/m2
fs(av) = 81 x 2 x tan 30°
= 93.5 kN/m2
= 93.5 x 1t x 0.3 x 7.5 = 661 kN
Qf
\ = 198 + 661 = 859 kN
• Nq= 137
qpu = 81 x 137 = 11097 kN/m2­
Qpu = 11097 x 1t x 0.3 = 784 kN
Qu = Qpu + Qf
= 784 + 859 = 1643 kN
Qa = (Qu / 2.5 ) = (1643 / 2.5) = 651 kN
2. A 450 mm wide, square in section concrete pile, 15 m long, is driven
in a deep deposit of uniform clay. Laboratory compression tests on
undisturbed samples indicate an average qu value of 75 kN/m2.
Calculate the ultimate load capacity of the pile.
• Solution:- Unconfined compressive strength = 75 kN/m2
Cu = (75/2) = 37.5 kN/m2.
𝞪 = 0.8 (fig.)
Substituting the data in the equation
Qu = Cub Nc Ab + 𝞪 Cu As
= 37.5 x 9 x 0.45 x 0.45 + 0.8 x 37.5 x 4 x 0.45 x 15
= 68 + 810
= 878 kN
3 A concrete pile, 9 m long, was driven by a single acting
Vulcan Hammer with ratio energy 35.26 kJ. The total
settlement as recorded for the last 10 blows was 2.5 mm /
blow. Using Engineering News formula, calculate the pile
capacity.
From Eq.
Where, W = weight of the hammer failing through a
height H
S = real set per blow
C = empirical factor, allowing reduction in the
theoretical set, due to energy losses
Q = (166.64 x 35.26) / ( 2.5 + 2.54)
= 1165.82 kN
4. A concrete pile, 9 m long, was driven by a single acting
Vulcan Hammer with energy 35.26 kJ. The total settlement
as recorded for the last 10 blows was 2.5 mm/blow. Using
Engineering News formula, calculate the pile capacity.

• E = 35.26 kJ S = 2.5 mm/ blow

Substituting the value in Eq .1
Qu = 1165.82 kN
5 A 300 mm diameter concrete pile, 10 m long, was driven
by a McKiernan and Terry double hammer (rafted energy
16.62 kJ, total mass 2200 kg). The driving was done with
a short dolly 2.50m. The average penetration recorded in
the last five blows was 3.0 mm/blow. Calculate the pile
load.
• Weight of pile = (𝛑/4) X 0.3^2 X 10 X 26.5
= 18.73 kN
Weight of hammer = 2.2 x 9.81 = 21.6 kN
For a double acting hammer striking steel anvil and driving a concrete
pile, e = 0.5
Pe = 18.73 x 0.5 = 9.4 kN < 21.6 kN Hence, w>Pe
• C1 = 1.77 (R/A), C2= 0.0657(RL/A), C3 = 3.55 (R/A)
C = C1 + C2 + C3
= (1.77 + 0.0657 L + 3.55 ) (R/A)
= 5.977 R(t)/A (cm2)
C = 5.977 X R(t)/706.5 = 0.0085 R(t)
C/2 = 0.00425 R(t)
As per the Indian Standard Code, in case of McKiernan and Terry
type double acting hammers, only 90% of the road energy is to be
taken.
Hence driving energy is 0.9Wh = 0.9 X 16.62 kJ = 0.9 x 16.62 x
105 N-cm
= or 149.58 t cm
• The ultimate driving resistance R is given by Eq.

R= 120t=1200kN
• Hence safe load on pile = (1200 / 25) = 480 kN
6 A group of nine piles, 12 m long and 250 mm in diameter, is to be
arranged in square on a clay soil with an average unconfined
compressive strength of 60 kN/m2. Work out the centre to centre
spacing of the piles for a group efficiency factor of 1. Neglect
bearing at the tip of the piles.
U.C.C, qu = 60 kN/m2
Hence undrained cohesion, Cu = (60/2) = 30 kN/m2
Cu = 30 kN/m2 , 𝞪 =0.9
Ultimate load capacity of the group of piles on the basis of individual
action
= n X Qu
= 9 𝞪 Cu As (neglecting bearing)
= 9 X 0.9 X 30 X 𝛑 X 0.25 x 12
= 2290 kN
Ultimate load capacity of the pile group of nine piles on the basis of
individual action
9 x 240.333 = 2163 kN
Width of the pile group = 2 x 0.5 + 0.2 = 1.2 m
Ultimate load capacity of the pile group by block failure is given by
Qug = Cub Nc Ab + Pb L Cu
= 50 x 9 x 1.2 x 1.2 + 4 x 1.2 x 8 x 50
= 648 + 1920 = 2568 kN
• Taking the lower of the values in individual action and block
failure, the ultimate load capacity of pile group = 2163 kN
7 A group of nine piles, 12 m long and 250 mm in diameter, is to be
arranged in a square form in a clay soil with an average unconfined
compressive strength of 60 kN/m2. Work out the centre to centre
spacing of the piles for a group efficiency factor of 1. Neglect bearing
at the tip of the piles.
Unconfined compressive strength, qu = 60 kN/m2
Hence undrained cohesion, cu = 30 kN/m
Cu = 30 kN/m2 , α = 0.9
Ultimate load capacity of the group of piles on the basis of
individual action
= n x Qu
= 9 α Cu As (neglecting bearing)
= 9 x 0.9 x 30 x π x 0.25 x 12
= 2290 kN
Ultimate load capacity of the piles in group action,
Qg = n Qu
= 4 (2 s + 0.25) x 12 x 30
= (2880 s + 360) kN
For group efficiency factor (η) of 1, Qg = nQu
i.e., 2880 s + 360 = 2290
or s = 0.67 m or 670 mm
It may, however, be mentioned that a minimum spacing of at
least three times the diameter of the piles is recommended
for friction piles in clay.
8 A group of 9 piles with 3 piles in a row was driven into soft clay
extending from ground level to a great depth . The diameter and
length of piles were 30 cm and 10 m respectively. The unconfined
compressive strength of clay is 70 KN/m2. If the piles the piles
were spaced at 90cm center to center, computer the allowable
load on the pile group on the basis of the shear failure criteria for
factor of safety 2.5. Neglect bearing at the tip of piles. Take m= 0.6
for shear mobilization around each piles.

90
B

90

B = 2.10 m
B= 90 x 2 + 30 = 210 ;
C = Cu = 70 KN / m2
a). Pile failing individually:
Qum = n ( m c As ) = 9 ( 0.6 x 70 x 9.425) = 3562.6 KN
b). Pile failing in group
Qug = c ( 4 BL) = 70 x 4 x 2.1 x 10 = 5880 KN
Lesser of above (a) and (b) = 3562.6 KN
Safe load = Qs = ( 3562.6) / F = (3562.6 / 2.5 ) = 1425 KN
9 The Following data refers to a cyclic pile load test carried out on a 300 mm dia, 10 m long
pile.
• Load on pile top (kN) 150 200 250 300 400 500 600
Total settlement of pile top 1.45 2.25 2.75 3.60 5.75 10.75
30.00
(mm)
Net settlement of pile top 0.40 0.65 0.80 1.0 1.70 5.25
22.80
(mm)
• Plot the load-settlement curve and estimate the allowable load of the pile as per Indian
Standard Code of Practice.
 Load on pile 150 200 250 300 400 500 600
top (kN)

1.45 2.25 2.75 3.60 5.75 10.75 30.00

Total
settlement(mm)

0.40 0.65 0.80 1.00 1.70 5.25 22.80

Net
settlement(mm)

1.05 1.60 1.95 2.60 4.05 5.50 7.20

Elastic
settlement(mm)
• The load-settlement curve is plotted in Fig.
• As per IS: 2911 (Part IV)-1979, the allowable load on pile is
given by
(a) Two-thirds the load causing 12 mm settlement, that is,
Qa = (2 /3) x 500 = 333.33 kN
(b) 50 per cent of the load causing total settlement equal to 10
per cent of the pile diameter, i.e., a
settlement of 30 mm in the present case. Thus,
Qa = (1/2) x 600 = 300 kN
The smaller of the two values is 300 kN. Hence, it is the
allowable load on the pile.
10 Calculate the settlement of a pile group for conditions indicated on
Fig.
• Thickness of the compressible stratum = 7 – (2 /3) x 5 = 3.67m.
The middle of the compressible stratum is at a depth 7 - 3.67/2 =
5.17 m below ground level.
Average initial effective overburden pressure σ 0 = γ’D = (20 - 10)
x 5.17 = 51.7 kN/m2­
Width of pile group = 0.5 x 2 + 0.2 = 1.2 m.
Taking the desperation of load at an angle of 300with the vertical,
increased width of the equivalent raft at
a depth of 5.17 m is
= 1.2 + (5.17 – (2 /3) x5) tan30 ˚x 2
= 3.32 m
Increase in pressure due to load on pile.
Δσ = ( 500 / 33.322) = 46.36 KN / m2
• The clay layer being normally consolidated, the
settlement is computed from the equation,

For a normally consolidated clay,

Cc = 0.009(WL -10)
Cc = 0.009(40 - 10) = 0.027
eo = 1.05, H = 3.667 m or 3667 mm

= 13.2 mm
Thank You