Introduction to Group Piles

David M. Marks, E.I.T.

Graduate Assistant
Rowan University
 Group Piles
• Piles used in groups to transmit structural
load to soil
• Pile caps are used to tie piles together

Pile Cap
 Load Bearing Capacity
• Extremely complicated due to close pile
spacing and overlapping stresses
• Minimum center-to-center spacing
– D = 2.5 x diameter of pile
• Efficiency of pile group
  = Qgu / Qu
– Qgu = Ultimate load bearing capacity of group
– Qu = Ultimate load bearing capacity of each pile
Close Spaced Piles
Stress Bulb
 Plan View
d d
Number of Piles in
Group = n1 x n2
d Note: Lg >= Bg
Lg = (n1-1)d + 2(D/2)
Bg
Bg = (n2 –1)d + 2(D/2)
d

L
g
 Simplified Analysis
• Piles may act in 2 ways
– As a block: Lg x Bg x L
– As individual piles
• As a block: Qgu = fav*pg*L
– Fav = Average unit frictional resistance
– Pg = 2(n1+n2-2)d + 4D
– No. of piles = nn
– Spacing between piles = d
 Simplified Analysis II
• As individual piles: Qu = p*L*fav
– perimeter of cross section of each pile = p
  = [2(n1+n2-2)d + 4D]  [p*n1*n2]
• Qgu = ([2(n1+n2-2)d + 4D]  [p*n1*n2])Qu
• If  > 1; piles behave individually
• If  < 1; then,
– Qgu =  Qu
• If  >= 1
– Qgu = Qu
• See Table 9.13 for other Group Efficiency Eqns.
 Feld’s Method: Sand Embedded
d d

C B C Pile No. No. Reduction Ultimate

Type Piles Adjacent Factor Capacity
d
A 1 8 1- (816) 0.5Qu
B A B B 4 5 1- (516) 2.75Qu
d C 4 3 1- (316) 3.25Qu
C B C
6.5Qu = Qgu

 = Qgu  Qu
 = 6.5Qu  9Qu = 72%
 Ultimate Capacity of Group Piles
in Saturated Clay
• Determine Qu = n1n2*(Qp + Qs) (Eqn. 9.130)
– Qp = Ap(9cu)
– Qs = pcupL, where cup = undrained cohesion at pile tip
• Determine the ultimate capacity by assuming
the piles act as a block (Lg x Bg x L)
– Skin Resistance
 pgcuL = (2Lg + Bg)cuL
– Point Bearing Capacity
• Apqp = ApcupNc = (LgBg)cupNc
Ultimate Capacity of Group Piles
in Saturated Clay II
 Qu = LgBgcupNc + 2(Lg + Bg)cuL (Eqn. 9.131)
– Compare Eqn 9.130 and 9.131
– The lower value is Qug
 Consolidation Settlement of
Group Piles
Approximated stress distribution 2:1
Procedure:
Step1:
L = Depth of Embedment of piles
Qg = Total load acting on group
If pile cap is below surface, Qg is total
load minus effective weight of soil removed
 Consolidation Settlement of
Group Piles
Step 2:
• Assume load (Qg) acts 2L/3 from top of
piles
• Load spreads out along 2 vertical: 1
horizontal
 Consolidation Settlement of
Group Piles
Step 3:
• Calculate the stress increase at the middle
of each soil layer.
 pi = Qg  [(Bg + zi)*(Lg + zi)]
 Consolidation Settlement of
Group Piles
Step 4:
• Calculate the settlement caused by the
increased stress.
 si = [ei  (1 + e0)]Hi
 Consolidation Settlement of
Group Piles
Step 5:
• Total settlement of piles
 sg =  si