CIV E 481 SOIL ENGINEERING

Pile Foundation Solution_ Tutorial No.5

1 Given: Sketches of pile foundation on different soil stratum.
Required: To examine whether the use of pile is appropriate or not. And To state the
information which would be required to design each pile group.
Solution:
Fig. 1- a
Here the use of pile foundation is appropriate since
the soft clay is liable to settlement. The piles
transfer the superstructure load to a better bearing
stratum-sand. Moreover the depth of soft clay layer
should be large enough to render the use of shallow
foundation uneconomical. In case of shallow depth
of the clay layer removal of the whole soft clay
layer may allow the use of shallow foundation.
The concerns (a) Clay layer: There exists downdrag
Fig. 1-a effect as the soft clay consolidates and settles. If the
clay is swelling type, undesirable forces are transferred to the pile by means of
positive skin friction. (b) Sand layer: If the sand is loose the load transfer would be
mainly due to friction resistance and the toe resistance is very negligible. The
settlement would be high and occurs relatively quickly. In case of dense sand , the
resistance is mainly due to end resistance. The frictional resistance contribute very
little. The settlement would be very low and immediate. If the sand layer is made up
of dense, saturated fine sand, relaxation may decrease the ultimate capacity after
initial driving. Temporary liquefaction may also occur. The probability of
liquefaction is greater in loose sands.
Fig. 1-b
Here the use of driven piles densifies the loose sand
and the resistance comes mainly from frictional
resistance. In order to attain sufficient resistance, it
may be required to install longer piles.
In such situation the settlement would be quite
substantial and occurs immediately. The amount of
settlement should be limited to meet code
requirements. In seismic areas the potential for
liquefaction is very high. In most of the cases
Fig. 1-b improving the soil properties would be quite
appropriate.
Fig. 1-c
In this case pile foundation is generally not
appropriate, unless otherwise the structure is
extremely important.
For common structures, shallow foundation on the
bearing stratum (dense sand) can reliably sustain the
load. In case of high stress cycle there might be a
possibility of liquefaction. Settlement here is very
small.

Fig. 1-c

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Pile Foundation Solution_ Tutorial No.5

Fig.1-d
For such situation pile foundation could be appropriate to
reduce settlement and attain higher bearing capacity at
depth. The load transfer mechanism is mainly by shaft
resistance if the undrained shear strength is less than
100kPa.whereas both the shaft and toe resistance could be
accounted if the undrained shear strength is greater than
100kPa. However it is suggested that the final design be
supplemented with actual test loading.
Fig. 1-d If the clay is swelling type, the effect of uplift pressure
should be taken in to account. If uplift force is very high,
underreamed and multi-underreamed piles, and screw piles may have to be used.

Fig.1-e
Here it appears that the pile is driven close to the clay
layer. Such installations transfer the stress influence to
the clay soil and cause increased settlement.
Moreover there exists a possibility of punching failure of
the bearing dense sand layer into a lower weak clay
material.
It is generally desirable to contain the stress influence
Fig. 1-e zone (stress bulb) within the dense sand. Shallow
foundation could be better option in most common
situations.

Fig.1-f
This shows the most appropriate use of pile foundation.
The load transfer mechanism is mainly end bearing. The
concerns will be the downdrag when the soft clay layer
consolidates and/or the uplift force in case the clay is
swelling type.

Fig. 1-f
Fig.1-g
Inappropriate use of pile foundation, since the stress is
transferred to the clay layer which causes excessive
settlement. If the pile is limited in the sand layer both
friction and end bearing resistance from this layer could
be potentially used, provided that the pile is not close to
the clay layer(as in case Fig.1-e).Downdrag as the fill and
the clay layers consolidate is also a major concern. As an
option removal of the fill and construction of shallow
foundation on the sand layer may be considered.
Fig. 1-g

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Pile Foundation Solution_ Tutorial No.5

2. Given:
Friction piles; length =12.5 m, D=0.3 m, Q = 2,800kN (includes pile cap weight)
Insensitive clay up to 35m depth with Cu= 50kPa
Factor of safety =3
Required: Selection of number and spacing of piles.
Solution: Using ethod, and assuming the empirical adhesion factor, =0.9,
Single pile capacity: It is determined from frictional resistance

Qf = *Cu*As =0.9*50*(*0.3)*12.5 =530.14kN

The allowable load capacity: Qall = Qf / FS = 530.14/3 =176.71kN.

Number of piles =Total Load (Q)/Single Pile capacity

2800
n= = 15.85 , => take 16 piles
176.71

Pile spacing ,e >3d >1m+d (DIN 4026)

3*d= 3*0.3 = 0.9m / 1m+d= 1+0.3 = 1.3m => lets take the spacing as 1.3m

Checking pile group efficiency:

4.2
1.30 0.15

Note : All dimensions are in metres

For the pile group:

Frictional resistance:
Qf = *Cu*As
1.30

4.2

= *Cu*2(Lg+Bg)*L
(Taking = 0.9)
1.30

= 0.9*50*2*(4.2+4.2)*12.5
= 9450 kN
0.15

Point bearing capacity:

0.15 1.30 1.30 1.30 0.15 Qp=Apqp = ApCu(p)Nc*
Fig. 2

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Pile Foundation Solution_ Tutorial No.5

Lg/Bg =1.0 & L/Bg= 2.98
The bearing factor Nc* =8.9
(From Chart in Principles of Foundation Engineering, B.M.Das, pp 658)
Qp= 4.22 *50*8.9=7849.8 kN
Qall= (9450+7849.8)/3.0 =5766.6 kN, which is higher than Qapp= 2800kN => It is safe.

3. Given: A group of 112, 0.3m diam., 15m long piles,

7 rows of 16 spaced @ 1.0 m c/c
= 18kN/m3 and Cu(avg.)= 40kPa (15% of samples < 30kPa)
= 0.6, FS= 3.0
Required: Maximum load that can be carried by the group: Qall

Solution:
Accounting for the soil strength parameter variability, lets take simply the average of the
two undrained shear strength values: Cu (avg) = 0.5*(40+30) = 35kPa
Moreover we may ignore the pile tip resistance, which still keep us on safe side.
A) Single Pile action:
Qult= Qf= CuAs = 0.6*35**0.3*15 = 296.88 kN.
Qall = Qult/FS = 296.88/3.0 = 98.96 kN.
Qtotal = n*Qall = 112*98.96 kN = 11083.52 kN.

B) Pile Group capacity:

Lg= 15*1.0 +0.3 = 15.3m

Bg= 6*1.0 +0.3 = 6.3m
Lg/Bg=2.43 & L/Bg= 2.38 => Nc*~ 8.0
Qult = *Cu*As + ApCu(p)Nc*
= (0.6)*35*2(15.3+6.3)*15 + (15.3*6.3)*35*8.0 =40597.2 kN.
Qall= Qult/FS = 40597.2 /3.0 = 13532.4 kN
Since Single pile action gives smaller capacity, we take Qall = 11083.52 kN.

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Pile Foundation Solution_ Tutorial No.5

4. Given : For Question 3 , bedrock at 15m below the base of pile tip
mv= 1.25 x 10-4/kN
Required: Settlement of the pile group

2/3Lp
Lp=15m

Bg=6.3m

2V:1H 2V:1H
15m

Bedrock
Fig. 3

Solution:
Average stress increment at:
i) Top ( 2/3 *15 = 10 m from pile cap base)
Qall 11083.52
top = = = 114.98kPa
B g * Lg 6.3 * 15.3

Qall 11083.52
mid = = = 26.88kPa
( B g + z1 )( L g + z1 ) (6.3 + 10)(15.3 + 10)

Qall 11083.52
bot = = = 11.94kPa
( B g + z 2 )( L g + z 2 ) (6.3 + 20)(15.3 + 20)

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Pile Foundation Solution_ Tutorial No.5

114.98 + 4 * 26.88 + 11.94
avg = = 39.07 kPa
6
Settlement,s=mv*avg*H

s = 1.25 *10-4 m2/ kN * 39.07 kN/m2*20m=0.0977m= 9.77cm

5. Given: A bored ,cast in-place pile , underreamed (see the sketch in Fig.4)
Applied Load = 2500 kN
Q=2500 kN
Soil parameters as sketched below in Fig.4.
Overall Factor of safety = 2
Local overstressing factor of safety = 3
Dp=0.6m
= 0.45
Required: Comment on the adequacy of the pile 9.0m Variable sandy clay
Cu=60 kPa
Solution:
= 0.45
The pile resistance comes from both frictional part
and the tip resistance.
Till,
Qs = *Cu*As = 0.45*60**0.6*9.0=458 kN Cu=200 kPa
Qp= Nc* Cu Ap= 9.0 *200* (1.8)2/4=4580 k Db=3Dp

Fig. 4
(I) Qall(overall)=(458+4580)/2 = 2519 kN > Qapp = 2500 kN
(II) Qall(local) = 458+4580/3= 1984.7kN < 2500 kN
Since the applied load exceed the limit for the local overstressing, the tentatively selected
pile is not adequate. Therefore either the diameter of pile and base should be increased or
install the pile at sufficient depth into the till.