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 Aifred A. Seymour-Jones
Howard Needles Tarnrnen & Bergendoff, New York, NY 1 0 0 1 9

For presentation a t
Associated Pile & Fitting Corp. PILETALK Seminar
Miami Beach, Florida, March 1978

11 I. Sh.')':lIOLlR;IOA'ES is chicf soils e n ~ i n e e rfor HNT&Brs eastern offices.

IJc 1s irl clrargt. oj'fic~ltllaboratory, and design work related t o subsurface mat-
erials U ~ I strr11~11ir~1
L ~ .srtpport. Ile has had extensive experience in hydraulics,
.. , gcolo.~j.clnd ,fol~trtlirtiorlsengineering. Recent& hc has worked o n evaluation
o f .slr[)port ill potolriul s/ide dtrd coal mine lvaste areas, o n Washington D C
~IIctro, arid otr u tndjor frighrc~a~ interchange with u bridge over a former
I , 0 1 l : ~ ' \i.orh-
r / L ( I S inclltdeC! ~?aterjrorltstrricturrs slich o.r cellztlar cojyer-
darns, airficr!d plt~t~trirlg oj'/)uildings.
ulrd z~n(ierpit~rli/lg

A difficult task for engineers and contractors is estimating t h e lengths o f

friction piles. .A theoretical equation has not been developed that results in
accurate pile lcngth estilnates. Empirical methods, rules of t h u m b and jud-
gement bascd o n experience are used:
This paper presents analytical guides for estimating t h e lengths of fric-
tion piles that t h e a u t h o r has found useful. There is n o claim o f originality
for these guides since they were developed frorn m e t h o d s proposed I)y others,
which the a u t h o r has found t o be useful. T h e use of these guides requires
a critical review of the results obtained t o insure that t h e y are reasonable. -
Estimating length o f friction piles is used primarily b y , foundation en-
gineers t o assure that adequate pile-friction capacity is achieved and b y en-
gineers and contractors t o estimate pile contract quantities.
T h e guides presented herein meet b o t h of .these needs. The writer jud-
ges these guides t o be applicable f o r driven piles u p t o 1 5 0 t o n design load.
T h e hasic d a t a requred t o utilize these guides are boring logs containing
t h e Standard Penetration Test (SPT) data, soil descriptions, and information
o n t h e proposed t y p e o f piling t o be used such as type, design load and shape.
It is n o t the intent o f the author t o imply that these guides should re-
place pile load tests. Rather, they can be used as a means t o estimate the
length of load test piles, t o s~ipplernentt h e load test results where soil con-
ditions are quite variable and t o provide an estimate o f pile quantities prior
t o t h e making o f pile load tests.
These guides are n o t intended t o b e used t o evaluate potential pile set-
tlement o r pile group effects. Additional studies, which are beyond t h e scope
of this paper, are required for such evaluations.

Boring Data

T h e basic d a t a required from the borings is t h e SPT spoon penetration

resistance and a reasonably good soil description. T h e use of these guides
requires reasonably accurate boring data.
It is not t h e intent t o imply that soil strength tests o r special field tests
will n o t be required. Often these guides can provide insight as t o when such
 are available or when the project is coo srllalt L U .pub.-.

It has been established that the SPT data can be appr

to the cohesion of clay soils (Terzaghi & Peck) and t o ti. n
,. ,....b.
w a i l a b k L

ly relatei *
ive density
of granular soils, which can be related t o the angle of s h e a d s i s t a n c e for ,
granular soils (Burmister). These factors provide the basis for using the
boring data.

Pile Data
-1' At the present time there is a wlde variety of driven piling in use. Charac-
teristics inherent to different type piles affect their capacity and driving and
must be taken into account when using these guides. The basic information
required for this analysis is whether the pile is a non-displacement, straight
displacement o r a tapered displacement pile.
I
Static Pile Capacity Method

A number of writers, such as Moore, Chellis, Terzaghi and Peck, have

developed analytical methods for determining t h e capacity of friction piles.
Additional methods are presented i n the Navy Design Manual DM-7. The basic
analysis inherent to all these methods is the estimation of the pile-soil adhe-
sion values developed over the full length of the pile. Usually some estimate
of the effect o f the pile point bearing is also included.
The writer's method of analysis uses the same approach. The sod friction
values are determined as a function of the Standard Penetration Test values,
the soil description and the type and shape of t h e proposed pile. A chart
relating these effects was developed, based primarily upon the pile-soil adhe-
sion values noted by Chellis and Terzagi and Peck. This method neglects any
point bearing contribution t o the pile capacity since tests o n instrumented
piles have shown' that it generally contributes 20 percent o r less of the pile
capacity. Fig. 1 presents estimated values of pile-soil adhesion values based
upon t h e conditions listed above.
The use o f this method of analysis is simple. After the desired pile type,
working load and safety factor are determined, t h e incremental values of pile-
soil shear are detenilined for t h e pile until a depth of pile equaling the
required pile capacity is determined. A sample calculation is given in.Appen-
dix I. It should be noted that the above method of analysis requires separate
evaluations o . the pile capacity as a structural member, the pile group effects
and pile settlement.
The writer has compared this method of analysis with the results of pile
load tests where t h e soil conditions have been relatively uniform. The results
are given in Fig. 2. The data indicates this analysis is generally conservative,
probably a t least partially due t o omission of t h e bearing capacity of the pile
point.

Dynamic Pile Formula Method

The Bureau of Reclamation has developed a method of estimating the

N length of friction piles based o n a comparision of the SPT spoon sampler driv-
ing resistance with the driving resistance o n a number of timber piles analyzed
Pile M h e s i o n - ksf by the Engneering News formula. This approach was modified by a former
associate of t h e writer, Guy Tabor, and is presented here.
FIGURE 1 J & e + . E N N k n o w n t o h a v e ' ~ o o r vin estirnatin-earing
SPT vs Pile-Soil Adhesion Values
capacity o f friction piles; a great number o f people have recommended that
 .- .
employ IL UUIIJL~ puU Uu.u.6 l.--..---.- ---.

r G u u r d - c a p s t y . Consequently, it IS reasonable t o us1

rn&hod to e s t ~ m a t epile lengths for projects where pile a
7 notid
will b e con-
trolled by the EN formula. This method of analysis has been ,-rd t o provide ,
s w h e r e p i l e -dr~vlng
good estimates of frlction pllelengths o n p r o- j-z i--
"
-
was con-
trolled by t h e EN formula.

Engineering News formula

2 W H
F o r d r o p hammers R =
S + l
2 W H
R
F o r single-acting hammers =
s + 0.1
L L.
R
where
F o r double-acting hammers =
s + 0.1
R is t h e allowable pile load i n pounds
W is t h e weight o f striking part o f hammer i n pounds
H is t h e effective height o f fall i n feet.
E is t h e actual energy delivered b y hammer per b l o w i n ft-lbs.
S is t h e average net penetration i n inches per b l o w f o r t h e last five
blows after t h e pile has been driven t o a d e p t h where successive
blows produce approximately equal net penetration.

The approach is t o relate t!ie SPT spoon sample driving resistance to the
pile design load by empirical constants that are a function of the pile type,
shape and soil type. The basic formula is:

P=CNLf

where
P is t h e design pile load i n tons
N is t h e Standard Penetration Resistance i n b l o w s per f o o t
L is t h e d e p t h o f soil represented b y N i n feet
f is t h e empirical constant

minrn Fig. 3 gives the values for "f" and notes the appropriate piles types and soil
al
r(
Q
rl-4
al conditions t o which they apply.
.r(
a a a
.ri .rl
It has been found that t h e maximum N value that should normally be used
in this equation is 50.
When SPT boring data is presented from 5 ft intervals and soil conditions
are relatively uniform this equation can be readily used in a simplified form

P m N rl
t o calculate the expected pile length as illustrated in the example in Appendix
I. Computations are for pipe piles. The same figures are applicable to uni-
P i l e Adhesion - ksf
form diameter corrugated shell. F o r H-piles the square size of t h e pile is used.
There are a number of restrictions concerning the use of this method o f
FIGURE 2 Comparison of Chart to Pile Load Test Data
analysis that should bz noted. ( 1 ) It should only be Gsed for projects where a
dynamic pile driving formula is t o be used as the basis for driving t h e piling.
 J. L,luLLlr, ... -. - --- - -
1961.
Limiting Rang. -. i 4. D e ~ a r t m e n of
t t h e Navy "Design Manual: Soil blech. ~ o u n d a t i o ~ s '

Probable Range
and ~ a r t hStructures, DM-7", 197 1. '
5. Moore.
-- - W. W. "Experiences with Predetermining ~ i l e T e n g t h s "Trans-
Displacement Piles actions of the ~ m e r i c a n ~ i c i of
e t Civil
~ Engneers, 1949.
6 . Terzaghi, K. and Peck, R. B. "Soil Mechanics in Engineering Practice"
Llmiting Range
Second Edition, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1968.
Straight Piles; Probable Range

Tapered Plies; Probable Range

..
Large Dlameter Cyllnder Pllea (tentative)

Limiting Range -1 '

Probable Range

Values of Constant ' f '

Note:
--SC denotes clay soils APPENDIX I
S denotes =nd ao~ls
FIGURE 3 ESTIMATED PILE LENGTHS - EXAMPLES

1. Static Pile Capacity Method

(2) It has been tounit that in f'lne sanddeposits the sand may develop a quick
condition and lose resistance under the driving of the pile, resulting in the Design Criteria: 35T AASHO Group I Load, Safety Factor = 2, 12" pipe pilz
piles penetrating significantly ilceper than the length estimated by this
method of analysis. (3) I f thc piles are t o be pre-augered then this method
I Formula L = P x Fs L = Pile length
can be expected t o significantly under estimate pile lengths. (4) The data Ac xLIAL P = -
pile design load = 35T 7ok
noted for large diameter cylintlcr piles is tentative because it is hased o n very Ff = Safety Factor = 2
limited data. It should be used with caution. A;= pile &cumferenti$ arealft
When using this method of analysis the results should be checked against = 3.14 sq ft/ft
the boring logs to insure that they appear reasonable. Empirical formulas, of L = 70x2 = 44.5 A L= Length of pile segment
which this method is one, are only guides, which should be incorporated with 3.14T~A C ~ A L a= Pile t o soil adhesion for A L
good engineering judgment.

General Comments

It has been the author's experience that the use of dynamic pile driving
1
I
Depth
soil
Description N AL NQ
e
kips axAL Z axAL
formulas for estimating the length of friction piles for some stiff clay deposits Sandy Ftg. level
results in pilcs much longer than required. For these cases the piles should be #'- 5' 10 1.1-1.4 5.5- 7.0 5.5- 7.0
driven to a specified pile tip elevation detzrmined from a pile load test. The i 7' 11 0.4-0.6 2.8- 4.2 8.3-11.2
determination of the optiniurr~tip elevation for the load test pile should be
based on this o r Some other static pile ca-pacity method.
When estiinating the length o f iriction piles using the two guides presented
.1 ,
above it is best 'to determine an expected range in pile lengths. Once the
range of values has been detel-mined a final single value can be selected by 43 5' 29 0.9-1.3 4.5- 5.6 34.446.5 ,3
evaluating the limiting values of the range against the boring log. 5' 43 1.1-1.6 5.5- 8.0 39.9-54-5
I 21
'7 7' 19 0.7-0.9 4.9- 6.3 44.8-60.8 ,5
I Layers
22
18
REFERENCES
I 60 Sand & 15
17
Use 44' (L=39')
1 . Bureau of Reclalncttion "Earth Manual" Second Edition, U.S. Dcpart-
men1 of the Interior, 1974. 70
2. Burrneister, D. M . "Physical, Stress-Strain and Strength Responses of
2. Dynam Borrnula Method
Design ~ l r f e r i a :3 5T working load
(a) check 12" pipe pile
(b) check tapered pile

(a) use f=0.055 t o 0.060, ford L-5'; N-35 -117 to 127

Sx, .055
1.060
(b) use f=0.070 to 0.080, fo AL-5'; N- 3588 t o 100
5x ..07

Boring Data

Sandy

Sandy Silt
.,
12 57
16 73
29 102 ( b ) Est. pile tips@ 38' t o 40' Use 40' (LZ35')
43 145 (a) Est. plle tip@ 42' t o 43' Use 43' (LZ38')

Layers
Sand &