Dipl.-Ing.

Stefan Vogt
Zentrum Geotechnik, Technische Universitt Mnchen

Buckling of slender piles in soft soils

Large scale loading tests and introduction

of a simple calculation scheme
Research work at the Zentrum Geotechnik
Motivation

load

foundation

slender
(very) soft
weiche piles
Bodenschicht
soil layer

firm
soil layer
Has buckling to be
expected ?
 Research work at the Zentrum Geotechnik
Motivation

EC 7:
.. check for buckling is not
required if cu exceeds 10 kPa..
Other codes set this limit of undrained
shear strength at 15 kPa or 10 kPa
(eg. DIN 1054, 2005 or the national
technical approvals for micropiles)

We asked:
Are the standards requirements save enough?
 Research work at the Zentrum Geotechnik
Motivation

Reviewed papers:

Vik (1962),
Wenz (1972),
Prakash (1987),
Wennerstrand&Fredriksson (1988),
Meek (1996),
Wimmer (2004),
Heelis&Pavlovic&West (2004)

We asked:
Are the published design methods capable to simulate the
interaction between the supporting soil and the pile?
 Research work at the Zentrum Geotechnik
Introduction

Literature research Summary of the results

obtained in the first step
Development of a numerical FE-Model Reported by Prof. N. Vogt
at the IWM 2004 in Tokyo
Model scaled tests

In situ field load test 1.) The standards rules

underestimate the possibility of
Large scaled loading tests pile buckling

Development of a simple 2.) An elastic approach to describe

design method the lateral soil support is not
appropriate

3.) Most published calculation

methods cannot simulate the piles
behavior properly
 Research work at the Zentrum Geotechnik
Introduction

Literature research

Development of a numerical FE-Model

Model scaled tests

In situ field load test
Large scaled loading tests
Development of a simple
design method
Aim:
Proofing the obtained expertise with
large scaled loading tests on single
piles
Development of a simple design
method that can simulate the main
effects recognized in the loading
tests
 Large scaled loading tests
Loading of 4 m long single piles
Container made up with
concrete segments

Pile is pinned
top and bottom
 Large scaled loading tests
Loading of 4 m long single piles
Container made up with Measuring devices axial
concrete segments loading
settlement of force
the pile head

1,0 m

lateral
deflection
1,0 m

lateral 4,0 m
deflection
1,0 m

lateral
deflection
1,0 m
 Large scaled loading tests
Mixing up the soil in a liquid consistency
Filling the containers by pumping the liquid Draining system
soil following consolidation with the help of
the electro osmotic effects
surcharge
load
bridge abutment

necessary settlement hydraulic

jack

Pumping the liquid soil

test pile

geotextile
drainage

rigid
foundation
Large scaled loading tests

Pile type I:
Composite cross section GEWI28
Steel rod d = 28 mm
Hardened cement slurry D = 100 mm

Pile type II:

Aluminum profile
Thickness = 40 mm
Width = 100 mm
 Large scaled loading tests

Exemplary illustration of a loading test:

Alu-pile surrounded by a supporting soil of cu = 18 kPa

 Large scaled loading tests
Shear vane tests: Soil support of cu = 18 kPa
Statistical analysis: Normal plastic clay TM
w = 40,8..42,1 %
Ic = 0,53..0,48
residual shear
Maximum shear resistance cfv
strength Mean value = 18,7 kN/m
2

2
Standard deviation = 2,1 KN/m

Residual shear strength cRv

2
Mean value = 12,7 kN/m
2
Standard deveation = 1,2 KN/m

maximum shear strength

0 10 20 30 40
undrained shear strength cu [kPa]
 Large scaled loading tests
Loading characteristic: Soil support of cu = 18 kPa
Settlement of the pile head
Versuchsnummer: KFL-FLACH40x100-02 System:

250 20 N

225 uO

settlement of the pile head [mm]

200 16

Verschiebung am Pfahlkopf uO [mm]

[kN]

175
Sudden increase of the pile
N [kN]

head settlement while the axial

pile force

150 12
Pfahlnormalkraft

normal force is decreasing Querschnitt:

125

100 8
axial

75

50
No sign in the characteristic of the 4
A

measured deformations that showed

Pfahlnormalkraft
25 the pile failure in advance!
Verschiebung uo
0 0
0 600 1200 1800 2400 3000 3600 4200 4800 5400 6000 6600 7200 7800 8400 9000

time [s]
Medauer [s]
 Large scaled loading tests
Lateral deflection: Soil support of cu = 18 kPa

N
Axial force N deflection w

50 kN 0,4 mm

100 kN 0,9 mm

w 212 kN 1,2 mm
w
220 kN (ultimate) 9 mm
 Large scaled loading tests
Analysis
plastic normal force pile type II
600
Results:
500
- With an increasing soils 450
undrained shear strength cu
the ultimate bearing capacity 400

rises 350
plastic normal force pile type I
- Buckling regularly 300
N [kN]
determined the ultimate state 250
of the system, even in soils
200
with an undrained shear
strength of cu > 15 kN/m2 150

100

50
pile type I (EpIp = 55 kNm2) 0
pile type II (EpIp = 38 kNm2) 0 5 10 15 20 25
cu [kN/m2]
 Large scaled loading tests
Analysis

1000,0
Results:

No failure due to a limited 800,0

piles material strength!

600,0
maximum interaction of
N [kN] the internal force
Interaktionskurve des
variables
Pfahles (pile type II)
FLACH40x100
400,0

cu = 18,7 kN/m2
200,0 ? cu = 10,5 kN/m2
Even the backing moment ?
cu = 0 kN/m2
out of the lateral soil support
0,0
is not considered 0,00 2,00 4,00 6,00
M [kNm]
 Large scaled loading tests
Analysis

Results:

For lower axial forces the lateral deflections of the pile

remain very little (stiff behavior)

The failure of the micro piles occurred suddenly (no sign of

failure from the measured deformations)

The halve waves of the buckling piles bending curve were

always smaller than the full piles length (from joint to joint)
Introduction of a simple design method
 Introduction of a simple design method
Finding a static system

N
Substituted mechanical system with a
buckling length of LHw
z

the length of the effective buckling figures half

wave LHw can develop freely for the most conditions in
situ at the upper and lower boundaries of the soft soil
layer

the large scaled loading tests showed that LHw

the length of the buckling figures half waves
were smaller than the maximum possible
length of 4 m;

an infinite long pile can be assumed for the

calculations;
 Introduction of a simple design method
Finding a static system

N
All forces acting on the static system with T=P
a length of LHw

zp z

Lateral soil support MM LHw

LHw
p(z) T = 0

N
Bending moment in the middle

wN,M
w0,M
 Introduction of a simple design method
Derivation

N
Setting up equilibrium: T=P

Condition M = 0 at the pinned z

zp
top
P

LHw MM
MM = N w N,M + P zp LHw
LHw
imp p(z) T = 0

Force from the lateral soil support is

defined piecewise in order to a
elastic-plastic soil resistance wN,M
w0,M
 Introduction of a simple design method
Derivation

N
Force P from a bi-linear approach of the
T=P
supporting soil:

L Hw zp z
P = k l w N,M for: wN,M < wki

L Hw P
P = k l w ki for: wN,M wki
MM LHw
LHw
supportion force P p(z) T = 0
pf
N
for a deformation of wN,M > wki
the lateral supporting force is
kl remaining constant
1 wN,M
wki deformation wN,M w0,M
 Introduction of a simple design method
Derivation

Assumption: The piles material

Condition M = 0 at the pinned top
remains elastic

LHw
MM = N w N,M + P zp MM = E p Ip w N,M
imp

defined picewise
2 1 2
wN,M 2 Ep Ip + 2 pM LHw
LHw
N=
LHw
wN,M +
imp
 Introduction of a simple design method
Presentation

N = F (wN,M, EpIp, imp, LHw and 2 1 2

wN,M 2 Ep Ip + 2 pM LHw
the soil support: pf and wki) LHw
N=
L
wN,M + Hw
imp
N
perfect bilinear perfect elastically
bedded beam bedded beam

imperfect elastically buckling load according to

bedded beam ENGESSER
(elastically bedded beam):
imperfect bilinear
bedded beam

buckling load according to

perfect unsupported beam EULER
(unsupported beam):
imperfect unsupported beam

wki wN,M
 Introduction of a simple design method
Presentation

2 1 2
LHw is unknown! w ki 2 Ep Ip + 2 w ki kl LHw
LHw
Nki =
For defined parameters (soil L
w ki + Hw
support, imperfection and flexural imp
rigidity) there is one length of LHw, Nki
for which the buckling load Nki is
minimal

Vary LHw to find the minimum and

therefore effective buckling length!

effective Nki

effective LHw
LHw
 Introduction of a simple design method

Summary of the calculation sequence:

1.) Define the parameters of the lateral soil support pf und wki
2.) Define an imperfection and the flexural rigidity of the piles
cross section
3.) Evaluate the effective buckling half wave's length LHw

4.) Calculate the buckling load Nki

5.) Check if the piles material strength governs the maximum

bearing capacity (this means: does the piles material yield
before the buckling load is reached)
You may download an Excel-Sheet at www.gb.bv.tum.de
 Introduction of a simple design method
Back-calculation of the large scaled tests

Pile type I

500

450
pf = 10 cu b
Used: half side cracked cross
400 kl = 100 cu
section (no tension stresses in
350 imp = 600 the hardened cement)
300
N [kN]

250 hardened cement:

C20/25
50 mm
200

150
pf = 6 c u b 100 mm
GEWI28: BSt 500 S
100 kl = 60 cu

50 imp = 300
EpIp = 55 kNm2
0
0 5 10 15 20 25
cu [kN/m2]
 Introduction of a simple design method
Back-calculation of the large scaled tests

Pile type II

1000,0

800,0

kl = 100 c u
600,0 pf = 10 cu D
N [kN]

kl = 100 cu
pf = 7 c u D
400,0
Alu-pile:
Al Mg Si 0,5
200,0
kl = 70 c u 40 mm
pf = 7 c u D
100 mm
0,0
0 5 10 15 20 25 EpIp = 38 kNm2
cu [kN/m2]
 Summary

In (very) soft soils pile buckling should always be verified!

With the help of the presented design method the main effects of
the loading tests can be considered in basic.

The insecurities upon the design method is based and which are
recognizable comparing the theoretical results with the data form the
pile load tests must be covered by partial safety factors on the
structural part and the soil resistance.

- Compound effects steel-concrete

- Soil resistance (wki, pf)
- Viscous influence
creep and relaxation
Thank you for your
Attention!
 Research work at the Zentrum Geotechnik
Introduction

beam supported by springs

Literature research
N
Development of a numerical FE-Model

Model scaled tests

In situ field load test

characteristic of the lateral
reaction forces
Large scaled loading tests
elastisch or elastisch-plastisch
Development of a simple
calculation scheme
supporting
force

lateral deflection
 Research work at the Zentrum Geotechnik
Introduction

Loading tests on 80 cm long model

Literature research piles
Varying soil strengths and cross
Development of a numerical FE-Model sections
Comparison of the test results with
Model scaled tests the predicted buckling loads
(both numerical FEM and published
In situ field load test calculation methods)
100

Large scaled loading tests [kN] elastic characteristic

80
of the springs
Nk [kN]

Development of a simple
load

60
elastic-plastic characteristic
Knicklast

calculation scheme of the springs

buckling

40

20

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
undrainierte Scherfestigkeit cu [kN/m]
undrained shear strengh cu [kN/m2]
 Research work at the Zentrum Geotechnik
Introduction

Literature research

Development of a numerical FE-Model

Model scaled tests

Loading test of a GEWI-
In situ field load test pile in soft, organic soil

Large scaled loading tests

Sudden pile failure at a
load very little above the
Development of a simple
design load
calculation scheme
 Large scaled loading tests
Results of the loading tests of three unsupported composite piles
Why to use an aluminum pile?
100

Buckling load of the unsupported pole (EULER II)

89 kN
90

80
Loading an pile with such an inelastic behavior due to
Axial pile force N [kN]

70
its cross section material (unpredictable crack
60 propagation of the concrete) is improper to qualify the
Nu
lateral soil support!
50

40

30
Nu
20
Nu
10
wu wu
0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200

Lateral deflection in the middle of the pile wN,M [mm]

 Large scaled loading tests
Pile type II: Aluminum profile

Composite cross section, cracked

Some pile is needed which behaves half side
elastically over a wide range of lateral
displacements and which reproduces Cement: C20/25
the buckling load according to EULER in 50 mm
the unsupported case.
Solution: A aluminum pile that has a 100 mm
GEWI28: BSt 500 S
similar flexural rigidity compared to the
cracked composite cross section. EpIp = 55 kNm2

Aluminum profile
Al Mg Si 0,5

40 mm

100 mm

EpIp = 38 kNm2
 Large scaled loading tests
Test results obtained by loading of an unsupported alu-pile

Ultimate bearing capacity of the

unsupported
200
composite-piles: 100

Nk = 55, 180
22 und 19 kN

lateral displacement in the middle of the pile w [mm]

160 80

140
axial pile force N [kN]

120 60

100

80 40

60 Alupile:
40
always 20
Nk = 22 kN
20

0 0
0 600 1200
time [s]
 Introduction of a simple design method
Derivation

Assumption of a sinus shaped deformation due N

to imperfection T=P

w 0 ( z) = w 0,M sin z z
zp
LHw
P
Assumption of sinus shaped bending curves
MM LHw
LHw
w N (z) = w N,M sin z p(z) T = 0
LHw
N
This yields to a sinus shaped form of the
load per unit length due to the lateral soil
support
wN,M
p( z) = pM sin z
LHw w0,M
 Introduction of a simple design method

Is the decisive buckling Mpl LHw

2



N
w M,pl = 2 1
load Nki the ultimate axial Ep Ip Npl
load Nu of the micropile?
C
D

axial pile force N

The piles material
may yield before the case 2
wM,pl case 2
buckling load is wM,pl case 1
reached. In this case
the piles material B

strength governs the

case 1
ultimate load.

N
M = Mpl 1
A
Npl
lateral deformation wN,M