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32.1 Introduction
There are two types of forces acting on piles. See Fig. 32.1.
To compute the total load that can be applied to a pile, one needs
to compute the end bearing and the skin friction acting on the sides of
the pile.
The modified Terzaghi bearing capacity equation is used to find the
pile capacity.
Pu = Qu + Su
Pu=9•215215215
where
As per the above equation, clay soils with a higher cohesion have a
higher end bearing capacity. The end bearing capacity of piles in clayey
soils is usually taken to be 9 x c.
T S
zrxDxL
where
where
q = end bearing capacity
Cu = cohesion of soil at the tip of the pile
where
c =0.20
N --SPT value at pile tip
q--c x N MN/m 2
where
c=0.15
N - S P T value at pile tip
q=9XCu
where
q = end bearing capacity
r = cohesion of soil at the tip of the pile
Chapter 32 Pile Design in Clay Soils 429
fult = c~ • Su
where
skin friction
f u l t -- u l t i m a t e
c~= skin friction coefficient
Su = u n d r a i n e d shear strength or cohesion
Su = Qu/2
where
Qu = unconfined compressive strength
These types of equations ignore effective stress effects. See Fig. 32.4.
S~
API (1984) provides the following equation to find the skin friction in
clay soils.
f = o t x Cu
NAVFAC DM 7.2
f =a•
S - skin friction
Cu - cohesion
Ap = perimeter surface area of the pile
See Table 32.1. As in the API method, the effective stress effects are
neglected in the DM 7.2 method.
Timber and
concrete piles
Very soft 0-12 0-1.0
Soft 12-24 1.0-0.96
Medium stiff 24-48 0.96-0.75
Stiff 48-96 0.75-0.48
Very stiff 96-192 0.48-0.33
Steel piles
Very soft 0-12 0.0-1.0
Soft 12-24 1.0-0.92
Medium stiff 24-48 0.92-0.70
Stiff 48-96 0.70-0.36
Very stiff 96-192 0.36-0.19
Source:NAVFACDM 7.2 (1984).
Chapter 32 Pile Design in Clay Soils 431
f = u n i t skin friction
Cu - c o h e s i o n
where
fult = u l t i m a t e skin friction
/J = skin friction coefficient based o n effective stress
r~' - effective stress
Burland (1973)
!
f--~xa v
where
f - - u n i t skin friction
O"v' - effective stress
where
where
fult = u l t i m a t e skin friction
= skin friction coefficient
Find the skin friction of the I ft diameter pile s h o w n in Fig. 32.5 using
the Kolk a n d Van der Velde m e t h o d .
Clay
Cohesion = 1,000 psf 15 ft (4.5 m)
(47.88 kPa)
y = 110 pcf (17.3 kN/m 3)
Solution
Su/a'- 1 , 0 0 0 / 8 2 5 - 1.21
Hence use
o~ = 0 . 5
u l t i m a t e u n i t skin friction - a x Su = 0.5 x 1,000
= 500 psf (23.9 kPa)
u l t i m a t e skin friction of the pile - 500 x (zr x d x L)
= 500 x ~r x 1 x 151b
= 23,562 lb (104.8 kN)
434 Geotechnical Engineering Calculations and Rules of Thumb
9 The soil element shown in Fig. 32.6 is subjected to a stress relief. The
undrained shear strength is reduced due to the stress relief.
9 The reduction of undrained shear strength reduces the skin friction
as well.
Clay
Total density (~,) = 17.5 kN/m 3 (110 pcf) Pile length = 10 rn (32.8 ft)
Cohesion = 50 kN/m 2 (1.04 ksf) Pile diameter = 0.5 m (1.64 ft)
Adhesion factor (e) = 0.75
Solution
STEP 1- Find the e n d b e a r i n g capacity.
c - c o h e s i o n - 50 k N / m 2
Nc-9
A - rr x D 2 / 4 - Jr x 0.52/4 m 2 - 0.196 m 2
u l t i m a t e e n d b e a r i n g c a p a c i t y - 9 x 50 x 0.196 - 88.2 kN (19.8 kip)
u l t i m a t e skin friction - Su - c~ x c x Ap
u l t i m a t e skin friction - 0.75 x 50 x Ap
Ap - p e r i m e t e r surface area of the pile - rr x D x L
= rr x 0.5 x l O m 2
436 Geotechnical Engineering Calculations and Rules of Thumb
Ap -- 15.7 m 2
ultimate skin friction = 0.75 x 50 x 15.7 = 588.8 kN (132 kip)
Note that the skin friction was very much higher than the end
bearing capacity in this situation.
This example explores a single pile in a uniform clay layer with ground-
water present. Find the allowable capacity of the pile shown in Fig. 32.8.
The pile diameter is given as 1 m and the cohesion of the clay layer
is 35 kPa. The groundwater level is 2 m below the surface. Find the
allowable capacity of the pile.
GW
I .... I 2 m (6.56 ft)
\/
Solution
Unlike the case for sands, the groundwater level does not affect the skin
friction in clayey soils.
STEP 1" F i n d t h e e n d b e a r i n g c a p a c i t y .
e n d b e a r i n g c a p a c i t y i n c l a y soils - 9 x c x A
c - c o h e s i o n - 35 k N / m 2
Nc-9
A--JrxD2/4-Jrx 1 2 / 4 m 2-0.785m 2
u l t i m a t e e n d b e a r i n g c a p a c i t y - 9 x 35 x 0 . 7 8 5
= 2 4 7 . 3 k N (55.5 kip)
STEP 2" F i n d t h e s k i n f r i c t i o n .
u l t i m a t e s k i n f r i c t i o n - Su - u x c x Ap
Since t h e c o h e s i o n is 35 k N / m 2, i n t e r p o l a t e t o o b t a i n t h e a d h e s i o n
factor, u.
(x - 1 . 0 ) / 1 0 - (x - 0 . 5 ) / - 35 - 35x + 35 - lOx - 5
45x - 40
x - 0.89
H e n c e u at 35 k N / m 2 is 0.89.
u l t i m a t e s k i n f r i c t i o n - 0 . 8 9 x 35 x Ap
Ap - p e r i m e t e r s u r f a c e a r e a of t h e pile - Jr x D • L
=Jrxl.0x12m 2
438 Geotechnical Engineering Calculations and Rules of Thumb
Ap - 37.7 m 2
ultimate skin friction = 0.89 • 35 • 37.7 kN
ultimate skin friction = 1,174.4 kN (264 kip)
Solution
Find the skin friction at the top of the clay layer a n d the b o t t o m of the
clay layer. O b t a i n the average of the two values.
STEP 1 - F i n d S u / ~ ' .
At p o i n t A:
Su - 25 k N / m 2
Su - 25 k N / m 2
Su/cr' - 2 5 / 1 0 2 - 0.25
fult--cg • S u - 0.65 x 2 5 - 16 k N / m 2
fult - cg • Su - 0.86 • 25 - 21 k N / m 2
= 87 kN (19.6 kip)
Sand* Clay*
Pile end bearing capacity Nq xcrv x A 9xcxA
Pile unit skin friction K x Crv x t a n ~ x Ap e x c x Ap
9 Engineers had to make sure that the underlying clay layer was not
stressed excessively due to piles.
This option was used for light loads.
32.5.4 Foundation Option 3: Timber Piles Ending in Boston
Blue Clay Layer
See Fig. 32.13.
The construction procedure for foundation option 3 was as follows.
References
Seed, H. B., and Reese, L. C. 1957. The action of soft clay along friction piles.
Proceedings of the American Society of Civil Engineers, 81, Paper 842.
Shioi, Y., and Fukui, J. 1982. Application of "N" value to design of foundations
in Japan. Proceedings of ESOPT2, 159-164.
Skempton, A. W. 1959. Cast-in-situ bored piles in London clay. Geotechnique,
153-173.