Static Loading Test

and Prediction
Outcome

Bengt H. Fellenius
Fellenius, B.H., 2015. Field Test and Predictions. Segundo Congreso Internacional
de Fundaciones Profundas de Bolivia, Santa Cruz May 12-15, Lecture, 22 p.

May 9 2015

A Prediction Challenge to All Delegates to the 2nd CFPB, Santa Cruz, Bolivia.
Mario H. Terceros and Bengt H. Fellenius
We have constructed an instrumented pile and performed a static loading test that we intend to add a bit
of spice to the conference. To this end, we challenge everyone to submit a prediction of the test results.
Then, on Friday, we will start the day with a "Brief report on results of the static loading test and
outcome of the low-key prediction". The "Prediction" referred to is yours.
The Pile

The static loading test was performed in two phases. Phase 1

was performed on May 7, 2015, and consisted of a bi-directional
test. In the bidirectional test, the BDC pushes the length above
the BDC (the "upper length") upward and the length below (the
"lower length") downward. The load increments were 50-kN,
each with a 10-minute load-holding time. At the maximum load
of 700 kN, the lower length (1.6 m) plunged. No movement
occurred at the pile head and the net BDC opening was 60+ mm.

1.8 m

Ground Surf ace

Strain
Gages

13.8 m

9.3 m

PILE

16.4 m

The pile, TP1, is a 600 mm diameter, 16.4 m long, bored pile

constructed on April 20 by pushing a 600-mm diameter, OD,
temporary casing into the ground while augering out the core as
the pipe is pushed down taking care not to auger beyond the toe
of the pipe. Once the pipe reached the intended depth and had
been augered out, concrete (cylinder strength 21 MPa) was
poured into the pipe while it was extracted always maintaining
an inside head of concrete. A 14.0 m long reinforcing cage
consisting of six 20-mm reinforcement bars placed in a circle
with an 450-mm outside diameter was then inserted into the pipe.
The cage had been instrumented with three levels of a single
strain-gage pair at depth 1.80, 9.30, and 13.80 m below the top of
the cage (i.e., at the ground surface). A 310 mm high hydraulic
jack was attached to the bottom of the cage to serve as a
bidirectional cell (BDC) in the first phase of the static loading
test. Thus, in the test, the pile would be separated in an upper
14.8 m length and a lower 1.6 m long length. Telltale guide
pipes were attached to the cage so as to measure the opening of
the BDC and movement of the lower end of the BDC.

Strain
Gages

Strain
Gages
BDC

May 9 2015
Phase 2 test was performed on May 8, 2015. It consisted of leaving the BDC open (free-draining) and
performing a head-down test by means of a conventional reaction pile arrangement. The load increments
were 100-kN, each with a 10-minute load-holding time. The prediction event deals with Phase 2 test, only.
F.y.i., TP2, a companion pile of equal length and size, was constructed on the same day 5 m away from
TP1. It was tested as a full-length pile after the tests on TP1. Pile TP2 is not a part of the prediction event.
The Soil--CPTU and SPT diagrams
Sleeve Friction, fs (kPa)

Cone Stress, qt (MPa)

10

20

30

40

100

200

300

400

100

200

300

400

10

10

10

10

15

15

15

DEPTH (m)

DEPTH (m)

DEPTH (m)

DEPTH (m)

Friction Ratio, fR (%)

Pore Pressure (kPa)

15

20

20

20

20

25

25

25

25

The bar in the figure represents the N-indices and the bl/0.3m scale is numerically the same as the qt cone
stress, MPa. The SPT was performed with a constant height-of-fall. The soil profile consists of 9 m thick
layer of silty fine sand, followed by 6 m of fine sand on sand. A 0.2 m thick clay layer was encountered
at 15.0 m depth. The groundwater table is located at 5.0 m depth. The saturated solid densities of the
three soil layers are 2,100, 2,000, 2,100 kg/m3, respectively.
The Prediction Submission
The primary submission is a prediction of the load-movement of the pile shaft (Phase 2) and the capacity
of the shaft, as determined from that same load-movement curve. Submit the values in table showing two
columns, one for load (kN) and one for movement (mm). Use at least 8 load-movement points on the
curve to the maximum load. Give the evaluated capacity as a separate value. You can use either a Word
document or an Excel file. Please submit your prediction to Bengt by e-mail to address:
Bengt@Fellenius.net. The submission deadline is noon May 14.

Soil Profile
Sleeve Friction, fs (kPa)

Cone Stress, qt (MPa)

0

10

20

30

40

100

200

300

Friction Ratio, fR (%)

Pore Pressure (kPa)

0

400

100

200

300

400

10

10

10

DEPTH (m)

DEPTH (m)

10

DEPTH (m)

DEPTH (m)

SPT

15

15

15

15

20

20

20

20

25

25

25

25

1.8 m

Ground Surf ace

Strain
Gages

16.4 m

13.8 m

9.3 m

PILE

Strain
Gages

Strain
Gages
BDC and
telltales

BDC = Bidirectional Cell; a sacrificial

hydraulic jack
5

Test Programme
Phase 1

Activate the BDC to perform a bidirectional test, pushing the

upper length upward and the lower length downward. This will
create an opening between the two pile lengths.

Phase 2 Activate the jack on the pile head to perform a head-down test
on the upper pile length with the BDC free-draining The pile will
then function in shaft-bearing only with no toe resistance until
the BDC opening is closed).
Phase 3 If the full resistance of the lower length was not engaged in
Phase 1, then , the jack at the pile head will be closed and the
BDC be re-engaged (The jack at the pile head will now provide
the additional resistance needed).

Test Results
Phase 1
The bidirectional (BDC) test pushed the lower length
downward a distance of abut 60 mm at the 700-kN
maximum load---plunging type response. The
measurement is approximate, only, due to friction of the

telltales in the guide pipes. The pile head showed no

movement. Upward movement at the BDC level was
small representing the pile shortening for the load.
7

Predictions
6,000
6,000

All Predictions Received with Capacity Interpretations

All Predictions Received

5,000
5,000

LOAD (kN)
LOAD (kN)
LOAD

4,000
4,000
3,000
3,000
My Prediction

2,000
2,000
1,000
1,000

0 00
0 00

1010
10

2020
20

3030
30

4040
40

5050
50

6060
60

7070
70

MOVEMENT
(mm)
MOVEMENT
(mm)
MOVEMENT
(mm)
The circles are the capacities as interpreted
from each curve by the particular predictor
8

6,000

with Measured Load-Movement

5,000

LOAD (kN)

4,000
3,000
2,000
1,000
0
0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

MOVEMENT (mm)
Dashed curve is my prediction prepared with full benefit of the results
of the 2013 tests on similar piles in very similar soilhardly Class A .
9

Enlarged View of Predictions and Head-down Test on TP1 Upper Length

3,500
3,000

LOAD (kN)

2,500
2,000
1,500
1,000
500
0
0

10

15

20

25

30

35

MOVEMENT (mm)
10

Fitting analysis to the results

rs = 'z

The pile is
assumed made
up of a series of
short elements,
each affected by
soil resistance

rs = f(movement)
Movement =
function of
E-modulus

?
WHICH
TO USE
AND
HOW TO
MODIFY

11

The t-z functions actually

used for the best fit

12

The final fit

4,000
Load-Movement for the Upper Pile (14.8 m)

3,500
3,000

LOAD (kN)

2,500
2,000

Head-down,
Test

1,500

Head-down
UniPile
Simulation
of Test

1,000
500

TP1 Phase 2

0
0

10

20

30

40

50

60

MOVEMENT (mm)
13

The Pile Stiffness (EA) Evaluated

from the Uppermost Strain-Gage
Unfortunately, the other strain-gages either did not
survive the construction or survived, but were
dislocated--No usable strain-gage data were obtained
1.7 m

7
6
5
y = -0.0026x + 6.7169

Es (GPa) for zero strain = 23.8 GPa

Es (GPa) for 700 = 17.3 GPa

2
1

TP2

0
0

200

400
STRAIN ()

600

800

TANGENT STIFFNESS, Q/
(GN)

SECANT STIFFNESS, Q/ (GN)

1.7 m

6
5
4
y = -0.0052x + 6.7904

Es (GPa) for zero strain = 24.0 GPa

Es (GPa) for 700 = 17.6 GPa

2
1

TP2

0
0

200

400
STRAIN ()

600

800

14

Now the results of Phase 1, the

bidirectional test
2,000

Bidirectional
Bidirectional
Downward
Downward

LOAD (kN)

1,500

1,000

500

TP1

0
0

10

20

30

40

50

60

MOVEMENT (mm)

The downward movements are unfortunately

impaired due to friction along the telltales
15

Phases 1 and 2 together

4,000
3,500
3,000

LOAD (kN)

2,500

Head-down,
Test

2,000
1,500
1,000

Bidirectional
Downward

500

TP1

0
0

10

20

30

40

50

60

MOVEMENT (mm)

The blue curve is the probable load-movement

curve for the lower length; Downward
16

Combining the results to the load-movement curve

for a head-down test on the full length of pile
4,000

Full Length Head-down

UniPile Simulation

3,500
3,000

LOAD (kN)

2,500
2,000

Head-down,
Test

1,500
1,000

Head-down
UniPile
Simulation
of Test

Bidirectional
Downward

500

TP1

0
0

10

20

30

40

50

60

MOVEMENT (mm)
17

The load-movement curves for the head-down

test on Pile 2 with a fit (UniPile) to the data
and a comparison to same for Pile 1.
4,000

Compression

TP1

3,500

Head

LOAD (kN)

3,000
UniPile
Simulation

2,500
2,000

Measured

1,500
1,000
500
Toe

TP2

0
0

10

20
30
40
MOVEMENT (mm)

50

60
18

LOAD (kN)
0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

0
2
4
6
8

SPT Decourt

10
12
14
16

4,000

Load Distribution, TP2

Compression

TP1

3,500

Head

18

3,000

LOAD (kN)

DEPTH (m)

CPTU E-F

Load distributions at the 5-mm

element movements for Phase 2
(TP1) combined with the
distribution from CPTU and SPT
analysis of shaft resistance

From fit to LoadMovement Curve

at 5mm element

UniPile
Simulation

2,500
2,000

Measured

1,500
1,000
500
Toe

0
0

10

20
30
40
MOVEMENT (mm)

TP2
50

60

19

Thank You