Engr.

Imran Hafeez

Selection of Pile
Selection of
i) type,
ii) length and
iii) capacity
of pile is based on two parameters
a. Soil conditions
b. Magnitude of load
Before the actual construction begins, pile
load tests must be made to verify the design
values and the foundation design must be
revised according to the test results.

Factors effecting the selection of pile

1. Length of pile in relation to the load and type of
soil
2. Character of structure
3. Availability of materials
4. Type of loading
5. Factors causing deterioration
6. Ease of maintenance
7. Estimated costs of types of piles, taking into
account the initial cost, life expectancy and cost
of maintenance.
8. Availability of funds

Geotechnical Design
By Geotechnical Design, we mean;

Depth below the ground.

Dimensions in plan (dia etc.)

These are dependant upon the pile capacity.

Total ultimate load carried by and element of pile is called total ultimate capacity of
pile Qu
Qu = Qs + Qb
Qs = Shaft resistance
Qb = Bearing resistance

And for Allowance capacity, there are two schools of thought I.e.
Qa = Qu / FOS

or

Qa = Qs/ (FOS)1 + Qb/ (FOS)2

Qs is more uncertain than Qb, so apply higher factor of safety to Qs.

METHOD FOR CALCULATING THE CAPACITY:

Three methods are used for calculating the

capacity of pile,
1. Static formula (applied for driven and in-situ piles)
2. Dynamic formula (applied for driven piles)
3. Load test
(Testing is done for 2 times the design load , if it is stable
then o.k. It is a full scale test and is the best method. But
it is the most expensive and time consuming. Load
application is very difficult.)

STATIC FORMULA
For finding out Qs;

Qs = (Fs) (As)
*Fs = c + q K tan
Where

Fs = unit skin friction

As = Effective Area of shaft
The length of the pile Coming in contact with soil. Below the N.S. L 1.5
to 1.8 m is generally ignored (damage due to installation and cracking)
q
= Aug. Effective overburden pressure.
= r Df
Avg = (0 + rD)/ 2
= Adhesion factor or Cohesion Reduction factor
*This is called Alpha () Method proposed by Tomlinson (1971)
Qs

Overburden Pressure
Avg.
Pressure
Line

r Df/2

Qs

r Df

STATIC FORMULA

Adhesion factor or Cohesion Reduction

factor
Before 1971, it was known that depends on the consistency of
soil (spt value).If the consistency is very poor, then 100% contact.
But if consistency is very hard, less contact.

So for
V. loose to loose sand & v. soft to soft clay
= 1
Very hard (stiff to very stiff clay)
= 0.4
After 1971, Tomlinson said that, the value depends
upon the penetration, actual formation, sequence of
layer. He related the value with the penetration Ratio
(PR) and gave a table where

PR = Effective Length of pile driven in cohesive soil / Dia. of pile

= Le/ D
Qs

STATIC FORMULA

Factors
K = co-efficient of lateral earth pressure. Generally K value is from
zero to 1.75
Where
Ko = pressure at rest.
= (1-sin ) OCR
OCR = Over consolidation Ratio & for N.C. C , OCR = 1
Safe to use the value close to K0.
value of K are higher for driven piles as compared with cast insitu
piles.
Usually for driven piles the values are 1 and for insitu piles it is
1

Qs

STATIC FORMULA

Factor
Tan ;
Is the co-efficient of friction and = fraction
Angle, depending upon the material of
construction, for timber pile
Timber = 2/3
For steel pile =20Degree
For concrete pile, =

Now fs can be calculated , As is also known .

Qs

STATIC FORMULA

TO FIND Fs USING EMPERICAL METHOED

For the empirical method, we do two tests i.e. SPT test and CPT test.
I) SPT TEST ( MAYORHOFF 1976):
According to Mayorhoff
Fs

= (m) (N)

in Kpa

m
= Constant. Depending upon the method of installation.
= 2 (for large volume displacement (Driven piles))
= 1(for No volume or displaced (Cast piles))
N
= Average value of SPT Resistance (Average is taken for
the SPT Values at depths 8B above the tip and 4B
below the tip.

Qs

Depth for SPT

B

8B

4B
Qs

CPT TEST (MAYERHOFF):

This test is further of two types,

(a) By Mentle Cone:

In this only a cone is attached to the Rod. This type of cone is called Mentle
Cone. Here only the cone comes in contact. The resistance measured is
called the cone resistance qC
Fs = 0.0005 qc

in Kpa

(b) Friction Jacket Cone:

In this case, there is a Sleeve. The Resistance offered by sleeve is qcs
Fs = (m) (qcs)
m
m
qcs
qcs
Qs

= 1.5 for driven piles

= 1.0 for cast Insitu piles
= Resistance offered by shaft
= total Resistance - qc

FOR CALCULATING Qb:

Qb = (Ab) (qult)

qult = Bearing capacity of Soil.

Ab = X Sectional area of the Pile
So the problem lies only in finding out of
qult. it can be founded by
i) Bearing capacity equations
ii)Empirical methods
Qb

Bearing capacity equations

qult

= CNC + rDf Nq+ r B Nr

This equation was for shallow footing. Modifying it for deep footing i.e. D/B 4

qult

= CNC + rDf Nq + 0.5rBNr

NC, Nq,Nr, is constants different from NC and Nr.

Nc = 9 (instead of 5.7)

For pure clay) =0)

Nc = 9 ,
Thus

Nq= 1,
(qult)Net =

Nr = 0
CNC = 9c

For pure sand:

qult = 0+ qNq+0
For driven piles, B is very small so the 3rd term may be negative.
qult = q Nq
qis different from q because q = Avg. & q = Maximum

Qb

EMPERICAL METHODS
(SPT and CPT tests)
(a) SPT TEST (Mayerhoff)
qult = 40N Lb/ B 400N

in Kpa

Lb = Length of pile in the stream of end bearing.

(b) CPT TEST
qult = qc

Stratum # 01

Stratum # 02
qc = Cone Resistance
QU = Qs+Qb
Note:
We know that
Fs= c + K Tan
qult =
CNC + q Nq + 0.5rBNr
q = Effective Earth pressure depending on the length of the pile
q = rD
= r (Length of Pile)

Lb
End Bearing