Effects of reaction piles in axial pile tests

Effets des pieux réaction dans des essais de portance axiale des pieux
J. Latotzke, D. König & H. L. Jessberger - Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Germ any

ABSTRACT: T h is p a p e r d e a ls w ith th e in te ra c tio n m e c h a n ism s e ffe c tin g th e in -situ te s tin g o f a x ia l lo ad ed p ile s u sin g re a c tio n p ile s to
transfer the a d o p te d lo ad to th e su rro u n d in g soil. T h e in flu e n c e o f th is lo ad tra n sfe r is in v e stig a te d c o n c e rn in g th e lo a d -se ttle m e n t
behaviour o f th e te s t p ile . F o r th is p u rp o se c e n trifu g e m o d e l te sts are c o n d u c te d , m o d e llin g a n id e a liz e d in -situ te s t p ro c e d u re (te st p ile
pushed dow n, fo u r re a c tio n p ile s p u lle d ), as w e ll as th e lo a d in g o f a n o n -in flu e n c e d sin g le p ile. T h e c o m p a riso n o f th e te s t re su lts sh o w s a
significant differen ce b e tw e e n th e lo a d -se ttle m e n t b e h a v io u r o b se rv e d by m o d e llin g th e in -situ p ro c e d u re an d th e lo a d -se ttle m e n t
behaviour o f th e sin g le p ile w ith o u t in te ra c tio n effe cts. T h e d iffe re n c e s in sk in fric tio n an d tip re sista n c e are d isc u sse d .

RESUME: C et essai s ’o cc u p e d e s m e c h a n is m e s in te ra c tifs q ui in flu e n c e n t les te s ts in -situ d e p o rta n c e ax ia le p o u r le sq u e lle s d e s p ie u x de

réaction sont u tilisé s p o u r d é to u rn e r la c h a rg e ap p y é e v ers la te rre e n to u ra n te . L ’in flu e n ce de ce tte d é to u m a g e su r les ta s se e m e n t so u s
charges du p ieu te s té est ex a m in é e . P o u r c e tte ra iso n d e s te s ts m o d è le s av e c d e s c e n trifu g e u rs so n t ex ecu tés: p re m iè re m e n t u n a rra n g e m e n t
d’un test in -situ id éalisé (p ieu d e te s t p re ss é v e rs le b a s, q u a tre p ie u x d e re a c tio n tiré s), d e u x iè m m e m e n t la ch arg e d ’u n seul p ie u non-
influencé. L a c o m p a ra iso n d e s ré su lta ts d e s te s ts m o n tre u n e g ran d e d iffé re n c e en tre les ré la tio n s d ’a p p y a n c e de ch a rg e p o u r
l'arrangem ent in -situ e t l ’a rra n g e m e n t av e c le seul p ie u sa n s e ffe ts in teractifs. L es d iffé re n c e s d a n s la ré sista n c e laterale u n ita ire e t la
résistance de p o in te so n t d isc u té es.

1 IN TR O D U C T IO N T h e a im o f th e in v e s tig a tio n is to d e te rm in e th e in flu e n ce o f the

lo ad tra n s fe r o f re a c tio n p ile s to th e so il o n the lo a d -se ttle m e n t
For the c o n d u c tio n o f a x ia l lo a d te s ts o n b o re d p ile s h eav y lo ad s b e h a v io u r o f th e test p ile c o n sid e rin g se v era l p ile len g th s, p ile
have to be su p e rim p o s e d to th e test p ile. D iffe re n t m e th o d s to sp a c in g s an d ty p e s o f so il. B y th e d e v e lo p m e n t o f sk in frictio n
apply these h e av y lo a d s o n th e te s t p ile are sh o w n in F ig u re 1. an d tip re sis ta n c e w ith th e lo a d in g p ro c e d u re th e m e c h a n ism s o f
Often the sy stem in F ig u re l a is used. In th is case a steel g ird e r is th e in te ra c tio n b e tw e e n te s t p ile an d re a c tio n p ile s w ill be
installed as a su p p o rt fo r th e h y d ra u lic ja c k th a t lo a d s th e te s t pile. a n a ly se d . F in a lly a m e th o d fo r th e c o rre c tio n o f th e resu lts o f in-
This girder is a n c h o re d b y re a c tio n p ile s w h ic h tra n sfe r th e s itu p ile te s ts is in te n d e d to d e v e lo p e .
reaction forces to th e so il. I f th e te s t p ile is p u sh e d w ith a certain
load, the reactio n p ile s are p u lle d w ith a lo ad o f th e sa m e size.
The load tran sfer o f th e te s t p ile a n d o f ea c h re a c tio n p ile to th e
soil effects th e sta te o f stre ss in th e so il su rro u n d in g th e resp e c tiv e
pile. This effe ct d e c re a s e s w ith in c re a sin g d ista n c e fro m th e pile.
If the effected zo n e s are o v e rla p p e d th e re is a m u tu a l in flu e n ce
between test p ile a n d re a c tio n p ile s, w h ic h q u a n tity d ep e n d s on
the distance b e tw e e n th e p iles. T h is in teractio n in flu e n c e s th e
load-settlem ent b e h a v io u r o f th e te s te d pile.
The existence o f th e s e in te rre la tio n s is k n o w n (v an W eele 1982,
1993) but th e in te n sity a n d sig n ific a n c e a c c o rd in g to th e
evaluation o f p ile lo ad te s ts is n o t j e t c o m p le te ly u n d e rsto o d . T h is
causes an u n c e rta in ty o f p ile lo ad te sts w ith re a c tio n p ile s
concerning th e c h o ic e o f th e p ile d ista n c e an d the in te rp re ta tio n o f
the m easured lo a d -se ttle m e n t b e h av io u r. In a sim ila r m a n n e r th e
described in flu e n ces a re also re le v a n t fo r th e o th e r in situ test
methods sh o w n in F ig u re 1. In th is p a p e r w e co n c e n tra te o n the
method acco rd in g F ig u re la .
In order to e v a lu a te th e in flu e n c e o f the in teractio n b e tw e e n test
pile and reactio n p ile s it is n e c e ssa ry to k n o w th e lo a d -se ttle m e n t
behaviour o f th e te s t p ile w ith o u t th e in flu e n c e o f re a c tio n piles.
For this p u rp o se tw o k in d s o f stu d ie s h a v e to b e ca rrie d out: T h e
loading o f an u n in flu e n c e d sin g le p ile (sin g le p ile sy stem ) an d the
synchronous lo ad in g o f a te s t p ile an d a g ro u p o f su rro u n d in g
reaction p iles (c o m b in e d p ile sy stem ).
In a field test it se e m s to b e d iffic u lt to tra n sfe r th e re a c tio n
forces in a w ay , th a t th e teste d p ile is n o t in flu e n ced . It also seem s
to be difficu lt to en su re c o m p a ra b le b o u n d ary c o n d itio n s fo r b o th
kinds o f tests. U s in g a p h y sic al m o d e l it is p o ssib le to a v o id these
difficulties.
Due to that, c e n trifu g e m o d el te sts are c arrie d o u t a t th e R uhr-
Universität B o c h u m to in v e stig a te th e in teractio n b etw e e n test
pile and reactio n p iles. C e n trifu g e m o d e l te sts o ffe r th e g reat
advantage to m o d e l th e in -situ stre ss c o n d itio n s in th e soil. Figure 1. Exam ples for m ethods o f field pile testing (DGEG 1992).

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 PROTOTYPE PILE
-HYDRAULIC JACK

SPREADER BAR

MODEL PILE (1-g)

K aJ9 = 1 ;p -g - V o v /m
-LOAD CELL

I
MODEL PILE (rvg),(m=n)
220
750
a ^ = n -p g -h/n
=p-gh=av TESTPILE
Figure 2. Stress levels in prototype and model. »30
300
In th is p a p e r re su lts o f tw o k in d s o f te sts are p resen ted . T h e STRONG BOX
p u sh in g o f a sin g le te s t p ile w ith o u t a n y in flu e n c e o f reactio n '.'DÈNSE SAND;
p ile s a n d th e m o d e llin g o f th e in te ra c tio n b e tw e e n th e p u sh e d test
p ile an d th e p u lle d re a c tio n piles. In th ese te sts th e p ile -0750-
a rra n g e m e n t a n d p ile le n g th a re k ep t co n stan t. [mm)
T h e re su lt o f th is tw o k in d s o f te s ts are c o m p a re d c o n c e rn in g the
Figure 3. T est design for the single pile system.
lo ad s e ttle m e n t-b e h a v io u r o f th e te s t p ile. F ro m th is c o m p a riso n
th e e ffe c t o f th e re a c tio n p ile s o n th e lo ad se ttle m e n t b e h a v io u r o f
th e te s t p ile is d isc u sse d .
Table 1. Param eters o f the model sand.

d e n s ity o f so lid p a rtic le s p s 2 .6 6 k N /m s

2. C E N T R IF U G E M O D E L T E C H N IQ U E
I m in im u m d e n s ity o f so il p min 1.39 k N /m J
T h e s tre s s-stra in b e h a v io u r o f so il is n o t lin e a r an d d ep e n d s on I m a x im u m d e n s ity o f so il p max 1.68 kN /m 3
th e stre ss lev el in c re a sin g w ith d ep th . I f so il-stru c tu re in teractio n
is in v e stig a te d b y p h y sic a l m o d e llin g it is im p o rta n t to m o d e l th e m in im u m v o id ratio o f so il e min 0.91 -
c o rre c t stre s s-stra in re la tio n sh ip a n d th e co rre c t stre ss level. m a x im u m v o id ra tio o f so il e max 0.5 6 -
U s in g c e n trifu g e m o d e l te s tin g th e sc aled m o d e l (sc a le 1 : m ) o f
O
a p ro to ty p e (fu ll sc ale) is e x p o se d to a m u ltip le o f th e earth a n g le o f in te rn a l fric tio n cp‘ 40
g ra v ity ‘n * g \ I f n is c h o se n to b e th e sc a lin g fa c to r o f th e m o d el a v a ra g e d ia m e te r o f so lid p a rtic le s d 50 0.22 mm
(m = n) all m ass fo rc e s o f th e m o d el are in c re a se d in a w ay th at
th e sta te o f stre s s in th e m o d e l an d in th e p ro to ty p e is id e n tic a l at u n ifo rm ity c o e ffic ie n t U 2 .0 9 -
s im ila r p o s itio n s (F ig u re 2 ), se e S c h o fie ld (1 9 8 0 ). T h e te sts
d e s c rib e d in th is p a p e r h a v e b e e n p e rfo rm e d in th e B o c h u m
G e o te c h n ic a l C e n trifu g e Z1 (Je ssb e rg e r & G u ttle r 1988).
T h e s e ttle m e n t o f th e p ile is m e a su re d b y a n L V D T located
in sid e th e ja c k . T h e to ta l lo ad a c tin g o n th e p ile is m easured with
3. T E S T D E S IG N a lo a d cell. A d d itio n a lly th e d istrib u tio n o f sk in friction with
d e p th is m e a s u re d w ith stra in g au g e s a p p lic a te d o n th e inner side
3.1 Single p ile system o f th e p ile a n d th e tip re sista n c e is m ea su re d se p ara te ly with a
fo rce tra n sd u c e r.
F ig u re 3 sh o w s th e m o d e l se t-u p fo r a sin g le p ile sy ste m w ith
o n e te s t p ile. T h is sy s te m is u se d to d e te rm in e th e lo a d -se ttle m e n t
b e h a v io u r o f th e te s t p ile w ith o u t th e in flu e n c e o f re a c tio n piles. 3.2 C om bined p ile system
T h e m o d e l p ile h a s a d ia m e te r o f 30 m m an d a n e m b e d d e d
le n g th o f 2 2 0 m m . A p p ly in g a g -le v e l o f n = 45 a p ro to ty p e p ile F ig u re 4 sh o w s th e te s t d e s ig n o f th e c o m b in e d p ile system to
w ith a d ia m e te r o f D = 1.35 m an d a n e m b e d d e d len g th o f m o d e l th e in -situ p ile test w ith o n e te s t p ile an d fo u r reaction
L e= 9 .9 m is m o d elled . piles. T h e g e o m e tric a l a rra n g e m e n t o f th e p ile s is presented in
T h e m o d e l p ile s are m a d e fro m a steel tu b e w ith a w all th ic k n e ss F ig u re 4 b . H e re th e c le a r p ile d ista n c e is a b o u t 4 tim e s the pile
o f 1 m m . T h e ro u g h n e ss o f th e su rfa c e is in crease d by g lu in g it d ia m e te r. T h e d im e n sio n s o f th e re a c tio n p ile s are equal to the
w ith sa n d . B y th is a so il-p ile in te rfa c e m ay b e m o d e lle d sim ila r to d im e n sio n s o f th e te s t pile.
b o re d p iles. T h e m o d e l p ile is p la c e d in th e ce n tre o f a circ u la r T o re a liz e th e in -situ lo a d in g o f te s t p ile an d re a c tio n p iles in the
stro n g b o x e m b e d d e d in fin e, d e n s e sand. T h e p a ra m e te rs o f the m o d e l a sp e c ia l lo a d in g m e c h a n ism h a s b e e n d ev elo p ed . This
so il are g iv e n in ta b le 1. m e c h a n is m m a k e s it p o ss ib le to lo ad th e te s t p ile an d th e group of
A fte r sp in n in g u p th e c o m p le te d m o d el p la c e d in th e cen trifu g e fo u r re a c tio n p ile s se p a ra te ly b u t sy n c h ro n o u s w ith tw o hydraulic
to th e se le c te d g -le v e l o f n = 45 th e te s t p ile is p u sh e d d o w n b y a ja c k s . T h e u p w a rd s d ire c te d lo ad in g o f th e re a c tio n piles is
h y d ra u lic ja c k w ith a v ery slo w lin e a r lo ad fu n c tio n o f a c h ie v e d by lo a d in g a ste el ro p e th a t is ste e re d a ro u n d on several
0 .3 2 4 M N /h c o n c e rn in g th e p ro to ty p e . T h e ja c k is fix ed o n a ro lls a n d fin a lly h in g e -c o n n e c te d o n b o th e n d s w ith tw o reaction
sp re a d e r b a r th a t tra n sfe rs th e re a c tio n fo rce s to th e w a lls o f the p ile s m o u n te d a t a little steel bar. W ith th is m echanism an
s tro n g bo x . u n ifo rm d is trib u tio n o f th e lo ad o n ea c h re a c tio n p ile is ensured.

1098
 Figure 5. L oading procedure o f test and reaction piles
(prototype scale)

T h e to ta l lo a d , sk in fric tio n a n d tip re sistan ce as w ell a s th e

s e ttle m e n t o f th e te s t p ile are m e a su re d as d esc rib e d in c h ap ter
3.1. T h e to tal lo ad o f th e re a c tio n p ile s is m easu red w ith tw o load
c e lls m o u n te d b e tw e e n th e en d o f the ro p e an d th e little steel bar.
T h e sk in fric tio n d istrib u tio n o f th e re a c tio n p ile s is m e a su re d
w ith stra in g a u g e s a p p lic a te d o n the in n er sid e o f th e p ile s. T h e
d is p la c e m e n t o f th e re a c tio n p ile s is m easu red w ith a n L V D T
p la c e d o n th e to p o f ea c h re a c tio n pile.

4. R E S U L T S

A ll te s t re su lts are p re se n te d in th e p ro to ty p e scale. T h e g-lev el

o f all p re se n te d te s ts is n = 45.

4.1 Single p ile system

T h e lo a d -se ttle m e n t b e h a v io u r o f a sin g le p ile o b se rv ed in three

c e n trifu g e m o d e l te sts are sh o w n in F ig u re 6. T h e to tal lo ad Q
a c tin g o n th e p ile is p lo tte d v e rsu s th e d im e n sio n le ss se ttle m e n t
(s/D ). T h e m a x im u m d iffe re n c e o f th e te s t re su lts re lated to the
a v e ra g e is less th a n 4 % re g a rd in g eq u al se ttlem en ts. T h e se re su lts
d e m o n s tra te th e re p ro d u c ib ility o f th e tests a n d g iv e a re liab le
r e fe re n c e to in d ic a te th e in flu e n c e o f re a c tio n p iles o n the te s t p ile
b y c o m p a rin g th e lo a d -se ttle m e n t b eh av io u r.
O n e lo a d -se ttle m e n t c u rv e is se p ara te d in sk in fric tio n Q s an d tip
re sista n c e Q T in F ig u re 7. T h e re su lts can be d e sc rib e d as fo llo w s:

Q
C)

Figure 4. Test design for the com bined pile system.

The co m p lete m o d e l is p la c e d in th e c e n trifu g e an d the

centrifuge is sp in n e d u p to th e ta rg e t sp e ed to p ro d u c e an
acceleration o f 45- g. T h e test p ile is lo ad ed d o w n w a rd s by o n e o f
the hydraulic ja c k s ju s t lik e th e sin g le p ile in F ig u re 3. Q [MN]
Sim ultaneously a se c o n d ja c k lo ad s th e g ro u p o f test p iles
upwards w ith th e d e sc rib e d m e c h a n ism . T h e lo a d in g p ro c e d u re is Figure 6. L oad-settlem ent behaviour o f test piles observed from the
shown in F ig u re 6. single pile system .

1099
 Q [MN]
Q [MN]
Figure 7. D evelopm ent o f total load, skin friction and tip resistance o f
a test pile observed from the single pile system. Figure 8. D evelopm ent o f total load, skin friction and tip resistance of
test piles observed from the com bined pile system and from
the single pile system .
- T h e tip re sis ta n c e -se ttle m e n t b e h a v io u r Q T/(s/D ) is a cu rv e
w ith in c re a sin g d e c lin a tio n th a t le a d s to lin e a r b e h a v io u r w ith o u t
y ie ld in g a failu re.
- T h e sk in fric tio n -se ttle m e n t b e h a v io u r Q s/(s/D ) sh o w s an
m a x im u m th a t m a rk s th e failu re. A fte r re a c h in g th is m a x im u m the
fric tio n d e c re a s e s an d c o n v e rg e s to a re sid u a l v alu e. T h is
b e h a v io u r is ty p ic a l fo r th e fric tio n m e c h a n ism in a d e n se soil.
W ith in c re a sin g d is p la c e m e n t in th e fric tio n su rfa c e th e so il is
lo o se n in g . A t th e p e a k th e so il p a rtic le s p a ss ea c h o th e r an d
fin ally s lid in g ta k e s p lace.

4 .2 C om bined p ile system

F ig u re 8 sh o w s th e lo a d -se ttle m e n t b e h a v io u r o f a te s t p ile from

a te s t w ith th e c o m b in e d p ile sy ste m , ta k e n in to a c c o u n t the
in te ra c tio n b e tw e e n te s t p ile an d re a c tio n piles.
T h e lo a d -se ttle m e n t b e h a v io u r ca n b e d esc rib e d a s fo llo w s:
- T h e b e a rin g c a p a c ity o f th e te s t p ile o b se rv e d fro m th e
c o m b in e d p ile sy s te m is h ig h e r th a n th e b e a rin g cap a c ity
o b se rv e d fro m th e sin g le p ile sy ste m c o n c e rn in g eq u al
se ttle m e n ts.
- R e g a rd in g s e ttle m e n ts fro m s/D > 0.05 to s/D = 0 .4 th e re is
a m a x im u m d iffe re n c e o f Q b e tw e e n th e sin g le p ile sy s te m an d
th e c o m b in e d p ile sy ste m o f a b o u t 1.5 M N .
- M o re re m a rk a b le is th e e ffe c t o f re a c tio n p ile s in the
c o m b in e d p ile sy ste m u p to a se ttle m e n t o f s/D = 0 .0 5 . F o r
su c h s e ttle m e n ts th e a b s o lu te g ro w s u p to a m a x im u m v a lu e o f
about 4 M N .
- T h e in flu e n c e o f th e re a c tio n p ile le a d s to a n in c re a se o f tip
re sis ta n c e u p to a m a x im u m d iffe re n c e o f 3 .8 M N a t a
s e ttle m e n t o f s/D = 0 .0 5. F ro m s/D = 0.05 th e ab so lu te
d iffe re n c e d e c re a se s w ith in c re a sin g se ttlem en t.
- T h e d e v e lo p m e n t o f sk in fric tio n w ith se ttle m e n ts o f th e test
p ile in flu e n c e d b y th e re a c tio n p ile s sh o w s a sim ila r
c h a ra c te ristic as th e sk in fric tio n o f th e te s t p ile fro m th e sin g le
p ile sy s te m d e s c rib e d ab o v e.
- T h e in flu e n c e o f th e re a c tio n p ile s lead s to sm a lle r
s e ttle m e n ts n e c e ssa ry to a c tiv a te th e m a x im u m sk in frictio n
(s/D = 0 .0 2 c o m p a re d to s/D = 0 .0 5 6 o f th e sin g le p ile), a n d to
a lo w e r m a x im u m o f th e a c tiv a te d sk in fric tio n (6 .4 M N to
8 M N fo r th e sin g le p ile). T h is is c learly sh o w n in F ig u re 9.
- A fte r re a c h in g th e m a x im u m a t s/D = 0 .0 2 th e sk in frictio n
o b se rv e d fro m th e c o m b in e d p ile sy ste m c o n v e rg e s fa ste r to a
re sid u a l v a lu e th a n th e sk in fric tio n o f th e u n in flu e n c e d pile.
T h is le a d s to th e fact th a t th e effe c t o n th e sk in fric tio n cau sed
b y th e in flu e n c e o f th e re a c tio n p ile s ca n be d e v id e d in tw o
se ctio n s: A n in c re a se o f th e sk in fric tio n fo r se ttle m e n ts
s m a lle r th a n s/D = 0.0 3 an d a d ec re a se o f th e sk in fric tio n for
s e ttle m e n ts la rg e r th a n s/D = 0.03.
Q s [MN]
F igure 9. D evelopm ent o f skin friction w ith settlem ents o f the test piles
observed from the com bined pile system and the single pile
system .
- A s th e in flu e n c e o n th e to tal b e a rin g cap a c ity is the
s u p e rp o s itio n o f th e in flu e n c e s o n sk in fric tio n a n d lip
re sis ta n c e , a m o re s ig n ific a n t in c re a se o f th e b e arin g capacity
o f th e te s t p ile ta k e s p la c e fo r se ttle m e n ts sm a lle r th a n s/D =
0 .0 3 a s fo r la rg e r se ttle m e n ts.
5. D IS C U S S IO N
A s ig n ific a n t in flu e n c e o f th e re a c tio n p ile s o n the load-
s e ttle m e n t b e h a v io u r o f th e te s t p ile is o b se rv e d fro m the test
re su lts, c le a rly s h o w n by p lo ttin g th e in flu e n c e fa c to rs f, fs and fT
v e rsu s s e ttle m e n t s/D in F ig u re 10.
T h e to ta l b e a rin g c a p a c ity o f th e te s t p ile is h ig h ly influenced by
th e re a c tio n p ile s c o n c e rn in g sm a ll se ttlem en ts. A n increase of
sk in fric tio n an d tip re sis ta n c e ta k e s p la c e fo r su c h settlements.
F o r la rg e r s e ttle m e n ts th e sk in fric tio n is red u c e d b y the influence
o f th e re a c tio n p ile s w h a t le a d s to a sm a lle r in flu e n c e on the total
b e a rin g cap acity .
T h e b e h a v io u r o f th e te s t p ile up to se ttle m e n ts o f s/D = 0.1 is
re le v a n t fo r p ra c tic a l d esig n . F o r th ese se ttle m e n ts th e influence
o f th e re a c tio n p ile s o n th e te s t p ile m a y le a d to a measured
b e a rin g c a p a c ity o f n e a rly 7 0 % la rg e r th an th e b ea rin g capacity of
th e u n in flu e n c e d sin g le p ile. D u e to th is it se e m s to b e necessary
to a n a ly s e th e in te ra c tio n b etw e e n te s t p ile an d re a c tio n p iles more
in detail.

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 7. R E FE R EN C ES

Em pfehlungen des A rbeitskreises 5 der DGEG 1992. Statische axiale

Pfahlprobebelastungen von Pfählen. Technical report.

Jessberger, H.L. & U.Gilttler 1988. Bochum geotechnical centrifuge.

Proc. o f the Int. Conf. o f Geotechnical Centrifuge Modelling,
Centrifuge ‘88, Corté. J.f. (ed.), Paris: 37- 44. Rotterdam :Balkem a.

Schofield, A.N. 1980. C am bridge geotechnical centrifuge operations.

Geotechnique, Vol.20: 227-268.

Van W eele A.F. 1982. W hich load is allow able on a given foundation
pile, when its actual load-settlem ent behaviour is available through
a load test?. Amici et Alumni, EM. Prof. Dr. Ir. E. E. de Beer. 287-
296.

Van W eele A.F. 1993. Keynote lecture: Q uality assessm ent foundation
s /D H piles after installation. Proc. 2nd Int. Geotechnical Seminar on Deep
Foundations on Bored and Auger Piles, Ghent,Belgium, 1993: 459-
467. Rotterdam : Balkema.
Figure 10. D evelopm ent o f the influence factors f, fs> fT with
settlements.

/ Q cps ~ Q sps ^

Q sps

(2)
Q s .cps ~ Q s ,sps

Q sps

Q
(3)
Q r.cps tjp s

where:

Q = total lo ad , Qs - sk in fric tio n , Q T = tip re sista n c e

SPS = single p ile sy ste m , C P S = co m b in e d p ile sy stem

The inv estigatio n s h a v e to b e fo c u se d o n th e id e n tific a tio n o f th e

mechanisms c a u s in g th e rap id ac tiv a tio n o f sk in frictio n w ith
small se ttlem en ts, th e lo st o f m a x im u m sk in fric tio n a n d th e
increase o f tip re sista n c e . In o rd e r to u n d e rsta n d th ese
mechanisms it w ill b e h e lp fu l to stu d y th e in flu e n c e o f p ile
distances and p ile le n g th s o n th e interactio n .

6. C O N C L U SIO N S A N D O U T L O O K

Centrifuge m o d e l te s ts h a v e b e e n p e rfo rm e d to in v e stig a te th e

interaction m e c h a n is m s e ffe c tin g the in -situ te s tin g o f axial
loaded piles u sin g re a c tio n p ile s to tra n sfe r th e a d o p te d lo a d to the
surrounding so il. T h e lo a d -se ttle m e n t b e h a v io u r o f a te s t p ile h as
been d eterm in ed b y m o d e llin g a n id e a liz e d in -situ te s t p ro c e d u re
(test pile p u sh e d d o w n , fo u r re a c tio n p ile s p u lled ), as w ell as the
loading o f a n o n in flu e n c e d sin g le p ile
The test re su lts sh o w a sig n ific a n t in flu e n c e o f th e re a c tio n p iles
on the test p ile. E sp e c ia lly fo r se ttle m e n ts sm a lle r th a n s/D = 0 .1 ,
relevant for p ra c tic a l d e sig n , an in flu e n c e o f th e re a c tio n p ile s on
the load se ttle m e n t b e h a v io u r o f th e test p ile o f n e a rly 7 0 % c a n be
observed.The effe ct o f th e re a c tio n p ile s o n th e d e v e lo p m e n t o f
skin friction a n d tip re sis ta n c e o f th e te s t p ile is d escrib ed .
However, th e p re se n te d w o rk sh o w s th a t cen trifu g e m o d e llin g
is a pow erful to o l to in v e s tig a te th is task . B y th e u se o f th is
technique it is p o ss ib le to d e te rm in e th e lo a d se ttle m e n t b e h a v io u r
of the test p ile w ith o u t in te ra c tio n m e c h a n is m a n d w ith in flu e n c e
of reaction p ile s o n e q u a l b o u n d a ry c o n d itio n s.
Further w o rk h a s to b e fo c u se d o n p a ra m e te r stu d ie s c o n c e rn in g
e g. pile d ista n c e , p ile le n g th an d se v era l so ils an d o n th e
developm ent o f a m e c h a n ic a l m o d el. W ith th is m o d e l it m a y be
possible to e s tim a te th e c o rre c tio n o f b e a rin g cap a c ity m easu red
in axial field p ile tests.

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