Piles Driven on Clay

Qall A. α − Method
 End bearing Capacity

Qb = C Nc Atip

 Frictional Capacity

Qf Qf = Σ αCPL
P = perimeter of pile
L = length of pile
C = cohesion of soil
Nc = bearing capacity factor
Atip = area of plie at the tip
Qb
α = adhesion factor
Piles Driven on Clay
B. λ − Method Qall
 Frictional Capacity
Qf = PLλ (Qv + 2C )

Qf
area of Pv diagram L
Qv =
L
Qb Pv diagram

λ = adhesion factor / constant

L = length of pile
C = cohesion (or equivalent for the case of layered soil)
Piles Driven on Clay
C. β − Method
 Frictional Capacity
Qf = Σ PL β Qave
For Normally-consolidated Soil For Over-consolidated Soil

β = (1 − Sin φR )Tan φR β = (1 − Sin φR )Tan φR OCR

ØR = angle of internal friction of remolded clay
Qave = average effective vertical stress
= stress at middle of each soil layer

 Design Load

Qb + Q f
Qall =
F .S .
Piles Driven on Sand
Qall  End bearing Capacity

Qb = Pv Nq Atip

Dc  Frictional Capacity
Qf = P (area of Pv diagram) K µ
Qf
 Design Load

Qb + Q f
Qall =
Qb Pv diagram F .S .
Piles Driven on Sand
Pv = vertical soil pressure at the tip
Nq = bearing capacity factor
K = coef of lateral bet pile and sand earth pressure factor
µ = tan θ
θ = angle of friction bet pile and sand

Critical Depth, Dc
•Dc = 20 x diameter of pile for dense sand
•Dc = 10 x diameter of pile for loose sand

Note : The pressure below the critical depth, Dc is assumed to be

uniform.