Pile foundations (Lecture-7)

Problems from Pile foundation:

1. A timber pile was driven by a drop hammer weighing 3 tonnes with a free fall of 1.2m.
The average penetration of the last few blows was 5mm. What is the capacity of the pile according
to Engineering News formula?
Solution: Given data,
Weight of the hammer, Wh = 3 tonnes = 2943kg = 29.43kN (approx. 30 kN)
Height of free fall, H = 1.2m =120cm
Penetration, s = 5mm = 0.5cm
𝑊ℎ 𝐻
𝑄𝑎𝑝 = 6 (𝑠+𝑐)
For drop hammer, c = 2.5 cm
𝑊ℎ 𝐻 3000 𝑥 120
So, 𝑄𝑎𝑝 = 6 (𝑠+𝑐)
= 6 (0.5+2.5)
= 20000kg = 20 tonnes.

2. Determine the static capacity of a bored concrete pile 500mm in diameter for the
following data.
Pile length = 8m, γsub = 9kN/m3, φ = 300, c = 20kN/m3. Given for φ = 300, Nc = 65, Nq =
35 and Nγ = 18. Assume k = 1, δ = φ and α = 0.5.

Solution:

𝑄𝑢 = 𝑄𝑝 + 𝑄𝑠
= 𝑞𝑝 𝐴𝑝 + 𝑓𝑠 𝐴𝑠
𝜋 1
= [𝑐𝑁𝑐 + 𝛾𝐷𝑁𝑞 + 0.3𝛾𝑑𝑁𝛾 ] [4 𝑑 2 ] + [αc + 2 kq 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝛿][ π d l]
= [20 x 65 + 9 x 8 x 35 + 0.3 x 9 x 0.5 x 18] x [π/4 x (0.5)2] + [0.5 x 20 + 0.5 x 1 x (9
x 8) x tan 300] x [π x 0.5 x 8]
= 754.83 + 386.85
= 1141.68 kN

3. A pile is driven in a uniform clay of large depth. The clay has an unconfined compressive
strength of 0.9 kg/cm2. The pile is 30cm diameter and 6m long. Determine the safe frictional
resistance of the pile, assuming a factor of safety 3. Assume, adhesion factor 0.7.

Solution: Given data,

Cohesion, c = 0.5 x 0.9 = 0.45 kg/cm2
Diameter, d = 0.3m
Length, l = 6m
FOS = 3
Adhesion factor, α = 0.7
 𝑄𝑢 = 𝑄𝑝 + 𝑄𝑠
= 𝑞𝑝 𝐴𝑝 + 𝑓𝑠 𝐴𝑠
= (9c + 𝛾𝐷) 𝐴𝑝 + (αc)𝐴𝑠 For clay soil
Frictional resistance of the pile, = 𝑄𝑠 = 𝑓𝑠 𝐴𝑠 = (αc)𝐴𝑠
= 0.7 x 0.45 x π x 30 x 600
= 17813 kg
𝑄𝑠
Safe frictional resistance = 𝐹 = 5930kg

4. A concrete pile of 45cm diameter is driven to a depth of 16 m through a layered system

of sandy soil (c = 0). The following data are available.
Top layer 1 : Thickness = 8 m, γd = 16.5 kN/m3, e
= 0.60 and φ = 30°.
Layer 2: Thickness = 6 m, γd = 15.5 kN/m3, e =
0.6 5 and φ = 35°.
Layer 3: Extends to a great depth, γd = 16.00
kN/m3, e = 0.65 and φ = 38°.
Assume that the value of δ in all the layers
of sand is equal to 0.75 φ. The value of earth
pressure co-efficient for each layer as equal to half
of the passive earth pressure coefficient. The water
table is at ground level. Calculate the values of Qu
and Qa with a FOS = 2.5.

Solution:
 5. A concrete of 45cm diameter is driven
through a system of layered cohesive soils. The
length of the pile is 16m. The following data are
available. The water table is close to the ground
surface.

Top layer 1 : Soft clay, thickness = 8m , unit

cohesion cu = 30kN/m2 and adhesion factor α = 0.9
Second layer 2: Medium stiff, thickness = 6m, unit
cohesion cu = 50kN/m2 and α = 0.75
Layer 3: Stiff stratum extends to a great depth, cu =
105kN/m2 and α = 0.5.
Calculate the values of Qu and Qa with a
FOS = 2.5.

Solution: Here, the pile is driven through clay soils of different consistencies

𝑄𝑢 = 𝑄𝑝 + 𝑄𝑠
= 𝑞𝑝 𝐴𝑝 + 𝑓𝑠 𝐴𝑠
= (9c + 𝛾𝐷) 𝐴𝑝 + (αc)𝐴𝑠 , ignoring surcharge term, 𝛾𝐷
= (9c) 𝐴𝑝 + (αc)𝐴𝑠
= 9 x 105 x π/4 x (0.45)2 + (0.9 x 30 x 8 + 0.75 x 50 x 6 + 0.5 x105 x 2) x π x 0.45
= 150.25 + 771.5
= 921.75 kN

𝑄𝑎 = 𝑄𝑢 /𝐹

= 369kN