Pile foundation:

Pile foundation is type of deep foundation which is used to transfer the

building load to the higher depth than the shallow foundation. Pile foundation is used when
bearing capacity of soil is low. Pile foundation has greater depth than the width of
foundation.

Classification of piles based on material and composition are as follows:-

Concrete pile –

These piles are made of concrete which may be pre cast or cast in situ.
These are widely used nowadays as these piles have high compressive strength and are
durable.

Steel pile –

These piles are made of steel which have long length. These piles may be
H, X or solid section. These piles are simple to use and can be easily cut at desired length.

Timber pile –

These piles are made of wooden and are used from ancient times. Timber
is mainly convenient for cohesion piling and piling below embankments. Timber piles used
should be defect free.

Composite pile –

These piles are hybrid of different materials. Timber piles can be used in
combination of with steel pipe or concrete piles. Timber piles and steel piles are used in
combination where timber piles are used below ground water level to avoid decay and steel
or concrete piles are used above water level.

Steel Piles:

Steel piles are usually of rolled H-sections or thick pipe sections. These piles
are used to withstand large impact stresses and where fewer disturbances from driving is
desired. These piles are also used to support open excavations and to provide seepage barrier
Classification of piles based on load transfer mechanism is as follows:-

End Bearing Piles:-

These piles are used where hard stratum is found at considerable depth.
These piles transfer their load through the bottom of piles to the hard stratum and they derive
their strength from penetration resistance of soil at the bottom of pile.

Friction piles –

These piles are used when hard stratum is not present at considerable depth
hence these piles derive their strength from the adhesion along the side of soil in contact with
the pile. These are also called cohesion piles.

Combination of end bearing and friction piles –

These piles derive their strength from end

bearing resistance and friction resistance. When the stratum below the pile is not strong
enough to carry the loads then the piles also derive their strength from friction or skin
resistance from the side soil in contact with pile.

Tension Pile:

These piles are also called as uplift piles. Generally it can be used to anchor
down the structures which are subjected to uplift pressure due to hydrostatic force

Compaction piles:

These piles are used to compact loose granular soil to increase its bearing
capacity. Compaction piles do not carry load and hence they can be of weaker material. Sand
piles can be used as compaction piles
LOAD TRANSFER MECHNISM:-

To understand the mechanism of distribution of applied load into skin resistance along
length of pile and base resistance at top of pile, we consider the pile shown in Figure.

 If the pile is instrumented and the load on pile increased gradually, we can determine
the load distribution along the pile at different stages of loading and plot the same as
shown in Figure
 When a load Q is applied on the pile head, the axial load at pile top level is also Q
1 1

but at some level A at distance L below pile top the axial load is zero. The entire
1 1

load Q is thus distributed as skin resistance along pile length L . The lower section
1 1

A B of pile is not affected by the load Q . We increase the load at pile top to Q ,
1 1 2

such that the axial load at the top of pile is just zero. The total load applied Q is
2
distributed as skin resistance along whole length L of pile.
 Any applied load greater than Q will be distributed as skin resistance and point
2
resistance. Both the components increase as the applied load is increased. But at some

load level Q , the skin resistance reaches an ultimate value Q . further increase in
m f

applied load above Q will only result in increase in point load Q until the soil at
m p
base of pile fails by punching shear.
 For any applied load the relative proportions of skin resistance and base resistance,
mobilized depends on the shear strength and elasticity of soil. In general it is found
that the vertical movement of pile which is required to mobilize full base resistance is
much greater than that required to mobilize full skin resistance. For instance, in the
case of bored cast insitu piles full skin resistance is mobilized at settlement of 0.5 to 1
percent of pile diameter, full base resistance is mobilized at settlement of 10 to 20
percent of pile diameter