SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT, Vol 17, No.

K5- 2014

Determination of bearing capacity of bored

pile using SPT number N and undrained
shear strength Su
 Vo Dai Nhat
University of Technology, VNU-HCM
(Manuscript Received on August 25th, 2014; Manuscript Revised November 11th, 2014)

ABSTRACT:
In this paper, the determination of bearing
capacity of bored pile using the SPT number and
undrained shear strength is presented. The
advantages of this method are simple and always
feasible, especially for bridge and pier designing in
case of expressway projects constructed on soft
soils. The 22TCN 272-05 standard is used to
calculate bearing capacity of bored pile including
skin friction and end bearing capacities. An
applicable form for calculating the bearing capacity
of bored pile is made. An example is presented
and the applied result is shown.

Keywords: bearing capacity, bored pile, SPT number, undrained shear strength, skin friction
capacity, end bearing capacity.

1. INTRODUCTION The a -method, based on total stress, may be used to

relate the adhesion between the pile and clay to the
Recently, bored pile has found widespread
undrained strength of clay. The nominal unit skin
applications in many geotechnical problems such as
friction, in kPa, may be taken by:
high building, foundation, bridge and etc. The most
important part has been how to calculate bearing qs = a Su
capacity of pile used to design accurately, effectually.
Su = mean undrained shear strength (kPa)
Efforts have been made to enrich the methods for
determining the bearing capacity of bored piles. It can  = adhesion factor applied to Su
be calculated by using SPT, CPT, physical soil
The adhesion factor,  , is assumed to vary with the
properties [1, 2]. However, it is clear that the bearing
value of the undrained strength, Su as specified in Table
capacity of bored piles is not always determined
1.
because of lack of some parameters. In addition, some
equations are complicated with several components. Table 1: Values of  for determination of side
Therefore, in this paper, a simple, feasible and easy resistance in cohesive soil (Reese and O’Neill, 1988)
method is presented to calculate the bearing capacity of Su (Mpa)
bored piles based mainly on SPT number and undrained < 0.2 0.55
shear strength. The procedure follows the 22TCN 272-05 0.3 ~ 0.4 0.42
standard [3]. This standard is translated from AASHTO 0.4 ~ 0.5 0.38
LRFD Bridge design specification 2010 [4]. 0.5 ~ 0.6 0.35
0.6 ~ 0.7 0.33
2. DETERMINATION OF BEARING CAPACITY
0.8 ~ 0.9 0.31
OF BORED PILE
> 0.9 As rock
2.1. Skin friction capacity

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 TAÏP CHÍ PHAÙT TRIEÅN KH&CN, TAÄP 17, SOÁ K5- 2014

The nominal skin friction of piles in cohesionless Fr = 760/(12aDp+760b) ≤ 1, where Dp is diameter of

soils, in kPa, as provided in Reese and Wright (1977), pile tip
may be taken as:
where
qs = 2.8N if N ≤ 53
a = 0.0071 + 0.0021(Z/Dp) ≤ 0.015
qs = 0.21(N-53) + 150 if N > 53
b = 1.45 2 with 0.5 ≤ b ≤ 1.5
where N is the SPT blow number
The nominal tip resistance, qp, for drilled shaft in
Therefore, the skin friction capacity of pile, Qs in kN,
cohesionless soils by the Reese and Wright (1977)
is:
method shall be taken as:
Qs = qs As
qp = 64N if N ≤ 60
where As = surface area of pile shaft (m2)
qp = 3800 if N > 60
2.2. End bearing capacity
with diameter of pile tip Dp > 1.27 m, use qp =
For axially loaded shafts in cohesive soil, the nominal qp(1.27/Dp)
unit tip resistance, qp, by the total stress method as
The end bearing capacity of pile, Qp in kN, is:
provided in O’Neill and Reese (1999) shall be taken as:
Qp = qp Ap
qp = NcSu ≤ 4000
where Ap = area of pile tip (m2)
in which
2.3. Allowable bearing capacity
Nc = 6[1+0.2(Z/D)] ≤ 9
To calculate the allowable bearing capacity of bored
where
pile, the resistance factors should be taken as tabulated in
D = diameter of drilled shaft (m) Table 2

Z = penetration of shaft (m) Table 2: The resistance factors in cohesive and

cohesionless soils
Su = undrained shear strength (kPa)
Soil types
The value of Su should be obtained within a depth of Resistance factors
Cohesive soil Cohesionless soil
2.0 diameters below the tip of the shaft. If the soil within
Side resistance factor 0.65 0.55
2.0 diameters of the tip has Su < 24 kPa, the value of Nc End resistance factor 0.55 0.50
should be multiplied by 0.67.
2.4. Group effect
If Su > 96 kPa with diameter > 1.9 m and the
The effect of pile group can be considered by group
settlement of piles is not evaluated, we use qp = qpFr in
effect factor as shown in Table 3 depending on the
which
distance between piles (D is pile diameter).

Table 3: Group effect factors

Distance between piles 2.5D 3.0D 3.5D 4.0D 4.5D 5.0D 5.5D 6.0D
Group effect factor 0.65 0.70 0.75 0.80 0.85 0.90 0.95 1.00

3. RESULTS OF APPLICATION Lanh – Vam Cong high way project. The depth of the
borehole is 80m. According to steps for calculating
The above procedure for calculating the bearing
bearing capacity of bored pile as illustrated above, an
capacity of bored pile is applied to one boring log as
excel form is established as given in Table 4. As results,
presented in Figure 1. This is one of the boreholes in Cao

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SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT, Vol 17, No.K5- 2014

with pile of 64m deep from the bottom of pile cap, the
ultimate bearing capacity is 15,017 kN. By using
resistance factors of 0.65 for cohesive soil and 0.55 for
cohesionless soil in case of side resistance and 0.55 for
cohesive soil and 0.50 for cohesionless soil in case of end
resistance, the allowable bearing capacity is 8,543 kN.
The designed distance between piles is equal to 3 times
pile diameter, hence the group effect factor is 0.70.
Therefore, the allowable bearing capacity of pile is finally
4,342 KN.
4. CONCLUSIONS
This paper presents the method to calculate the
bearing capacity of bored pile using the SPT number N
and undrained shear strength Su. The calculation
procedure follows the 22TCN 272-05 standard.
to take undisturbed sample to conduct laboratory tests for
determining bearing capacity; hence, this method is used.
5. DISCUSSION
It has been known that the bearing capacity of bored
pile is usually determined based on physical properties
of soil. However, sometimes, we have not enough
information, that means soil properties, for calculating.
To overcome this problem, the above method is used
because the input data are always determined.
Moreover, in case of a lack of undrained shear strength
Su or it has not been determined yet; the empirical
equation proposed by Skempton (1957) and Ladd
(1971) can be used as [1]:
for normally consolidated soil:

Comparing to the other methods, this method has

= (0.11 + 0.0037 )
several strong points as follows: for overconsolidated soil:
- The formulas are simple, easy and feasible = (0.23 ± 0.04) .

- Method of calculation has a high reliability

where is the effective overburden pressure
- The input data obtained from field tests
PI is the plasticity index, determined by using ASTM
describes accurately soil conditions in fact
OCR is overconsolidation ratio
In case of multi-layer soil with sand layer, it is difficult

Xác định sức chịu tải của cọc khoan bằng

giá trị SPT N và sức chống cắt không thoát
nước Su
 Võ Đại Nhật
Trường Đại học Bách khoa, ĐHQG-HCM

TÓM TẮT:
Bài báo giới thiệu cách xác định sức chịu tải của
cọc khoan bằng giá trị SPT và sức chống cắt không
thoát nước. Ưu điểm của phương pháp này là đơn
giản và luôn luôn khả thi, đặc biệt là trong thiết kế
cầu và trụ cầu cho các dự án xây dựng đường cao
tốc trên nền đất yếu. Tiêu chuẩn 22TCN 272-05
được sử dụng để tính toán sức chịu tải của cọc
khoan bao gồm thành phần sức kháng bên và sức
chịu mũi. Bài báo giới thiệu một biểu mẫu excel để
tính toán và một bài ví dụ áp dụng.

Từ khóa: sức chịu tải, cọc khoan, giá trị SPT, sức chống cắt không thoát nước, sức kháng bên, sức chịu
mũi.

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 TAÏP CHÍ PHAÙT TRIEÅN KH&CN, TAÄP 17, SOÁ K5- 2014

TÀI LIỆU THAM KHẢO

[1]. T.V. iet, “Manual for geotechnical engineer”, [3]. 22TCN 272-05 standard
Civil publishing house, Ha Noi, 2004 [4]. AASHTO LRFD 4th, 2006.
[2]. Đ.V. Ngo and N.V. Ky, “Foundation”, Publishing
house of national university, 2010
b o r in g l o g

X : 1 1 5 05 4 0 .8 6 9 A p p e a r e d 0: .0 0 0 m
B o r e h o l e N o : C L -A 2 C o o r d in a t e o f B o r e h o l e : G r o u n d W a t e r E l e v a t io n :
Y : 5 7 1 0 8 7 .0 42 S e t t l e d : 0 .0 0 0 m
G r o u n d E l e v a t io n : 1.4 00 m S c a l e : 1 / 3 00 B e g in n in g D a t e :

Sta tion : K m 5 + 98 0 .0 00 lef t: c e n t r e : 0 .0 0 m r ig h t : F in i s h i n g D a t e :

Depth of Sampling (m)

Elevation (m)

Thickniss (m)
Layer No.

Depth (m)

Depth (m)

Samples
N / 30 cm
sym bo l B low s S PT C hart
15 cm

100
N1 N2 N3

20
40
60
80
0
0.70
U D1
kq 2 .4 0 F illin g soil: E lastic silt 3 5 6 11 0.50 -0.7 0
1.15
2.00
U D2
- 1.00 2.40 - C lay w ith p lan ts 4 6 7 13 1.80 -2.0 0
2.45
U D3
4.00 3.40 -4.0 0
0 0 1 1
4.45
U D4
6.00 0 0 0 0 5.40 -6.0 0
6.45
U D5
8.00 7.40 -8.0 0
0 0 1 1
8.45
U D6
1 0.00 9.40 -10 .00
0 0 1 1
1 0.45
U D7
Elastic silt w ith sa nd , greenish, 1 2.00 0 1 1 2 1 1.40 -12 .00
1a 2 1.2 0 1 2.45
grey b lackish g rey very soft 1 4.00
U D8
1 1 1 2 1 3.40 -14 .00
to so ft (M H )s 1 4.45
U D9
1 6.00 1 5.40 -16 .00
1 1 1 2
1 6.45
U D 10
1 8.00 1 1 1 2 1 7.40 -18 .00
1 8.45
U D 11
2 0.00 1 9.40 -20 .00
1 1 2 3
2 0.45
U D 12
2 2.00 2 1.40 -22 .00
1 1 2 3
2 2.45
- 22 .20 2 3.60 U D 13
2 4.00 0 1 1 2 2 3.40 -24 .00
2 4.45
U D 14
2 6.00 2 5.40 -26 .00
1 2 2 4
2 6.45
U D 15
2 8.00 2 7.40 -28 .00
1 2 2 4
2 8.45
U D 16
3 0.00 1 1 2 3 2 9.40 -30 .00
3 0.45
U D 17
3 2.00 3 1.40 -32 .00
4a 1 8.1 0 L ean clay w ith san d , greenish 1 2 3 5
3 2.45
grey , m ed ium stiff (C L )s U D 18
3 4.00 3 3.40 -34 .00
1 2 3 5
3 4.45
U D 19
3 6.00 1 2 3 5 3 5.40 -36 .00
3 6.45
U D 20
3 8.00 3 7.40 -38 .00
2 3 3 6
3 8.45
U D 21
4 0.00 3 9.40 -40 .00
2 2 3 5
4 0.45
- 40 .30 4 1.70
4 2.00
U D 22
7 10 13 23 4 1.80 -42 .00
4 2.45
4c 5 .2 0
F at c lay w ith sand , g reen ish g rey , 4 4.00
U D 23
9 12 15 27 4 3.80 -44 .00
black ish gre y, v ery stiff (C H )s 4 4.45
4 6.00
U D 24
- 45 .50 4 6.90
8 11 13 24 4 5.80 -46 .00
4 6.45
4 8.00
U D 25
9 12 14 26 4 7.80 -48 .00
4 8.45
5 0.00
U D 26
7 10 15 25 4 9.80 -50 .00
5 0.45
U D 27
4e 1 0.5 0
L ean c lay w ith sand , green ish 5 2.00
9 12 15 27 5 1.80 -52 .00
5 2.45
g rey , g reen ish grey, 5 4.00
D 28
7 8 9 17 5 3.80 -54 .00
b lac kish g rey , v ery stiff 5 4.45
D 29
to h ard (C L )s 5 6.00
16 20 22 42 5 5.80 -56 .00
5 6.45
- 56 .00 5 7.40 D 30
5 8.00
10 15 17 32 5 7.80 -58 .00
5 8.45
6 0.00
D 31
13 19 20 39 5 9.80 -60 .00
6 0.45
6 2.00
D 32
19 29 32 61 6 1.80 -62 .00
6 2.45
6 4.00
D 33
20 26 30 56 6 3.80 -64 .00
6 4.45
6 6.00
D 34
19 24 26 50 6 5.80 -66 .00
6 6.45
Silty sand , Po orly g rad ed sand 6 8.00
D 35
w ith silt b ro w n ish g rey , 17 24 27 51 6 7.80 -68 .00
6 8.45
7a 2 5.0 0 ye llow ish g rey ,w hitish g rey 7 0.00
D 36
17 24 27 51 6 9.80 -70 .00
de nse to v ery d en se 7 0.45
7 2.00
D 37
SM /(S P-S M ) 19 26 29 55 7 1.80 -72 .00
7 2.45
7 4.00
D 38
23 29 30 59 7 3.80 -74 .00
7 4.45
7 6.00
D 39
19 25 26 51 7 5.80 -76 .00
7 6.45
7 8.00
D 40
20 27 32 59 7 7.80 -78 .00
7 8.45
8 0.00
D 41
19 30 34 64 7 9.80 -80 .00
8 0.45
- 81 .00 8 2.40 8 2.00
D 42
22 26 39 65 8 1.80 -82 .00
8 2.45

Figure 1. The boring log

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SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT, Vol 17, No.K5- 2014

Table 4. The result of calculation of bearing capacity of bored pile

Calculation of bearing capacity of bored pile

Project: CMDCP Standard applied: According to 22TCN 272-05

20-
Location of
CL - A2 Date: Jul-
pile:
12

© INPUT DATA:

Pile name: CL - A2 Elevation of bottom of pile-cap: -0.12 m Perimeter of pile: 4.71 m

Pile length from bottom of

63.98 m Elevation of ground level: 1.40 m Area of pile: 1.77 m2
pile cap:

Elevation of pile
Pile diameter: 1.5 m Elevation of ground water level: -0.12 m -62.60 m
tip:

© SKIN FRICTION CAPACITY: © END BEARING CAPACITY:

Clay
Clay
(kPa) qs = Su Article 10.8.3.3.1 qp = NcSu <= 4000 Article 10.8.3.3.2
(kPa):
:

Sand
qs = 2.8N if N <=
(kPa) Article 10.8.3.4.2 © Nc = 6[1+0.2(Z/D)] <= 9 © If Su > 96 kPa with D > 1.9m, use qp = qpFr
53
:

Fr = 760/(12aDp+760b) <= 1, where Dp is diameter of

qs = 0.21(N-53)+150 if N > 53 © Su is within 2D below pile tip
pile tip

© If Su < 24 kPa, use Nc =

a = 0.0071+0.0021(Z/Dp) <= 0.015
2/3*Nc

b = 1.45*sqrt(2Su) with 0.5 <= b <= 1.5

Sand
qp = 64N if N<=60 Article 10.8.3.4.3
(kPa):

qp = 3800 if N>60

© With diameter of pile tip Dp>1.27m, use qp = qp(1.27/Dp)

Side resistance factor: clay = 0.65 End resistance factor: clay = 0.55

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 TAÏP CHÍ PHAÙT TRIEÅN KH&CN, TAÄP 17, SOÁ K5- 2014

Diameter of
sand = 0.55 sand = 0.50 Dp = 1.5
pile tip

Laye Count Elevatio

Depth Thickness Su Qs(kN)=qs(kPa)*u*L Nc Qp(kN)=qp(kPa)*A
r ed n
Soil
 N Nc a b Fr
type
nam
from m m m kPa clay sand modified clay sand
e

[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18]

-1.62 0 1.40

2 -0.60 0.0 clay 13 - - 7.6 -

46.82 0.55 5.1 0.010 0.50 1.00 628.49
kq
2.4 -1.00 0.0 clay 13 - - 7.9 -
46.82 0.55 5.3 0.010 0.50 1.00 654.95

4 -2.60 1.0 clay 1 29.70 - 9.0 -

11.70 0.55 6.0 0.013 0.50 1.00 123.99

6 -4.60 2.0 clay 0 60.62 - 9.0 -

11.70 0.55 6.0 0.015 0.50 1.00 123.99

8 -6.60 2.0 clay 1 60.62 - 9.0 -

11.70 0.55 6.0 0.015 0.50 1.00 123.99

10 -8.60 2.0 clay 1 60.62 - 9.0 -

11.70 0.55 6.0 0.015 0.50 1.00 123.99

12 -10.60 2.0 clay 2 60.62 - 9.0 -

11.70 0.55 6.0 0.015 0.50 1.00 123.99

1a 14 -12.60 2.0 clay 2 60.62 - 9.0 -

11.70 0.55 6.0 0.015 0.50 1.00 123.99

16 -14.60 2.0 clay 2 60.62 - 9.0 -

11.70 0.55 6.0 0.015 0.50 1.00 123.99

18 -16.60 2.0 clay 2 60.62 - 9.0 -

11.70 0.55 6.0 0.015 0.50 1.00 123.99

20 -18.60 2.0 clay 3 60.62 - 9.0 -

11.70 0.55 6.0 0.015 0.50 1.00 123.99

22 -20.60 2.0 clay 3 60.62 - 9.0 -

11.70 0.55 6.0 0.015 0.50 1.00 123.99

23.6 -22.20 1.6 clay 3 48.49 - 9.0 -

11.70 0.55 6.0 0.015 0.50 1.00 123.99

24 -22.60 0.4 clay 2 27.15 - 9.0 -

26.20 0.55 6.0 0.015 0.50 1.00 416.48

4a 26 -24.60 2.0 clay 4 - 9.0 -

26.20 0.55 135.74 6.0 0.015 0.50 1.00 416.48

28 -26.60 2.0 clay 4 - 9.0 -

26.20 0.55 135.74 6.0 0.015 0.50 1.00 416.48

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30 -28.60 2.0 clay 3 - 9.0 -

26.20 0.55 135.74 6.0 0.015 0.50 1.00 416.48

32 -30.60 2.0 clay 5 - 9.0 -

26.20 0.55 135.74 6.0 0.015 0.50 1.00 416.48

34 -32.60 2.0 clay 5 - 9.0 -

26.20 0.55 135.74 6.0 0.015 0.50 1.00 416.48

36 -34.60 2.0 clay 5 - 9.0 -

26.20 0.55 135.74 6.0 0.015 0.50 1.00 416.48

38 -36.60 2.0 clay 6 - 9.0 -

26.20 0.55 135.74 6.0 0.015 0.50 1.00 416.48

40 -38.60 2.0 clay 5 - 9.0 -

26.20 0.55 135.74 6.0 0.015 0.50 1.00 416.48

41.7 -40.30 1.7 clay 5 - 9.0 -

26.20 0.55 115.38 6.0 0.015 0.50 1.00 416.48

42 -40.60 0.3 clay 23 90.69 - 9.0 -

116.70 0.55 6.0 0.015 0.70 1.00 1,855.09

44 -42.60 2.0 clay 27 - 9.0 -

116.70 0.55 604.62 6.0 0.015 0.70 1.00 1,855.09
4c
46 -44.60 2.0 clay 24 - 9.0 -
116.70 0.55 604.62 6.0 0.015 0.70 1.00 1,855.09

46.9 -45.50 0.9 clay 24 - 9.0 -

116.70 0.55 272.08 6.0 0.015 0.70 1.00 1,855.09

48 -46.60 1.1 clay 26 - 9.0 -

77.00 0.55 219.42 6.0 0.015 0.57 1.00 1,224.01

50 -48.60 2.0 clay 25 - 9.0 -

77.00 0.55 398.94 6.0 0.015 0.57 1.00 1,224.01

52 -50.60 2.0 clay 27 - 9.0 -

77.00 0.55 398.94 6.0 0.015 0.57 1.00 1,224.01
4e
54 -52.60 2.0 clay 17 - 9.0 -
77.00 0.55 398.94 6.0 0.015 0.57 1.00 1,224.01

56 -54.60 2.0 clay 42 - 9.0 -

77.00 0.55 398.94 6.0 0.015 0.57 1.00 1,224.01

57.4 -56.00 1.4 clay 42 - 9.0 -

77.00 0.55 279.26 6.0 0.015 0.57 1.00 1,224.01

58 -56.60 0.6 sand - 32 - 9.0 - 3,062.63

- 253.21 6.0 0.015 0.50 1.00

7a 60 -58.60 2.0 sand - 39 - 9.0 - 3,732.58

- 1,028.66 6.0 0.015 0.50 1.00

62 -60.60 2.0 sand - 61 - 9.0 - 5,682.62

- 1,430.80 6.0 0.015 0.50 1.00

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63 -61.60 1.0 sand - 61 - 9.0 - 5,682.62

- 715.40 6.0 0.015 0.50 1.00

64 -62.60 1.0 sand - 56 - 9.0 - 5,359.60

- 710.46 6.0 0.015 0.50 1.00

5,519 - 5,359.60
4,139

© GROUP EFFECT: Distance between piles: 2.5*d 3.0*d 3.5*d 4.0*d 4.5*d 5.0*d 5.5*d 6.0*d CALCULATED (kN): 4280

Resistance factor: 0.65 0.70 0.75 0.80 0.85 0.90 0.95 1.00 CHECK: OK

© ULTIMATE BEARING CAPACITY: 15,017 kN © ALLOWABLE BEARING CAPACITY: kN © ALLOWABLE BEARING CAPACITY:
8,543

→ Skin friction: 9,657 kN → Skin friction: kN (including group resistance factor = 0.7)
5,863

→ End-point: 5,360 kN → End-point: kN kN

2,680 4,342

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