Uplift forces

Uplift resistance
Uplift resistance in cohesionless soil
𝐿
𝑄𝑓 = 𝑝𝐾𝑡𝑎𝑛𝛿 න 𝜎𝑣′ 𝑑𝑧
0

𝐿
2
𝑃𝑢 = 𝑝𝐾𝑡𝑎𝑛𝛿 න 𝜎𝑣′ 𝑑𝑧 + 𝑤𝑝
3 0

• Submerged weight of the pile should be considered in the zone where the pile
length is below the water table.
• For pile group, block failure should also be considered.
• Exact size and shape of the block depends on loads transfer mechanism
• Load transfer mechanism depends on;
• pile installation
• pile properties
• soil properties including the degree of layering
• pullout resistance of pile group is lower of the following two values
• 𝑃𝐺,𝐴𝐿𝐿 = No of piles x 𝑃𝐴𝐿𝐿
• Effective weight of the soil bound by the trapezoid form base to the top
with sides inclined at 750 from the horizontal.
• FS =3 usually used to calculate the allowable pull-out capacity.
Example

• A 300 mm diameter steel pipe pile was driven in a cohesionless soil.

The pile was 9m long. 𝛾 = 19.8 𝑘𝑁/𝑚3 , ∅ = 300 . GWT was found at
the surface.
• Estimate its allowable pullout capacity of the single pile.
• assume that there are nine (3 x 3)similar piles arranged in a group.
Estimate the pullout capacity of the group.
 Uplift resistance in cohesive soil
𝐿
𝑄𝑓 = 𝑝 න 𝑐𝑎 𝑑𝑧
0

𝐿𝑒
𝑃𝑢 = 𝑝 න 𝑐𝑎 𝑑𝑧 + 𝑤𝑝
0

𝐿𝑒 = 𝐿 − 𝑑𝑒𝑝𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 − 𝑑𝑒𝑝𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑓𝑡 𝑧𝑜𝑛𝑒s

• pullout resistance of pile group is lower of the following two

values
• 𝑃𝐺,𝐴𝐿𝐿 = No of piles x 𝑃𝐴𝐿𝐿
• uplift resistance of the block of the soil enclosed by the pile group
• Cohesion along the block
• Weight of the enclosed in the group.
Example

• A 300 mm diameter steel pipe pile was driven in a cohesive soil. The
pile was 9m long. 𝛾 = 19.8 𝑘𝑁/𝑚3 ,undrained shear strength = 50
kPa. GWT was found at the surface.
• Estimate its allowable pullout capacity of the single pile.
• assume that there are nine (3 x 3)similar piles arranged in a group.
Estimate the pullout capacity of the group.
Pullout Capacity of Belled Piles

• Can not be controlled with reliability in cohesionless soil. Pull-out tests

are the only reliable method to estimate the pullout capacity.

• Pullout Capacity in cohesive soil can be estimated by using lower of the

following two values
• The base resistance of the pile will be the ultimate uplift bearing capacity at the
annular area between the bell and the shaft.

• The shaft resistance along a cylindrical surface with diameter average of bell.