Geotechnical Engineering Group

Settlement of Pile Groups

CEE 585 Deep Foundations
Spring 2021
Tugce Baser

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Pile Group Settlement

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 Group Settlement in Sand Type Soils

Settlement in “cohesionless” soils is generally considered elastic for deformation

calculations

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 Group Settlement in Clay Type Soils

Equivalent footing concept

Stress distribution below equivalent

footing for a pile group in firm clay

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Group Settlement in Clay Type Soils

a. toe resistance piles in hard clay or sand

underlain by soft clay
b. piles supported by shaft resistance in clay
c. piles supported by shaft resistance in sand
underlain by clay
d. piles supported by shaft and toe resistance in
layered soil profile

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Group Settlement in Clay Type Soils

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Group Settlement in Clay Type Soils

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Group Settlement in Clay Type Soils

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 Time Rate of Settlement

Settlement analyses in cohesive soils should also evaluate the time required for the
anticipated settlement to occur. In time rate computations, the time for 90% consolidation to
occur is typically used to determine the total time required for primary settlement.

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 Group Settlement Using the Neutral Plane
Method
1. Perform a static resistance calculation.
a. Determine the nominal resistance, 𝑅𝑛, from a
static resistance calculation
b. b. Plot the load transfer versus depth by
subtracting the shaft resistance at a given
depth from the nominal resistance. Curve A in
Figure

2. Determine the load transfer to the pile above the

neutral plane
a. Determine the unfactored permanent load, Qd.
b. Plot the load transfer to the pile versus depth by
adding the shaft resistance at a given depth to the
sustained load. Curve B in Figure

3. Determine the depth of the neutral plane.

Neutral plane is at the depth of where Curves A and B intersect

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Downdrag

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When to consider downdrag?

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Neutral Plane Method

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 Downdrag analysis

Necessary to implement the downdrag analysis procedure

• Unfactored structural loads to determine the permanent load

• Defined subsurface stratigraphy with appropriate parameters for

all layers

• Soil behavior models to characterize load-deformation response

(instrumented load tests, or t-z and q-z models).

• Information on fill placement including amount, lateral extent, and

timeline

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Neutral Plane Method

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Neutral Plane Method

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Neutral Plane Method

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Neutral Plane Method

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Neutral Plane Method

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 Methods for Reducing Downdrag and Drag Force

- Increase the structural resistance

- Increase the number of piles
- Reduce soil settlement by preloading
- Use lightweight fill material
- Use a friction reducer
- Prevent direct contact between soil and pile

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