College of Engineering

Ultimate Bearing Capacity of Piles in c , φ∧c−φ

soils From Different Methods Including
Building Codes.

Course: CE-682 (Analysis and Design of Deep Foundations)

Course Instructor: Prof. Abdulhafiz O S Alshenawy

Esmatullah Kotwal
ID# 447106008
Determination of Pile Load Capacity, Q u

1.1 General

The ultimate load-carrying capacity Qu of a pile is given by the equation.

Q u= {along the pile shaft } {carrying capacity }

skin resistence + pile point load =Q +Q
s
p

Several published investigations are available that covers Qs and Q p, like Vesic (1977),
Meyerhof (1976), Janbu (1976), Coyle and Castello (1981), etc. It will be studied one by
one for different types of soils.

1.2 Point Bearing Capacity, Q p

After doing all the modifications the general equation for point bearing capacity,
Q p is as follows.

' ¿ ' ¿
q p=c N c + q N q

' ¿ ' ¿
Q p= A p q p= A p (c N c +q N q )

Where

A p =area of the pile

q p=unit point resistence

'
c =cohesion of the soil supporting pile
'
q =effective vertical stress at the level of the pile tip
¿ ¿
N c , N q=the bearing capacity factors

1.3 Skin/Frictional Resistance, Qs

Qs =∑ p ∆ Lf

p= perimeter of the pile

lenght
∆ L=incremental p∧f are taken ¿ be constant
which

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 f =unit friction resistance

End Bearing Capacity (Q ) for ϕ , c∧c−ϕ Soilsp

1.4 Static Analysis Methods:

These methods rely on soil shear strength parameters (mostly, ∅ ' ) and
theoretical bearing capacity factors. Following methods are discussed, focusing on
sandy soil only.

 Meyerhof’s Method (1976) (ϕ , c∧c−ϕ)

 Skempton’s Method (c )

 Janbu’s Method (1976) (ϕ , c∧c−ϕ)

 Vesic’s Method (1977) (ϕ , c)

 Coyle and Castello Method (1981) (ϕ)

1.4.1 Meyerhof’s Method (1976) (H&K, DAS)

[Link] Sand (c=0¿

q p increases with depth of embedment ( Lb / D ) =>> q p Maximum when,

D ( )
L b Lb
=
D cr

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 ' ¿
Q p = A p q N q ≤ A p ql
The limiting point resistance is.

Braja M . Dasq l=0.5 pa N ¿q tan ∅ ' Hotlz∧Kovacsq l=50 N q tan ∅

¿ '
[ ]
kN
m
2

¿ '
q l=1000 N q tan ∅ (psf )

kN
pa=100 2
m
'
∅ =friction angle of the bearing stratum
¿
The N q values could also be taken from the table based on Meyerhof’s theory against

the soil friction angle ∅ ' .

[Link] Clay (ϕ=0) (Based on Skempton’s study)

For piles in saturated clay under undrained conditions, the net ultimate load is as
follows.
¿
Q p ≈ N c c u A p=9 c u A p

c u=undrained cohesion of the soil below thetip of the pile

[Link] c−ϕ Soil ? (Das 10th Ed)

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1.4.2 Janbu’s Method (1976)

[Link] For ϕ , c∧c−ϕ Soils*-

Janbu (1976) proposed following equation.

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Q p= A p (c ¿¿ ' N c +q N q )¿ N ¿q =(tan ∅ ' + √ 1+tan 2 ∅ ' ) (22 η tan )
¿ ' ¿ ' ϕ

N c =( N q−1 ) cot ∅
¿ ¿ '

¿ ¿
Figure below by Janbu shows variations of N q and N c with ∅ ' and η' . The angle η' may
vary from about 70 degrees in soft clays to about 105 degrees in dense sandy soils.

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1.4.3 Vesic’s Method (1977)

[Link] Sand (c=0¿

Based on the theory of expansion of cavities Vesic (1977) proposed following.
' ¿
Q p= A p q p= A p σ o N σ

σ 'o=mean effective normal ground stress at thelevel of the pile point= ( 3 )

1+ 2 K o '
q

'
K o =earth pressure coefficient at rest=1−sin ∅
¿
¿ 3 Nq
N =bearing capacity factor=
σ
1+ 2 K o

According to Vesic’s theory,

¿
N σ =f ( I rr )

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 Ir
I rr =reduced rigidity index for the soil=
1+ I r ∆

Es Gs
I r=rigidity index= ' '
= ' '
2 ( 1+ μ s ) q tan ∅ q tan ∅

E s=modulus of elasticidy

'
μs =poisso n s ratio of soil

Gs =shear modulus of soil

∆=average volumetric strain∈the plastic zone below the pile tip

Braja M. Das.

sand ( D r=50 %−80 % ) =¿ I r :75 ¿ 150 I r ( Silt ) :50 ¿ 75

Holtz and Kovacs.

Soil Type Ir

Sand 70 - 150

Silts and clays (drained Cond.) 50 - 100

Clays (Undrained Cond) 100 - 200

To calculate I r from equation:

Es
=m
pa

kN
pa=100 2
m

{
m= 100 200 (loose soil) ¿ 200 ¿ 500(medium dense soil) ¿ 500 ¿ 1000( dense soil) ¿
¿
'
∅ −25
μs =0.1+0.3( )¿
20
' '
∅ −25 q
∆=0. 005( )
20 pa

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[Link] Clay (ϕ=0)
¿
Q p= A p q p= A p cu N c

c u=undrained cohesion

¿ 4 π
N c = ( ln I rr +1 ) + +1
3 2

I rr =I r

for ϕ=0

Es
I r=
3 cu

Also, O’Neill and Reese (1999) suggest the following relationship for
approximating the I r.

I r=347
( ) cu
pa
−33 ≤ 300

¿
Note: Table is also available for the variations of N c with I rr for ϕ=0.

1.4.4 Coyle and Castello Method (1981)

Based on 24 large-scale field load tests Coyle and Castello (1981) proposed
following equation. (driven piles)
' ¿
Q p=q N q A p

'
q =effective vertical stress at the pile tip

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1.5 q p From SPT and CPT Correlations for sand:

Meyerhof (1976):

L
q p=0.4 p a N 60 ≤ 4 pa N 60 ( SPT ) q p ≈ qc (CPT )q c =cone penetration resistance
D

Briaud et al. (1985):

0.36
q p=19.7 pa (N 60)

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3. Skin/Side Resistance (Q ) for ϕ , c∧c−ϕ Soils s

1.6 For sand (c=0)

Qs =∑ p ∆ Lf

The friction function between any two materials,

For z=0−L ( L =15 D ¿ 20 D)

' '

'
f s (z )=K s σ v tan δ

'
K s =effective earth pressure coefficient ≈ K o=1−sin ∅ (bored piles )

'
σ v =effective vertical stress at the depthunder consideration

'
δ=soil−pile friction angle=( 0.5−0.8 ) ∅ (Das 10th ed)

δ=∅ for cast−¿ place concrete (Kulhawy, 1984, US Army 1993)

'

Also, the term K s in the equation is proposed by Canadian Foundation Engineering

Manual (CGS, 2006) for cast-in place piles as in the table.

Soil Type Ks

Silt 0.2 - 0.3

Loose sands 0.2 – 0.4

Medium sands 0.3 – 0.5

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 Soil Type Ks

Dense sands 0.4 – 0.6

Gravels 0.4 – 0.7

z=L '
Q s , ult =K s πdtanδ ∫ '
σ v dz
z=0

'
For z=L −L

f =f z =L '

1.7 For Clay ¿)

1.7.1 λ Method
This is also called total stress method, which is proposed by Vijayvergiya and
Focht (1972).

f av =λ ( σ 'o +2 c u )

'
σ o=mean effective vertical for the entire embedment length
c u=meanundrained shear strength(ϕ=0)

Qs =pL f av

1.7.2 β Method
'
f =K σ vo (tanδ )

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Chapter 1:

Chapter 2: δ

References

[1] Binquet, J., & Lee, K. L. (1975). Bearing capacity tests on reinforced earth slabs.
Journal of the geotechnical Engineering Division, 101(12), 1241-1255.

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