Foundation Engineering II Tutorial Problems

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EXAMPLE 1: Pile Load Capacity in a Clay Soil

A cylindrical timber pile of diameter 400 mm is driven to a depth of 10 m into a clay with su=40 kPa,
ϕ‟=28°, OCR=2, and gsat = 18 kN/m3. Groundwater level is at the surface. Estimate the allowable load
capacity for a factor of safety of 2. Is the pile a friction pile?

i) α-Method (TSA) ⇒
 Calculate the overburden pressure at the center of the embedded length.

 fs is the lesser of
o √ √
o Use fs=20kPa





ii) β-Method (ESA) ⇒

 Use Janbu‟s equation to calculate Nq

For ϕ‟= 280 and assuming ψp = π/3 (soft clay), we find

( √ ) ( )

( √ ) ( )
 For OCR = 2,

; Pile is not solely a friction pile.

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EXAMPLE 2: Pile Load Capacity in a Clay with su Varying Linearly with Depth

A concrete pile 450 mm in diameter and 15 m long is driven into clay. The undrained strength of the soil
varies linearly with depth such that su = 0.22 . Determine the allowable pile load capacity using a TSA.
The factor of safety required is 2 and sat = 17 kN/m3. Groundwater is at the surface.

Strategy: Consider the average skin friction. You can also consider an element of thickness dz and perform
integration to find the skin friction. But this is rather cumbersome.

Step 1: Make a sketch of the problem.

Step 2: Calculate the skin friction.

Step 3: Calculate the end bearing capacity.

Step 4: Calculate the allowable load capacity.

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EXAMPLE 3: Pile Load Capacity in a layered Soil Profile

A driven square concrete pile 0.3 m x 0.3 m is required to support a dead load of 100 kN and a live load
of 60 kN. The soil stratification consists of 5 m of medium clay (su = 40 kPa, ϕ‟ = 260, OCR = 2, γsat = 18
kN/m3) underlain by a deep deposit of stiff clay (su = 80 kPa, ϕ‟ = 240, OCR = 4, γsat = 18.8 kN/m3).
Groundwater level is at 2 m below the ground surface. You may assume that the soil above the
groundwater level is saturated. Estimate the length of pile required using ASD with FS = 2 and LRFD
with a dead load factor = 1.25 and a live load factor = 1.75, and performance factors φf = 0.75 and φb =
0.7 for both TSA and ESA.

Strategy: You are given Qa and FS, so you can calculate for ASD, Qult = Qa x FS. Assume an embedment depth and
then check that it is satisfactory. You should consider both short-term and long-term conditions.

SOLUTION

 Determine the ultimate load.

 ASD: Qa = 100 + 60 = 160 kN; Qult = Qa x FS = 160 x 2.5 = 400 kN
 LRFD: Pu = 1.25DL + 1.75LL = 1.25 x 100 + 1.75 x 60 = 230 kN
 Draw a sketch of the soil profile and pile. See Figure below.

 Determine fs and Qf for TSA and ESA.

Assume a pile length of 10m (5m penetration in medium clay and 5m in the stiff clay). Calculate
the overburden pressure at the center of the pile length over each layer.
Medium clay:
Above groundwater level, L = 2 m: Average value of σ„zo = ( 2/ 2 x 18) = 18 kPa
Below groundwater level, L = 3 m: Average value of σ„zo = (2 x 18) + (3/2)(18 - 9.8) = 48.3 kPa.

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Stiff clay:
Assume L = 5 m.
Average value of σ„zo = (2 x 18) + 3(18 - 9.8) + (5/2) (18.8 - 9.8) = 83.1 kPa
Perimeter = 2(B + L) = 2(0.3 + 0.3) = 1.2 m
Base area Ab = BL = 0.3 x 0.3 = 0.09 m2
TSA:
fs is the lesser of √ or .
Qf = fs x perimeter x length = 1.2 fs L
See calculations in the following table.

ESA:
For ϕ‟ = ϕ‟i = ϕ‟cs, we fi nd the following:
Medium clay: β = (1 - sin ϕ‟) (OCR)0.5 tan ϕ‟
= (1 - sin 26°) (2)0.5 tan 26° = 0.39
Stiff clay: β = (1 - sin 24°) (4)0.5 tan 24° = 0.53

fs = β σ„zo

Qf = fs x perimeter x length

See calculations in the following table.

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 Check whether assumed length is satisfactory.

Since the calculated load capacity from TSA is lower than that of ESA, then TSA governs.
Therefore, L 5 10 m is satisfactory for ASD

Therefore, L = 10 m is satisfactory for LRFD. You can reduce the length by 1 m and it will still
satisfy LRFD. Check this for yourself.

EXERCISE #1: Load Capacity of Single Pile in layered soil

A square precast concrete pile of sides 0.4 m is to be driven 12 m into the soil strata shown in figure
below.
a) Estimate the allowable load capacity for a factor of safety of 2.5.
b) Owing to changes in design requirements, the pile must support 25% more load. Determine the
additional embedment depth required.

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EXAMPLE 4: Load capacity of pile group

Calculate the bearing capacity and group efficiency of pile foundation installed in uniform clay of bulk
unit weight, γ of 20kN/m3 and undrained shear strength of su of 50kN/m2. The foundation consists of 25
piles each 18m long, 0.4m in diameter and weight 60kN. The weight of the pile cap is 600kN and
founded 1m below the ground level. The adhesion factor α for the soil/pile interface has a value of 0.8.

Solution
Calculate single pile bearing capacity:

Qf = α ⋅ su ⋅ As = 0.8 ⋅ 50 ⋅ 18⋅ π ⋅ (0.4) = 904kN

Qb = Nc ⋅ (Su)b ⋅ Ab = 9 ⋅ 50⋅ π ⋅ (0.2)2 = 56.6kN
∴ Qui = Qfi + Qbi = 904 + 56.6 = 960kN

(Wpile +Wcap) - Wsoil = (60×25+(600-20×5.0×5.0×1.0)) - (20× 18 ⋅ π ⋅ (0.2)2 ⋅ 25 = 469kN

Total load capacity of 25 piles = Quc25 = (Qci = Qui + Qbi) ⋅ 25 - {(Wp +Wcap) - Ws} = 960⋅ 25 – 469

= 23,531 kN

Calculate block load capacity:

= 4 × (18× 4.4× 50⋅ 0.8)+ 50⋅ 4.4 × 4.4 ⋅ 9 = 25,650kN

Calculate the efficiency of the load- bearing capacity of a group pile:

Check the group efficiency by using different emperical equations.

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EXAMPLE 5. Pile Group Load Capacity in Layered Clays

A pile group consisting of 9 driven piles, each 0.4 m in diameter, is arranged in a 3x3 matrix at a spacing
of 1.2 m. The piles penetrate a medium clay soil (su = 40 kPa, ϕ‟ = 300, γsat = 18 kN/m3, OCR = 2) of
thickness 8 m and are embedded 2 m in a stiff clay (su = 90 kPa, ϕ‟ = 280, γsat = 18.5 kN/m3 , OCR = 5).
Calculate the group allowable load capacity for a factor of safety of 2. Groundwater level (GWL) is at 2m
below the surface but can rise to the surface due to seasonal changes.

Strategy: You need to calculate the ultimate load capacity assuming (a) block failure mode and (b) single
pile failure mode. Use a sketch to illustrate the problem.

Solution:

 Sketch and calculate the geometric properties.

 Calculate the ultimate load capacity using TSA.

Calculate the overburden pressure at the center of the pile length. Assume groundwater rises to
the surface.
Medium clay:

Stiff clay:

Calculate the skin frictional stress.

Medium clay:

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Stiff clay:

Qf = fs x Perimeter x Length
The calculations of Qf are done using a table, as follows, or a spreadsheet.

End bearing–stiff clay:

Block mode

Single pile mode

Group load capacity:

Block mode

Single pile mode

Single pile mode governs.

 Calculate the ultimate load capacity using an ESA.

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End bearing–stiff clay:

Group load capacity:

Block mode

Single pile mode

Single pile mode governs.

 Decide which failure mode and conditions govern.

The lowest ultimate load capacity is 2827 kN for an ESA.

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EXAMPLE 6: Elastic settlement of Single Pile

A 12-m-long precast concrete pile is fully embedded in sand. The cross section of the pile measures
0.305mx0.305m. The allowable working load for the pile is 337 kN, of which 240 kN is contributed by
skin friction. Determine the elastic settlement of the pile for Ep=21x106 kN/m2, Es = 30,000 kN/m2, and
μs = 0.3.

Solution
Se = Se(1) +Se(2) +Se(3)

Let ξ = 0.6 and Ep = 21 x 106 kN/m2. Then

Hence, the total settlement is

Se = 1.48 + 8.2 + 0.81 = 10.49 mm

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EXAMPLE 7: Long-term pile group settlement in clay soils

A pile group is consisted of nine piles each with a length of 30 ft. and a diameter of 1 ft. The pile group is
10 × 10 ft. The pile group is loaded with 160 tons. Density of soil is 120 pcf. The following clay
parameters are given:
Cc = Compression index = 0.30
e0 = Initial void ratio of the clay layer = 1.10
Depth to bedrock from the bottom of the piles = 20 ft.
Groundwater is at a depth of 8 ft. below the surface
Find the long-term settlement due to consolidation (Fig.).

 C H      i 
sc i    c i  log o i  
1  eo i     o i  

Solution
 Simplify the pile group to a solid footing with a depth of 20 ft (2/3 of the length of piles).
 Find the effective stress at midlayer of the clay stratum. Midlayer occurs 15 ft below the end of the
assumed solid footing.
σo'=(8×120)+27×(120−62.4)=2515.2 psf
 (8 × 120) = effective stress component above the groundwater level and
 27 × (120 − 62.4) = effective stress component from groundwater level to the midlayer.
 Find the effective stress increase due to the pile group.
Assume a 2V to 1H stress distribution.
Pile group dimensions = 10 × 10 ft.
Length EF = 10 + 2 × (15/2) = 25 ft. (Fig.)
Pile group load = 160 tons
Change in Stress at the bottom of assumed solid footing = 160/(10 × 10) = 1.6 tsf
Change in Stress at midlayer = 160/(25 × 25) = 0.256 tsf = 512 psf
∆σ = 512 psf
 Consolidation settlement of the pile group (S) = Cc/(1 + e0)·H·log10·( σo' + ∆σ)/ σo'
Here, Cc = 0.30, e0 = 1.10, H, thickness of the compressible portion of the clay layer = 30 ft.
Sc = 0.30/(1 + 1.10)·30·log10·(2515 + 512)/2515 = 0.345 ft. = 4.13 in.
Note: the consolidation settlement can be reduced by conducting any of the following:
 Increase the length of piles (when the length of piles are increased, “H” value in the preceding
equation would reduce. “H” is the thickness of the compressible portion of the clay layer).
 Increase the length and width of the pile group (when the length and width of the pile group is
increased, stress increment (∆σ) due to pile group load would reduce).

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EXAMPLE 8: Consolidation settlement of pile group

A group of pile in normally consolidated clay layers is shown in the figure below.
Detrmine the consolidation settlement of the piles.

Solution

Because the lengths of the piles are 15 m each, the stress distribution starts at a depth of
2L/3 = 10 m below the top of the pile. The total load from superstructure Qg = 2000 kN.

Calculate the consolidation settlement of each layer:

For normally consolidated clays,
 C H   o i    i 
sc i    c i  log 
1  eo i     o i  
Settlement of clay layer 1:

And

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 C H      1   (0.3)(7)  134.8  51.6 

sc 1   c 1  log o 1   log   0.1624m  162.4mm
1  eo 1    o 1   1  0.82   134.6 

Settlement of layer 2:

 C H      2 
sc 2    c 2  log o 2  
1  eo 2     o 2  

And
 C H      2   (0.2)(4)  181.62  14.52 
sc 2    c 2  log o 2    log   0.0157m  15.7mm
1  eo 2     o 2    1  0.7   181.62

Settlement of layer 3:

 C H      3 
sc 3   c 3  log o 3 
1  eo 3    o 3 

And

 C H      3   (0.25)(2)   208.99  9.2 

sc 3   c 3  log o 3   log   0.0054m  5.4mm
1  eo 2     o 3   1  0.75   208.99 
Hence the total settlement is:
sc g   162.4  15.7  5.4  183.5mm

EXAMPLE 9: Consolidation settlement of pile group

[Link]

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EXERCISE #2: Allowable Load Capacity of Pile

A square precast concrete pile of sides 0.4 m is to be driven 12 m into the soil strata shown in figure
below. GWT is at the surface of the ground.
a) Estimate the allowable load capacity for a factor of safety of 2.5.
b) Owing to changes in design requirements, the pile must support 20% more load. Determine the
additional embedment depth required.

EXERCISE #3: Load Capacity of Pile Group

A group of 16 piles of 50 cm diameter is arranged with a center to center spacing of 1.0 m. The piles are
12m long and are embedded in soft clay with cohesion 30kN/m. Bearing resistance may be neglected for
the piles. Adhesion factor is 0.6. Determine the ultimate load capacity of the pile group.

EXERCISE #4: Load Capacity using Pile Driving Formula

A pile is driven with a single acting steam hammer of weight 15kN with a free fall of 900mm. The final
set, the average of the last three blows, is 27.5mm. Find the safe load using the Engineering News
formula.

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