Relation between peak driving force and the bearing capacity of driven piles

Abstract

For piles driven to practical refusal, generally taken to be a set of less than 25mm per 10 blows, in soil conditions similar to those examined in this study, it is possible to relate the measured peak driving force to the bearing capacity of piles determined by the stress-wave matching method or the Case method. Hence, the peak driving force may be used to estimate the bearing capacity of piles in the field under similar conditions. It is noted that this peak impact force is obtained directly from strain measurements near the pile head, whereas the accuracy of the Case method depends on a reliable estimate of the Case damping factor. It is necessary, however, to ensure that the peak driving stresses are within the permissible material stresses of the piles.