Centrifuge model study of piles socketed in soft rock

Abstract

The research reported herein is concerned with the centrifuge model testing of piles socketed in soft rocks having uniaxial strengths below 12 MPa. Gypsum cement was employed as the pseudo-rock to obtain the desirable range of rock strength. Aluminum tubing with a roughened surface having an equivalent structural stiffness as that of a solid concrete pile was used to simulate the piles. By comparing the centrifuge model test results with those obtained from conventional small-scale models, the latter will overpredict the ultimate unit shaft resistance as the magnitude of friction mobilized along the pile socket depends upon the confining pressure and lateral stiffness of surround rocks in the rock socket.