ISSN: 1945-7545
Page Count: 10

Experimental Modeling of the Shaft Capacity of Grouted Driven Piles

Joer, HA
Research fellow, Centre for Offshore Foundation Systems, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands,W.A.

Randolph, MF
Professor of civil engineering, director, Centre for Offshore Foundation Systems, The University of Western Australia,

Gunasena, U
student, The University of Western Australia,

Abstract

Pile foundations are widely used in compressible soils such as calcareous sediments. However, the friction capacity of driven piles in such soils tends to be very low, owing to severe reduction of the normal effective stresses at the pile-soil interface during installation of the pile, caused by densification of the soil. The shaft capacity may be increased by injection of grout along the pile-soil interface, referred to as “grouted driven pile” construction. A new apparatus for testing such a type of pile has been developed at the University of Western Australia. In this paper, the design of the apparatus and associated model piles are described, along with the grouting technique. Limitations of early versions of the apparatus and difficulties with grouting at small scale are discussed, and recommended solutions are presented. Results of tests performed on specimens of calcareous soils that were artificially cemented in order to reproduce typical in situ strengths are also presented.

Keywords:
pile foundation, calcareous soils, grouting, shaft capacity, cone resistance, unconfined compressive strength

Paper ID: GTJ10889J
DOI: 10.1520/GTJ10889J
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