NPTEL ADVANCED FOUNDATION ENGINEERING-I

Module 9
(Lecture 36)
DRILLED-SHAFT AND CAISSON FOUNDATIONS
Topics
1.1 DRILLED SHAFTS IN SAND-LOAD-BEARING CAPACITY
Load Bearing Capacity Based on Settlement
1.2 EXAMPLES & SOLUTIONS
Determination of the Shaft diameter,
Determination of the Bell Diameter
Determination of Be Diameter

NPTEL ADVANCED FOUNDATION ENGINEERING-I

DRILLED SHAFTS IN SAND-LOAD-BEARING CAPACITY
For drilled shafts in sand, = 0 and, hence (equation 6) simplifies to
(net ) = ( 1)

[9.8]

Determination of is always a problem for deep foundations, as in the case of piles.

Note, however, that all shafts are drilled, unlike the majority of piles, which are driven.
For similar initial soil conditions, the actual value of may be substantially lower for
objects drilled and placed in situ compared to that for objects that are driven. Vesic
(1967) compared the theoretical results obtained by several investigators relating to the
variation of with soil friction angle. These investigators include DeBeer, Meyerhof,
Hansen, Vesic, and Terzaghi. The values of given by Vesic (1963) are approximately
the lower bound, and hence are used in this text (see figure 9. 8). We also use equation
(20 from chapter 9) to calculate the ultimate point load, . Thus
(net ) = ( 0 )

Where

Figure 9.8 Vesics bearing capacity factor, , for deep foundations

0 = [(1 + 20 )/3]

NPTEL ADVANCED FOUNDATION ENGINEERING-I

Or
(net ) =

(1+20 )
3

[9.9]

Table D.6 (Appendix D) gives the values of for various magnitudes of and soil
friction angles. For ease o calculation, those values are plotted in figure 9. 9.

Figure 9.9 Plot of Vesics bearing capacity factor,

The frictional resistance at ultimate load, , developed in a drilled shaft may be

calculated from the relation given in equation (7), in which
= shaft perimeter =

= unit frictional (or skin)resistance = tan

Where
= earth pressure coefficient 0 = 1 sin
= effective vertical stress at any depth
Thus

[9.10]

NPTEL ADVANCED FOUNDATION ENGINEERING-I

= 0 1 = (1 sin ) 0 1 tan

[9.11]

The value of will increase to a depth of about 15 and will remain constant
thereafter, as shown in figure 9.18.
An appropriate factor of safety should be applied to the ultimate load to obtain the net
allowable load, or
all (net ) =

(net ) +

[9.12]

A reliable estimate of the soil friction angle, , must be made to obtain the net base
resistance, (net ). Figure 9.10 shows a conservative correlation between the soil friction
angle and the corresponding corrected standard penetration resistance numbers in
granular soils. However, these friction angles are valid only for low confining pressures.
At higher confining pressures, which occur in the case of deep foundations, can
decrease substantially for medium to dense sands. This decrease affects the value of
or (and ) to be used for estimating (net ). For example, Vesic (1967) showed
that, for Chattahoochee River sand at a relative density of about 80%, the triaxial angle of
friction is about 45 at a confining pressure of 10 lb/in2 (70 kN/m 2 ). However, at a
confining pressure of 1500 lb/in2 (10.35 MN/m2 ), the friction angle is about 32.5 ,
which will ultimately result in a tenfold decrease of or . Thus, for general working
conditions of drilled shafts, the estimated friction angle determined from figure 9. 10
should be reduced by about 10%-15%. In general, the existing experimental values show
the following range of for standard drilled shafts (or cast-in-place piles).

Figure 9.10 Correlation of corrected standard penetration number with the soil friction
angle

NPTEL ADVANCED FOUNDATION ENGINEERING-I

Sand type

Relative density of sand

Loose

40 or less

Range of

Medium

40-60

25-40

Dense

60-80

30-50

Very dense

>80

75-90

10-20

Load Bearing Capacity Based on Settlement

Based on the performance of bored piles in sand with an average diameter of 2.5 ft (750
mm), Touma and Reese (1974) suggested the following procedure for calculating the
allowable load-carrying capacity. It is also applicable to drilled shafts in sand.
For > 10 and a base movement of 1 in. (25.4 mm) the allowable net point load,
all (net ) =

0.508

[9.13]

Where all (net ) is in kN, is in m2 , is in m, and is the unit point resistance in

kN/m2
In English units,

all (net ) = 0.6

Where

[9.14]

all (net ) is in lb, is in ft 2 , is in ft, and is in lb/ft 2

The values of as recommended by Touma and Reese are

Loose

(kN/m2 )
0

(lb/ft 2 )

Medium

1530

32,000

Very dense

3830

80,000

Sand type

For sands of intermediate densities, linear interpolation can be used. The shaft friction
resistance can be calculated as

NPTEL ADVANCED FOUNDATION ENGINEERING-I

= 0 1 (0.7) tan = 0.7 ( ) 0 1 tan = 2.2 0 1 tan

[9.15]
Where
= soil friction angle

= vertical effective stress at a depth

For the definition of 1 , see figure 9. 7. Thus

all (net ) = all (net ) + (for a base movement of 1 in. )

[9.16]

Where
= factor of safety ( 2)

Based on a database of 41 loading tests, Reese and ONeill (1989) also proposed a
method to calculate the load-bearing capacity of drilled shafts that is based on settlement.
The method is applicable to the following ranges:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Shaft diameter: = 1.7 ft to 3.93 ft (0.52 m to 1.2 m)

Bell depth: = 15.4 ft to 100 ft (4.7 m to 30.5 m)
Field standard penetration resistance: = 5 to 60
Concrete slump= 4 in. to 9 in. (100 mm to 225 mm)

Reese and ONeills procedure, with reference to figure 9. 11, gives

(net ) =
=1 +

[9.17]

NPTEL ADVANCED FOUNDATION ENGINEERING-I

Figure 9.11 Development of equation (17)

Where
= ultimate unit shearing resistance in layer
= perimeter of the shaft =
= unit point resistance

= area of the base = (/4)2

Following are the relationships for determining (net ) in granular soils. Based on
equation 17
= 4 kip/ft 2
Where
= vertical effective stress at the middle of layer

[9.18]

NPTEL ADVANCED FOUNDATION ENGINEERING-I

= 1.5 0.1350.5

(0.25 1.2)

[9.19]

= depth to the middle of layer (ft)

The point bearing capacity is

(kip/ft 2 ) = 1.2 90 kip/ft 2

(for < 50 in. )

[9.20]

Where

=
mean standard penetration number within a distance of 2 below the base of the drilled
If is equal to or greater than 50 in. excessive settlement may occur. In that case,
may be replaced by , or
=

50

(in .)

(for 50 in. )

[9.21]

Figure 9.12 and 13 may now be used to calculate the allowable load all (net ) based on
the desired level of settlement. Example 2 shows the method of calculating the net
allowable load.

Figure 9.12 Normalized side load transfer vs. settlement for conhesionless soil (after
Reese and ONeill, 1989)

NPTEL ADVANCED FOUNDATION ENGINEERING-I

Figure 9.12 Normalized side load transfer vs. settlement for conhesionless soil (after
Reese and ONeill, 1989)

NPTEL ADVANCED FOUNDATION ENGINEERING-I

Figure 9.13 Normalized base load transfer vs. settlement for cohesionless soils (after
(Reese and ONeill, 1989)
Example 1
A soil profile is shown in figure 9.14. A point bearing drilled shaft with a bell is to be
placed in the dense sand and gravel layer. The working load, , is 2000 kN.

Figure 9.14
a. Determine the shaft diameter for = 21,000 kN/m2 .
b. Use equation (8) and a factor of safety of 4 to determine the bell diameter, .
Ignore the frictional resistance of the shaft.
c. Use equation (13) and obtain for a settlement of 25.4 mm. ignore the frictional
resistance of the shaft. Use = 3000 kN/m2 .

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Solution
Part a: Determination of the Shaft diameter,
From equation (1),

= 2.257

For = 2000 kN and = 21,000 kN/m2 ,

2000

= 2.25721,000 = 0.697 m
Use = 1 m

Part b: Determination of the Bell Diameter Using equation (8)

(net ) = ( 1)

For cor 40, figure 9. 10 indicates that 39.5 . To be conservative, use a reduction of
about 10%, or = 35.6. From figure 9. 8, 60, so
= 6(16.2) + 2(19.2) = 135.6 kN/m2

(net ) = ( )() = (2000)(4) = 8000 kN

8000 = (135.6)(60 1)
= 1.0m2
=

1.0

= 1.13 m

Part c: Determination of Be Diameter Using equation (13)

all (net ) =

0.508

Because the limit of settlement is 25.4 mm,

= all (net )
Thus

all (net ) = = 2000 =

0.508

(0.508)(/4)(2 )

= 0.399

NPTEL ADVANCED FOUNDATION ENGINEERING-I

Or
2000

= (0.399)(3000 ) = 1.67 m

Note: The value of determined in Part b corresponds to an allowable bearing capacity

that is based on the ultimate bearing capacity. Settlement has not been taken into
consideration at all, and the ultimate bearing capacity of drilled shafts may occur at a
settlement exceeding 10-15% of the bell diameter. The bell diameter in Part c
corresponds to a settlement of 25.4 mm.
Example 2
A drilled shaft is shown in figure 9. 15. The uncorrected average standard penetration
number within a distance of 2 below the base of the shaft is about 30. Determine:

Figure 9.15
a. The ultimate load-carrying capacity
b. The load-carrying capacity for a settlement of 0.5 in. Use Reese and ONeills
method.
Solution
Part a
From equations (18) and (19),
=

NPTEL ADVANCED FOUNDATION ENGINEERING-I

= 1.5 0.1350.5

For this problem, = 20/2 = 10 ft, so

= 1.5 (0.135)(10)0.5 = 1.07

= = (100)(10) = 1000 lb/ft 2

Thus

= (1000)(1.07) = 1070 lb/ft 2

= (1070)( 2)(20) = 134,460 lb = 134.46 kip

From equation (20)

= 1.2 = (1.2)(30) = 36 kip/ft 2

= (36) 4 (3)2 = 254.47 kip

Hence

(net ) = + = 254.47 + 134.46 = 388.9 kip

Part b

Allowable settlement

0.5

= (2)(12) = 0.021 = 2.1%

The trend line shown in figure 9.12 indicates that, for a normalized settlement of 2.1%
the normalized side load is about 0.9. Thus side load transfer is (0.9) (134.46)
121 kip. Similarly,
Allowable settlement

0.5

= (3)(12) = 0.014 = 1.4%

The trend line shown in figure 9.13 indicates that, for a normalized settlement of 1.4%
the normalized base load is 0.312. So the base load is (0.312) (254.47)= 79.4 kip. Hence
the total load is
= 121 + 79.4 200 kip