National University of Singapore

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

CE3116 Foundation Engineering

Semester 2 2014/15

Design of Deep Foundation Part 2

Introduction
A test pile has been installed into the ground location of the borehole
provided in Part 1. Shaft resistance data are obtained from the test pile under
different working loads. With the additional information, K SPT values are
compared with the assumed values in Part 1. Furthermore, the settlement of
pile is examined. Lastly, with another set of pile resistance data obtained
from load tests, a new design is obtained.
1. Comparison of the KSPT Values
The KSPT values calculated from the additional information are tabulated as
follow.

%W
L
0
230
0
460
0
690
0
920
0
690
0
460
0
230
0

q
0.00
46.2
0
69.3
0
87.2
0
102.
40
17.7
0
12.7
0

2.50
69.4
0
0
Average

Depth 3.93-9.21m
SPTN
valu Kspt
SPT-N
Kspt
SPT-N
Kspt
SPT-N
Kspt
e
=q/N value
=q/N value
=q/N value
=q/N
28.0
0
0.00
31.00
0.00
36.00
0.00
57.00
0.00
28.0
0
1.65
31.00
1.49
36.00
1.28
57.00
0.81
28.0
0
2.48
31.00
2.24
36.00
1.93
57.00
1.22
28.0
0
3.11
31.00
2.81
36.00
2.42
57.00
1.53
28.0
0
3.66
31.00
3.30
36.00
2.84
57.00
1.80
28.0
0
0.63
31.00
0.57
36.00
0.49
57.00
0.31
28.0
0
0.45
31.00
0.41
36.00
0.35
57.00
0.22
28.0
0
0.09
31.00
0.08
36.00
0.07
57.00
0.04
28.0
0

-2.48
1.72

31.00

-2.24
1.56

36.00

-1.93
1.34

57.00

-1.22
0.85

Depth 9.21-12.19m
%W
SPT-N
Kspt=q/ SPT-N
Kspt=q/ SPT-N
Kspt=q/
L
q
value
N
value
N
value
N
0
0.00
57.00
0.00
26.00
0.00
44.00
0.00
230
0 52.40
57.00
0.92
26.00
2.02
44.00
1.19
2

460 113.9
0
0
690 159.6
0
0
920 214.4
0
0
690
0 91.00
460
0 20.10
230
0 12.80
0 86.50
Average

57.00

2.00

26.00

4.38

44.00

2.59

57.00

2.80

26.00

6.14

44.00

3.63

57.00

3.76

26.00

8.25

44.00

4.87

57.00

1.60

26.00

3.50

44.00

2.07

57.00

0.35

26.00

0.77

44.00

0.46

57.00
57.00

0.22
1.52
1.66

26.00
26.00

0.49
3.33
3.65

44.00
44.00

0.29
1.97
2.16

Depth 12.19-15.19m
%W
SPT-N
Kspt=q/ SPT-N
Kspt=q/
L
q
value
N
value
N
0
0.00
44.00
0.00
27.00
0.00
230
0 35.30
44.00
0.80
27.00
1.31
460
0 76.10
44.00
1.73
27.00
2.82
690 107.0
0
0
44.00
2.43
27.00
3.96
920 168.1
0
0
44.00
3.82
27.00
6.23
690 197.1
0
0
44.00
4.48
27.00
7.30
460 103.5
0
0
44.00
2.35
27.00
3.83
230
0 29.70
44.00
0.68
27.00
1.10
0
8.40
44.00
0.19
27.00
0.31
Average
2.33
3.79
Depth 15.19- 18.22m
%W
SPT-N
Kspt=q/ SPT-N
Kspt=q/ SPT-N
Kspt=q/
L
q
value
N
value
N
value
N
0
0.00
27.00
0.00
28.00
0.00
28.00
0.00
230
0
8.10
27.00
0.30
28.00
0.29
28.00
0.29
460
24.6
0
0
27.00
0.91
28.00
0.88
28.00
0.88
690
49.2
0
0
27.00
1.82
28.00
1.76
28.00
1.76
3

920
0
690
0
460
0
230
0

43.8
0
60.6
0
61.1
0

1.60
12.0
0
0
Average

27.00

1.62

28.00

1.56

28.00

1.56

27.00

2.24

28.00

2.16

28.00

2.16

27.00

2.26

28.00

2.18

28.00

2.18

27.00

0.06

28.00

0.06

28.00

0.06

27.00

-0.44
1.32

28.00

-0.43
1.27

28.00

-0.43
1.27

Depth 18.22-21.22m
%W
Kspt=q/
Kspt=q/
L
q
SPT-N value N
SPT-N value N
0 0.00
28.00
0.00
36.00
0.00
230 22.1
0
0
28.00
0.79
36.00
0.61
460 30.5
0
0
28.00
1.09
36.00
0.85
690 47.7
0
0
28.00
1.70
36.00
1.33
920 55.9
0
0
28.00
2.00
36.00
1.55
690 64.6
0
0
28.00
2.31
36.00
1.79
460 56.0
0
0
28.00
2.00
36.00
1.56
230 47.5
0
0
28.00
1.70
36.00
1.32
26.4
0
0
28.00
0.94
36.00
0.73
Average
1.65
1.29
Depth 21.22-24.20m
%W
Kspt=q/
Kspt=q/
Kspt=q/
L
q
SPT-N value N
SPT-N value N
SPT-N value N
0 0.00
36.00
0.00
57.00
0.00
100.00
0.00
230
0 0.00
36.00
0.00
57.00
0.00
100.00
0.00
460 18.2
0
0
36.00
0.51
57.00
0.32
100.00
0.18
690 49.8
0
0
36.00
1.38
57.00
0.87
100.00
0.50
920 86.0
36.00
2.39
57.00
1.51
100.00
0.86
4

0
0
690 99.6
0
0
36.00
2.77
460 77.0
0
0
36.00
2.14
230 54.4
0
0
36.00
1.51
0 0.10
36.00
0.00
Average
1.53
Tables 1-6 KSPT values in each layer of soil.

57.00

1.75

100.00

1.00

57.00

1.35

100.00

0.77

57.00
57.00

0.95
0.00
0.96

100.00
100.00

0.54
0.00
0.55

Workings
The KSPT values are calculated using the following formula:

K SPT =

qs
N

Where qs is the shaft resistance obtained from pile load test and N is the Nvalue obtained from borehole data.
Several representative N-values in each layer of soil are taken in order to
provide a more extensive comparison.
The calculated KSPT values are compared against the assumed KSPT value in
the part 1 design, which is 2.5.
Discussions
The comparisons show that the K SPT values calculated from the pile load tests
are generally lower than the assumed values in the previous design.
Therefore, the exact stiffness of the soil is lower than what was expected in
the previous design.
Besides, it can be observed from the pile load tests that the shaft resistance
of the pile is dependent on the working load. However, the shaft resistance as
calculated from the formula qs=KSPTN is an ultimate resistance without the
consideration of the exact behavior of the soil. Therefore, the results obtained
from the previous design may be less conservative and partial factors are
thus important to factor down the resistance.
Also, it can be observed that there is no general trend or correlation between
the magnitude of the working load and the shaft resistance.
2. Pile base resistance

Base resistance of bored pile under drained condition at different level of soil
can be correlated to the SPT-N value at the corresponding level of soil by the
following equation.
Base resistance per unit area,

q b=K b N

(Chang & Broms, 1991)

K b 30 45

where
In the previous design, Kb is conservatively taken as 30 throughout the depth
of soil.
The pile base resistance is calculated using the following formula:
Rb Ab K b N

Case B
EC7 partial factors: b=1.0

D 30 N
(
4)
=
=3393 kN
2

Design base resistance (B),

RbB

1.0

Case C
EC7 partial factors: b=1.6

Design base resistance (C),

( ) D 2 30 N
4
RbC =
=1060 kN
1.6

The expected base resistance will be the same as the previous design as the
Kb has not been changed.
3. Settlements
At 0.5 WL=4600kN, settlement of pile= 4.98mm
At 1.0 WL=9200kN, settlement of pile= 10.46mm
Maximum allowable settlement of pile= 0.1 X Nominal diameter of pile
=0.1 X 1200 = 120mm

at ultimate compressive resistance as stated in Eurocode 7.

Ultimate compressive resistance = 11224 kN (from Part 1)>9200kN.
By extrapolating, settlement at ultimate compressive resistance= 12.76 mm
< 120mm
Hence, the settlement is acceptable.
Discussions
If the settlement is not acceptable, the following can be done:
i. Ground improvement, eg. grouting
ii. Install the pile until it sits on the rock bed
However, for normal scenario, the settlement of pile is far smaller than the
allowable settlement (s=0.1D). So settlement requirement is normally
satisfied and hence the governing case for the pile design is Ultimate Load
State.
4. Design with additional information
The KSPT and Kb values calculated from the additional information are
tabulated as follow.

0.00
4600.0
0
9200.0
0
13800.
00
16100.
00
18400.
00
20700.
00
18400.
00
13800.
00
9200.0

Depth 3.93-9.21m
SPT-N
SPT-N Kspt=q SPT-N Kspt=q SPT-N Kspt=q
value
Kspt=q/N value /N
value
/N
value
/N
4.50
28.00
0.16 31.00
0.15 36.00
0.13 57.00
0.08
20.40

28.00

0.73

31.00

0.66

36.00

0.57

57.00

0.36

22.70
174.1
0
155.7
0
253.3
0
276.1
0
289.3
0
220.4
0
179.6

28.00

0.81

31.00

0.73

36.00

0.63

57.00

0.40

28.00

6.22

31.00

5.62

36.00

4.84

57.00

3.05

28.00

5.56

31.00

5.02

36.00

4.33

57.00

2.73

28.00

9.05

31.00

8.17

36.00

7.04

57.00

4.44

28.00

9.86

31.00

8.91

36.00

7.67

57.00

4.84

28.00

10.33

31.00

9.33

36.00

8.04

57.00

5.08

28.00
28.00

7.87
6.41

31.00
31.00

7.11
5.79

36.00
36.00

6.12
4.99

57.00
57.00

3.87
3.15
7

0
4600.0
0
0.00

0
23.30
10.30

0.00
4600.0
0
9200.0
0
13800.
00
16100.
00
18400.
00
20700.
00
18400.
00
13800.
00
9200.0
0
4600.0
0
0.00

0.00
4600.0
0
9200.0
0
13800.
00
16100.
00
18400.
00

28.00
28.00

-0.83
0.37

31.00
31.00

-0.75
0.33

36.00
36.00

-0.65
0.29

57.00
57.00

-0.41
0.18

Depth 9.21-12.19m
SPT-N
Kspt=q SPT-N
Kspt=q SPT-N
Kspt=q
value
/N
value
/N
value
/N
5.90
57.00
0.10
26.00
0.23
44.00
0.13
81.40
221.3
0
184.7
0
244.0
0
223.5
0
237.0
0
364.0
0
350.7
0
291.5
0
351.0
0
102.3
0

57.00

1.43

26.00

3.13

44.00

1.85

57.00

3.88

26.00

8.51

44.00

5.03

57.00

3.24

26.00

7.10

44.00

4.20

57.00

4.28

26.00

9.38

44.00

5.55

57.00

3.92

26.00

8.60

44.00

5.08

57.00

4.16

26.00

9.12

44.00

5.39

57.00

6.39

26.00

14.00

44.00

8.27

57.00

6.15

26.00

13.49

44.00

7.97

57.00

5.11

26.00

11.21

44.00

6.63

57.00

6.16

26.00

13.50

44.00

7.98

57.00

-1.79

26.00

-3.93

44.00

-2.33

Depth 12.19-15.19m
SPT-N
Kspt=q SPT-N
Kspt=q
value
/N
value
/N
6.30
44.00
0.14
27.00
0.23
55.10
184.2
0
182.5
0
320.0
0
341.6
0

44.00

1.25

27.00

2.04

44.00

4.19

27.00

6.82

44.00

4.15

27.00

6.76

44.00

7.27

27.00

11.85

44.00

7.76

27.00

12.65
8

20700.
00
18400.
00
13800.
00
9200.0
0
4600.0
0
0.00

0.00
4600.0
0
9200.0
0
13800.
00
16100.
00
18400.
00
20700.
00
18400.
00
13800.
00
9200.0
0
4600.0
0
0.00

0.00
4600.0
0

417.4
0
199.8
0

44.00

9.49

27.00

15.46

44.00

4.54

27.00

7.40

40.80

44.00

0.93

27.00

1.51

-87.40
157.0
0
164.2
0

44.00

-1.99

27.00

-3.24

44.00

-3.57

27.00

-5.81

44.00

-3.73

27.00

-6.08

Depth 15.19-18.22m
SPT-N Kspt=q SPT-N
Kspt=q
value /N
value
/N
7.40 27.00
0.27
28.00
0.26
39.70

27.00

1.47

28.00

1.42

46.10

27.00

1.71

28.00

1.65

73.60

27.00

2.73

28.00

2.63

64.20

27.00

2.38

28.00

2.29

59.20

27.00

2.19

28.00

2.11

57.90

27.00

2.14

28.00

2.07

-36.30

27.00

-1.34

28.00

-1.30

-34.20

27.00

-1.27

28.00

-1.22

-44.80

27.00

-1.66

28.00

-1.60

-39.70
-43.90

27.00
27.00

-1.47
-1.63

28.00
28.00

-1.42
-1.57

Depth 18.22-21.22m
SPT-N
Kspt=q SPT-N
Kspt=q
value
/N
value
/N
3.70
28.00
0.13
36.00
0.10
33.70

28.00

1.20

36.00

0.94
9

9200.0
0
13800.
00
16100.
00
18400.
00
20700.
00
18400.
00
13800.
00
9200.0
0
4600.0
0
0.00

19.00

28.00

0.68

36.00

0.53

26.30

28.00

0.94

36.00

0.73

25.80

28.00

0.92

36.00

0.72

16.50

28.00

0.59

36.00

0.46

47.00

28.00

1.68

36.00

1.31

-82.30
103.4
0
115.4
0
119.4
0
119.3
0

28.00

-2.94

36.00

-2.29

28.00

-3.69

36.00

-2.87

28.00

-4.12

36.00

-3.21

28.00

-4.26

36.00

-3.32

28.00

-4.26

36.00

-3.31

SPT-N
value
0.00
4600.
00
9200.
00
13800
.00
16100
.00
18400
.00
20700
.00
18400
.00
13800
.00
9200.
00

45.2
0
68.2
0
176.
60
262.
70
285.
40
308.
10
308.
40
398.
70
339.
70
262.
70

Depth 21.22-24.20m
Kspt= SPT-N
Kspt=
q/N
value
q/N

36.00

1.26

57.00

0.79

36.00

1.89

57.00

1.20

36.00

4.91

57.00

3.10

36.00

7.30

57.00

4.61

36.00

7.93

57.00

5.01

36.00

8.56

57.00

5.41

36.00

8.57

57.00

5.41

36.00

11.08

57.00

6.99

36.00

9.44

57.00

5.96

36.00

7.30

57.00

4.61

SPT-N
Kspt=
value
q/N
100.0
0
0.45
100.0
0
0.68
100.0
0
1.77
100.0
0
2.63
100.0
0
2.85
100.0
0
3.08
100.0
0
3.08
100.0
0
3.99
100.0
0
3.40
100.0
0
2.63
10

4600.
00
0.00

244.
50
240.
00

36.00

6.79

57.00

4.29

36.00

6.67

57.00

4.21

100.0
0
100.0
0

2.45
2.40

Kb of Pile Base Resistance

Load
qB
SPT-N
Kb
3.89649
0 222.1
57
1
16.3684
4600
933
57
2
1288.
22.6035
9200
4
57
1
1380 1866.
0
1
57 32.7386
1610 2132.
37.4175
0
8
57
4
1840
41.3157
0 2355
57
9
2070 2799.
49.1140
0
5
57
4
1840 2799.
49.1140
0
5
57
4
1380 2443.
42.8754
0
9
57
4
34.2982
9200 1955
57
5
1732.
4600
8
57
30.4
1732.
0
8
57
30.4
averag 32.5451
e
8
Tables 7-13. New KSPT and Kb values.
Workings
With the additional information, new KSPT values can be calculated using the
same method as section 1.
With the new KSPT values, new values of shaft resistance can be calculated
using the formula qs=KSPTN.
The new average KSPT values that are used for the new design are tabulated
as follow.
Depth (m)
3.93 - 9.21

KSPT (average)
3.10
11

9.21 - 12.19
12.19 - 15.19
15.19 - 18.22
18.22 - 21.22
21.22 - 24.20
Table 14. Design values of KSPT in each

4.47
4.95
2.10
0.78
2.65
layer of soil.

As larger KSPT values are generally obtained from the additional information,
larger values of shaft resistance are obtained, thus the design length of the
pile can be reduced. This indicates that the soil behaviour is stiffer than what
was previously assumed, thus providing more shaft resistance.
Also, using the additional information obtained from pile load tests, new
values of Kb can be obtained using the formula K b=qb/N (as shown in Table
13), where N is 57 at 24.20m according to borehole data.
The obtained result of Kb, 32.545, is larger than the assumed value of 30. The
larger value of Kb results in a larger base resistance. Therefore, the pile length
can be further reduced as more load can be taken by pile base resistance.
The shaft resistance and base resistance can be determined using the
following formulas.

Rs

(D Li) K SPTi N i

Where Li, KSPT-i, Ni are the length of pile, KSPT, N values respectively in i-th soil
layer; D=12000mm; B=1.0; C=1.3.

D K N
(
4)
R=
2

Where Kb=33.545; N is the N value at the pile base; D=1200mm; B=1.0;

C=1.6.
Case B
L =26 m
RsB =10 994 kN
RbB =3 681 kN
RB =14 675 kN
The pile length has been reduced to 26m from 28m in the previous design.
12

Case C
L =28 m
RsC =9 327 kN
RbB =2 300 kN
RC =11 627 kN
The pile length has been reduced to 28m from 34m in the previous design.
Further Discussions and Conclusion
After some analyses of the data from Annex C, we found that there is load
redistribution when the load increases. For example, at the depth of 3.93
9.21m, the KSPT value increases from substantially from 0.81 to 6.22 when the
load increases from 9200kN to 13800kN while at the depth of 9.21 12.19m,
the KSPT value decreases from 3.88 to 3.24 when the load increases from
9200kN to 13800kN. This shows that when the load increases, the load is
redistributed to other level of soil when certain level of soil has reached its
maximum resistance.
The different KSPT values when the same load is applied before and after the
maximum load implies that the stress strain curve of soil is non-linear and the
soil exhibits plastic behavior. From the data, we can observe that the soil is
generally stiffer after the maximum load is applied. This is coincident with the
theory we have learnt in the class that the soil follows a different stress strain
curve when it loads beyond its yield stress.
Besides, from the new data, we can observe that K SPT value can be up to
15.46 while in the previous design, we had chosen the K SPT value to be 2.5.
The chosen value of 2.5 is quite conservative as we can observe from the
data, nearly all layers of soil has a K SPT value larger than 2.5 except the layer
that is near to the base. Some of the reasons that the layer near to the base
has a small KSPT value are the existence of the base resistance at that layer of
soil and also there is some anchorage length required for the pile to build up
resistance that is similar to the case of steel in the reinforced concrete.
Hence, the chosen value of 2.5 is quite safe for design of pile but for most of
the cases, this will result in over-designing of the pile and introduce large
economic cost.
Furthermore, it can be observed from the data in Annex C that the higher the
working load, the higher the mobilised base resistance. This is due to the fact
that when working load exceeds the shaft resistance, more of the load will be
taken by the base.
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In conclusion, static load test should be conducted to obtain a better design

of pile and have a better understanding of the condition of the soil.

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References

Eurocode 7 (2009). Geotechnical design - Part 1: General rules.

Farrel & Trevor (1999). Geotechnical Design to Eurocode 7.
Tan Y.C. & Chow C.M. (2003). Design and construction of bored pile
foundation.

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