Centrifuge studies on the effects of existing piles on the end resistance and shaft friction of a newpile

Abstract

The effects of existing piles on the vertical bearing capacity of piles of a new building were examined using vertical static loading centrifuge tests on a new pile located among existing piles. The results suggest the following conclusions: (1) Existing piles increased the total shaft resistance of the new pile with a rough surface because the existing piles restrained the soil around the new pile and the positive dilatancy of the sand increased the confining pressure of the soil. (2) The shaft resistance of the lower part of the new pile with a rough surface fell rapidly during the loading tests, regardless of whether there were existing piles or not. The diminution of shaft resistance, known as ‘friction fatigue’, was probably caused by sand particle crushing in the vicinity of the pile end. (3) For a new pile with a rough surface, existing piles did not affect the end resistance when the new pile head settlement normalized by the pile diameter, s/Dp, was less than 0.2. (4) Existing piles did not affect the shaft resistance or the end resistance of the new pile with a smooth surface. Dominance of the sliding displacement along the pile–sand contact surface engenders the extremely small variation of the confining pressure of the soil around the new pileshaft.