Comparison between empirical and experimental ultimate bearing capacity of bored piles—a case study

Abstract

In this paper, several pile load tests are conducted for the evaluation of the actual axial compressive bearing capacity of bored piles casted beneath rear crane beams in Shahid Rajaee Port Complex Development Project (SRPCDP) in south of Iran (case study). Different methods of pile load test interpretations are employed to achieve the actual bearing capacity of piles. Moreover, the result of pile load tests are compared with empirical relations based on American Petroleum Institute (API) and American Association for State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) recommendations. Undrained parameters for cohesive layers and SPT-N value or relative density of cohesionless materials are employed for the estimation of the bearing capacity based on API and AASHTO proposals. It can be observed that in most of cases, the empirical prediction based on API and experimental data are coherent. This coherency is more obvious when the pile tip is overlain on a sandy layer. Hence, notwithstanding the common use of API recommendation for the steel offshore pile design, it can also be employed for the design of bored piles.