Evaluation of Bearing Capacity of Driven Piles from CPT Data and Development of Design Software

Abstract

This paper evaluates the performance of eight cone penetration test (CPT) methods in predicting the ultimate load carrying capacity of square, precast, prestressed concrete (PPC) piles driven into Louisiana soils. The CPT methods were evaluated based on their ability to predict the measured ultimate pile capacity. Four criteria were selected to evaluate the ratio of the predicted to measured pile capacities. Based on this evaluation, the de Ruiter and Beringen and LCPC/LCP methods showed the best performance in predicting the load carrying capacity of PPC piles driven into Louisiana soils. The CPT methods that showed the best performance, Ruiter and Beringen and LCPC/LCP, were implemented into a Visual Basic computer program to facilitate their use. The Schmertmann method was also implemented in the program, as it is one of widely used CPT methods.