Evaluation of local friction and pore-water pressure evolution along instrumented probes in saturated clay for large numbers of cycles

Abstract

To investigate local friction mobilization along piles subjected to cyclic axial loadings, a calibration chamber experiment is presented based on the implementation of instrumented probes in specimens of saturated clay. Typical results obtained with a piezo-probe are presented, allowing not only tip resistance and local friction to be measured, but also the local pore-water pressure developed on the probe shaft. In addition, specific piezometers installed in the clay specimen allow a good picture to be obtained of the pore-water pressure field around the probe during installation and loading. After installation of the probe, a succession of monotonic and cyclic displacement-controlled loading phases is applied. Upon displacement-controlled cyclic loading of the piezo-probe up to a very large number of cycles (105 cycles), an initial degradation of local friction is observed followed by a subsequent reinforcement, which continues until the end of the cyclic sequence. The friction evolution is related to the evolution of the pore-water pressure measured during cyclic loading. In particular, the influence of the cyclic loading sequence on the post-cyclic static friction resistance is evaluated. A comparison is finally made with the results obtained with another type of probe, showing a good consistency between both types of results.