Negative skin friction from surface settlement measurements in model group tests

Abstract

Groups of model wood piles driven to end bearing through dense sand over soft clay were used to determine the relative settlement of the soil surface inside and outside the groups as the soil was compressed by air pressure. Square 30 mm piles at spacings of 2 to 6 times the pile width were used in groups of 3 × 3, 4 × 4, and 5 × 5. The results indicate that pile group effects were negligible at pile spacings at 5 to 6 pile widths. Key words : negative friction, model study, pile groups, sand.