Negative Skin Friction on Piles: State of the Art

Abstract

AbstractPile foundation experiences negative skin friction when the surrounding soil settles more than the pile, which induces an increased compressive force on piles, called drag load, and it also induces settlement in pile called down drag. The drag load acting on the pile reduces shaft capacity to resist the ultimate load. Geotechnical engineers had to deal with the effects of negative skin friction on structural capacity and settlement of piles for the efficient design of pile foundations. The mechanism of negative skin friction on pile nonetheless is still not well understood and needs to be explored. This paper aims to present the state of the art relating to negative skin friction on piles. This review is prepared based on analytical, numerical, experimental and field studies that are of significant contribution in understanding and incorporating the effect negative skin friction in the design. Topics covered include: response of single piles and pile groups to negative skin friction, methods to calculate NSF and incorporation of NSF in the pile design. Finally, the key problems that lie ahead for future research related to negative skin friction on pile and pile groups are addressed briefly.KeywordsNegative skin frictionDown dragDrag loadShieldingInterface