Piezocone/cone penetration test-based pile capacity analysis: calibration, evaluation, and implication of geological conditions

Abstract

ABSTRACT Several studies have proposed evaluation schemes to assess the performance of cone/piezocone penetration test (CPT/PCPT)-based pile analyses. However, approaches that calibrate, evaluate, and consider the locality of these methods are not fully recognized, yet. In this study, a calibration analysis using a least square method and subsequent evaluation of CPT/PCPT-based methods was conducted based on a pile and CPT/PCPT database. The evaluation scheme comprised different statistical criteria and a ranking index (RI) was used to evaluate the methods. After the evaluation, it turned out that methods by De Ruiter and Beringen, Tumay and Fakhrooand Clisby et al. showed a fair performance for H-piles with overall RI of 8, 9, and 13, respectively. Methods by De Ruiter and Beringen , Eslami and Fellenius , and Bustamante and Gianeselli showed a fair performance for closed-ended pipe and prestressed concrete piles with overall RI 9, 14, and 15, respectively. In addition, consideration of the geological conditions for the better performing techniques showed that they were commonly developed for soils mostly derived from marine deposit during Mesozoic era and melting of thick ice sheet during Cenozoic era. Consideration of prevailing geological condition for the test sites, therefore, is recommended in predicting pile bearing capacity based on CPT/PCPT-based.