Indian Geotechnical Conference 2010, GEOtrendz

December 1618, 2010

IGS Mumbai Chapter & IIT Bombay

Cyclic Pile Load Test on Large Diameter Piles: A Case Study

Kamat, A. A.

Mahuli, R. R.1

Senior Vice President

e-mail: aa.kamat@jalindia.co.in

Project Co ordinator
e-mail: rkulkarni@noblegeostructs.com

Jaiprakash Associates Limited, Noida

1
Noble Geo-Structs, Mumbai

ABSTRACT
Jaypee DSC ventures Limited was awarded the work of 27 km long, Access controlled Expressway NH8 Project
(Delhi Gurgaon section) on BOOT basis. It has an 8 access controlled lanes and 6 service lanes expressway with
13 nos of flyovers / underpasses at various (Junctions). Length of the flyovers/ elevated carriage ways varies
between 400m to 1300 m. The site specific soil investigation had revealed existence of typical Yamuna Sand
followed by weathered rock at certain locations. Considering the variation in depth of sandy strata, at various
locations the design pile depth varied from 12 m. to 26 m. Hence it was intended to derive useful guidelines for the
purpose of selection of design parameters. Although the test piles were showing the requisite capacity, due to
large variation in strata it was difficult to adopt these results for adjoining locations. Hence, cyclic load test were
conducted on series of piles to arrive at a relationship between the pile load capacity and the depth of pile. Based
on cyclic pile load test data, it was possible to separate the pile capacity in to skin friction and end bearing
components. Based on these investigations, a rational approach could be adopted to decide depth of piles to be
provided for the entire stretch. The case study presents analysis of 4 different sites and highlights usefulness of
cyclic tests.
1. INTRODUCTION
Construction of flyovers at all the crossings was essential
for conversion of dual carriageway highway from km 14.3
to km 42 of NH8 (Delhi Gurgaon Section) into access
controlled 8/6 lane highway. The sandy substrata
necessitated adoption of Pile Foundation for flyovers. About
1500 Piles were estimated for the project. Considering the
spread of the project, it was not possible to provide for
large number of test piles. The flyover foundation are
subjected to cyclic loading (both axial & lateral).The Pile
load test is intended to validate the computed capacity for
pile foundation and also to provide information for
improvement of design rationale. Pile tests were also used
to provide a methodology for assessing the pile tip
elevations of the working piles. Attempt has been made to
understand the skin friction development in cyclic pile load
tests. Based on the assessed unit skin friction, the length of
pile is estimated the guidelines have been established to co
relate the basic shear parameters from soil investigation
with the pile capacity. All piles were of 1200mm diameter.
Details regarding test pile locations, pile depth, type
of test conducted is given in Figure 1 and Table 1. The test

piles were installed with cut off levels in the same range as
that of the proposed working piles at later stage.

Fig. 1: Test Pile Locations

780

A.A. Kamat and R.R. Mahuli

Chainage,
km
22.155
22.155
28.060
28.400
33.220
24.840

Boring
Pile
Method Depth, m
for Pile
Dry
20.25
Bentonite 20.25
Bentonite 20.25
Dry
20.25
Bentonite 20.25
Bentonite 18

Type of Test

Maintained
Cyclic
Maintained
Cyclic
Cyclic
Cyclic

Piles were cast either without bentonite slurry

circulation (dry) or with bentonite slurry circulation
(bentonite).
2. DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF PILES
Based on subsurface data, piles were designed for 435t load
as per IS 2911 provisions. Bored cast in situ piles were
formed by using rotary rig with M35 Grade concrete. In all
the cases, test setup with 1000t Kentledge was used.
Subsoil Properties
The soil investigation at site indicated loose to medium
fine sand followed by dense sand or weathered rock is given
below.
1. Rajokri
The top layer of filled up material was observed up to a
depth varying from 0.5m to 1.35m from existing ground
level.
The top layer was followed by soft to hard yellowish
brown/ brown/reddish brown sandy silt of low plasticity
with varying proportion of gravels, sand, silt and clay. This
layer was extending up to 30.3m The SPT values for the
strata were observed as 18 for strata up to 12m and 25 for
strata between 12m and 20m below pile cutoff level.
2. IIFCO Chowk
The top layer of filled material was observed up to a depth
of one meter from the existing ground level, sandy silt with
gravels was extending up to 30.3m. SPT values were
observed as 12 for strata up to 4.5m and 30 for strata below
4.5m from pile cut off level.
3. Rajiv Chowk
The sub-soil profile showed homogeneous strata overall. It
consisted of sandy silt with gravels. The sieve analysis
showed gravel 4-10%, sand 20-32%, silt 58-76. The soil
was non-plastic in nature. The bulk density was assessed
as 1.69 g/cc up to 12m and 1.75 g/cc further below. The
SPT values of the strata were observed as 10 up to 12m
and 18 between 12m and 20m from pile cutoff level.
4. Shankar Chowk
The strata met with was predominantly non-plastic sandy
silt with traces of gravel. The sieve analysis shows 4%
gravel, 15% - 20% sand, 76%-81% silt. Wet density was
assessed about 1.89 g/c up to 15m and about 2.1 g/cc beyond

it. The SPT values were observed varying from 36-50 for
strata up to 12m.and 48 beyond 12mfrom pile cut off level.
Shear Parameters
The angle of friction observation from the laboratory tests
is given in Table 2.
Table 2: SPT, Data of Test Locations
Sr. Location
SPT - N degrees SPT - N degrees
No.
1 Rajokri chowk 19
26
26
36
Depth, m
0 - 12
12 - 20
2 IFFCO chowk 12
28
30
37
Depth, m
0 4.5
4.5 20
3 Rajiv chowk 10
28
50
41
12 20
Depth, m
0 12
4 Shankar chowk17-43 33
48
40
Depth, m
0 - 12
12 20

Concrete Properties
The M-35 grade of concrete was used which showed E
value as 3.15 x 105 kg/cm2
3. ANALYSIS
Load Test Setup
Loading has been realized by means of system of Kentledge.
Load Settlement Data Presentation
Cyclic Pile load test were conducted at IFFCO Chowk,
Rajokri Junction, Rajiv Junction & Shankar Chowk. The
load settlement curves are given in Figure 2.
Pile Load Test
Load ,t

0
-6 0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

-12
-18
-24
-30

Settlement,mm

Test
Pile
no.
Rajokri junction V1
V2
IFFCO chowk
V4
V3
Rajiv chowk
L3
Shankar
V11

-36
-42

IFFCO Chowk

-48
Cyclic

-54

Rajiv Junction

-60

Shankar Chowk

-66
-72
-78
-84
-90
-96

Fig. 2: Cyclic Pile Load Test Graph

Load deformation curves show soil sub-grade

deformations that are much lesser in magnitude than the
elastic compression of pile material.
At Rajokri, comparison of maintained & cyclic load
tests, shown in Figure 3, where deterioration of capacity is
visible in cyclic test.
Rajokri
Load,t

0
0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

-6

-12

Settlement,mm

Table 1: Test Pile Location

Location

-18

-24

-30

-36

Cyclic

Maintained

-42

Fig. 3: Cyclic and Maintained Load Graph

Cyclic Pile Load Test on Large Diameter Piles: A Case Study

781

Theoretical Pile capacity calculations made as per IS

2911 Part 1. These calculations are done considering angle
of shearing resistance as 280 through the pile length. Earlier
instrumented pile results have shown 55% as skin friction
contribution.

Table 3: Assessment of Skin Friction and End Bearing

Component for the Design Load
Location
Skin
End Bearing Vertical Load
Friction, Resistance, ton Capacity of
Ton
Pile, Ton
Rajokri junction
400
050
450

Methods of Assigning Safe Load on Piles

(1) SPT values and shear parameters obtained at
different depths are made use of in static pile
formulae to assess safe loads on piles of different
lengths.
(2) Pile load tests, Cyclic as well as maintained load
test are used to establish and ascertain the
contribution of end bearing and skin friction
components in pile capacity.
Test Results
Elastic Rebound Observed in Cyclic Load Tests
The elastic rebound observed particular load increment
stage of 400 t are 1 to 1.5 mm The percentage of (elastic
rebound / total settlement) observed at 400T load stage at
Rajokri, IFFCO chowk, Rajiv chowk and shankar chowk
are 61%, 88 94% and 63% respectively. Similarly for 640
T load stage the corresponding values are 40%, 81 93%
and 37 respectively, thus indicating that settlements are
instantaneous in nature. The contribution of skin friction
and end bearing components from the vertical pile load
test data are as per provision of IS 2911 (Part 4).
The values from Figures 4 and 5 are summarized for
ready reference in Tables 3 and 4.

IFFCO chowk
Rajiv chowk

375
300

175
150

450
450

Shankar chowk

320

130

450

Consider skin friction as 55%.

Thus 17.04 t/m is the average skin friction
contribution.In general ultimate point capacity is not
developed until after the ultimate skin resistance and the
ultimate shaft resistance is not simultaneously developed
along the full pile shaft. For analysis following cases are
considered.
Case I
When the pile is supported entirely as end bearing the
deformation observed incorporate the elastic compression
of pile due to full length of pile. Here the load applied at
the pile head is entirely transmitted at pile tip. The load is
transmitted through end bearing, when the deformations
induced are of the order of10% of diameter, as per IS such
large deformations are not observed in the pile load tests
conducted for the project. Apparently the end bearing
contribution is not manifested as sub strata contribution
from pile tip
Table 4: Assessed Unit Skin Friction from Safe Load
Location

Depth Vs Total Skin Friction

0
-50

10

15

20

25

30

-100

Skin Friction

-150
-200
-250
Borehole Data
-300
Rajokri Junction
-350
IFFCO Junction
-400
Rajiv Chowk
-450
Shankar Chowk
-500

Depth

Fig. 4: Skin Friction Graph

Pile Load Test
Load,t

0.00
0

200

400

600

800

1000

-1.00

Elastic Compression of subgrade, mm

Safe
Load @
12 mm
Settlem
ent T

-2.00

-3.00

-4.00
IFFCO Chowk
Rajokri Junction
-5.00
Rajiv Junction
Shankar Chowk
-6.00

Fig. 5: Cyclic Pile Load Test Graph

IFFCO
Maintained chowk
load test
Rajokri
junction
IFFCO
chowk
Rajokri
Cyclic loadjunction
test
Rajiv
chowk
Shankar
chowk

Assessed Unit skin Weighted Average

Skin Friction skin Unit Skin Weighte
Friction Friction/(dL Friction d Unit
Compone ) T/m2
= Skin
Skin
nt (55%)
Friction/( Friction
T
dLeff)
T/m2
T/m2

513

287

3.75

4.35

510

285

3.73

4.32

633

344

4.5

5.20

440

246

3.22

3.73

640

352

4.67

5.33

452

248.6

3.66

4.23

4.52

Case II
During initial stages of load applications skin friction is
mobilized along full length of pile. At further load mobilized
skin frictions gradually increases, until the limiting, value
of shaft skin friction resistance is reached. Only marginal
say 10% - 15% point resistance is developed at this stage
and deformations are of the order of 3-10mm .On further
settlement gradually end bearing resistance increases. Full

782

A.A. Kamat and R.R. Mahuli

end bearing resistance is mobilized at settlement of the

order of 10 % of pile diameter.
The length of pile evaluated from shear parameter, from
cyclic pile, from maintained load test, and from cyclic pile
results are tabulated in Table 5.
4. CONCLUSION
1. For large diameter piles, as per the present IS codes
12mm & 10% of diameter are set as controlling
settlements. The 12mm settlement appears
realistic.
2. The test results have shown capacity much higher
than design capacity of 435t for 20m length.
Average capacity based on 4 tests carried out works
out to be around 524T.
3. From theoretical calculations separation of the end
bearing and skin friction shows that end bearing
component is around 40% of total load.
4. The skin friction is seen to be around 17T/m
5. Data from test should not be used to lengthen or
shorten the pile to the extent that their new
capacities will vary more than 10% from test.
Table 5: Length of Pile in Meters Based on Unit Skin Friction
LocationLoad, Analytical From skin
t
Calculations Friction
From Shear Separated
Parameters As per IS
Cyclic
Rajokri 300
14.00
9.72
Rajokri 350
15.00
10.92
Rajokri 400
15.50
12.13
Rajokri 450
16.50
13.33
IFFCO 300
14.00
10.20
IFFCO 350
15.00
11.48
IFFCO 400
15.50
12.77
IFFCO 450
16.50
14.05
Rajiv
300
14.00
12.13
Rajiv
350
15.00
13.73
Rajiv
400
15.5
15.33
Rajiv
450
16.50
16.94
Shankar 300
14.00
11.52
Shankar 350
15.00
13.03
Shankar 400
15.50
14.53
Shankar 450
16.50
16.04

From Skin
Friction as
55% of Safe
Load
Maintained
12.80
14.51
16.23
17.94
12.70
14.44
16.15
17.85

From Skin Average

Friction
as 55% of
Safe Load
Cyclic
14.40
12.70
16.42
14.20
18.41
15.60
20.40
17.00
10.00
11.90
12.18
13.30
13.56
14.50
14.94
15.80
10.70
12.30
12.07
13.60
13.44
14.80
14.81
16.10
10.20
11.90
11.53
13.20
12.82
14.30
14.12
15.60

REFERENCES
IS: 2911 Part 1- Sec.2. (1979). (Reaffirmed 2006). Code of
Practice for Design and Construction of Pile
Foundations, Bored Cast In-Situ Piles (First Revision),
Bureau of Indian Standards, New Delhi.
IS: 2911 Part 4. (1985) (Reaffirmed 2006). Code of Practice
for Design and Construction of Pile Foundations, Load
Tests on Piles (First Revision), Bureau of Indian
Standards, New Delhi.
Kulkarni, U.V. (1984). A cyclic Pile Load Test at Shuaiba
Maqal Road Bridge, Indian Geotechnical Conference
1984, Calcutta, Vol.I, Div.III, 33-37.