Estimation of driven pile capacity in soft soil based on limited geotechnical data: A case study

Abstract

The lack of qualified geotechnical data for the foundation design process is a present and growing concern among the consultancy practitioners. The clients have been increasingly reluctant to commit to extensive but necessary site investigative program that has no immediate economic benefits or perceived to impede work progress. Consequently, the risk of foundation failure and over-design are a potential reality. Even so, the construction pace is unrelenting. The research attempted to address such a quandary via a project case study with not too dissimilar limitation with respect to the availability of geotechnical data. Selecting the best available data for the type of foundation selected, further analyses were carried out in order to obtain collaborative strength information with the appropriate application of the factor of safety. Next, selection of the governing value from among the derived strength parameter had been based on the currency and accuracy of the testing process. Finally, provisional qualifiers had been attached to the design proposals in case alternate scenarios were encountered during the implementation stage. In the context of the case study, a reasonable driven pile capacity of 15.55 tonnes as determined from the PDA test has been recommended contingent upon the prescribed project scale and ground conditions.