Abstract:
Many methods have been used to determine bearing capacity of piles such as
static equations, dynamic equations, semi empirical methods by using SPT and CPT
values, empirical methods, numerical methods, computer software programs and the
pile static load test. These methods were giving different values for pile bearing
capacity.
In this research, three empirical methods have been selected, Brinch-Hansen,
Chin-Kondner and Decourt; and computer software program (AllPile 6) has been
applied to determine capacity load of piles for six cases study of drilled concrete piles
with diameter ranged from 800mm to 1500mm and embedded length ranged 10.5m.
to 26m. Four of those six piles are located at Portsudan city near the red sea coast and
two piles are located at Khartoum city.
The results of the bearing capacity calculations obtained using the selected
three empirical methods and computer program were compared with results produced
by the pile load test. In all six cases of study the settlement of piles were limited,
settlement failure was not reached. The results show that, the AllPile 6 program and
the three mentioned empirical methods determined satisfactory bearing capacity of
piles, the AllPile 6 program and Brinch-Hansen method gave the better result than the
Chin-Kondner and Decourt methods. While Decourt method gave results similar to
results determined using Chin-Kondner method. However, it was not preferred to use
Chin-Kondner method and Decourt method, unless the failure settlement was
occurred in pile load test.
