Base Resistance of Screw Displacement Piles in Sand
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 150, Issue 8
Abstract
Full-scale axial load tests were performed on five screw injection piles founded in medium-dense to dense sand at a site in Delft, the Netherlands. Each pile was instrumented with distributed fiber-optic sensors along its full length, giving detailed insights into the shaft and base response under compression loading. The paper focuses on the pile base response and combines the test results with a newly compiled database of instrumented load tests on screw displacement piles in sand. Given the range of screw displacement piles on the market, the influence of different installation methods and pile geometries on the base resistance can be assessed through the database. In summary, the analysis showed that all screw displacement pile types tended to mobilize base capacities similar to bored or nondisplacement piles. Despite high variability in the database, no significant trend with pile geometry, such as length or diameter, was evident.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Data Availability Statement
The data presented in this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Acknowledgments
This research is part of the InPAD project, a project funded by Het Topconsortium voor Kennis en Innovatie (TKI) Deltatechnologie and seven industry partners: Delft University of Technology, Deltares, Dutch Association of Piling Contractors (NVAF), Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management (Rijkswaterstaat), Fugro, the Municipality of Rotterdam (Gemeente Rotterdam), and the Port of Rotterdam Authority. In addition, the authors are grateful for the financial support of the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management for the Delft pile tests along with the assistance of Fundex Piling Group and APTS during the pile test program.
References
Admiraal, B. J., S. A. Aguilar, S. Van Dijk, and P. IJnsen. 2022. “Influence of grout injection parameters on shaft bearing capacity of screw displacement piles.” In Proc., 11th Int. Conf. Stress Wave Theory and Design and Testing Methods for Deep Foundations. Rotterdam, Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7139213.
AFNOR (French Standardisation Association). 2018. Justification des ouvrages géotechniques—Normes d’application nationale de l’Eurocode 7—Fondations profondes [Justification of geotechnical work–National application standards for the implementation of Eurocode 7–Deep foundations]. [In French.] NF P94-262/A1. Paris: AFNOR.
Ahmadi, M. M., and P. K. Robertson. 2005. “Thin-layer effects on the CPT measurement.” Can. Geotech. J. 42 (5): 1302–1317. https://doi.org/10.1139/t05-036.
Basu, P., M. Prezzi, and D. Basu. 2010. “Drilled displacement piles—Current practice and design.” J. Deep Found. Inst. 4 (1): 3–20. https://doi.org/10.1179/dfi.2010.001.
Basu, P., M. Prezzi, and R. Salgado. 2014. “Modeling of installation and quantification of shaft resistance of drilled-displacement piles in sand.” Int. J. Geomech. 14 (2): 214–229. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0000303.
Bittar, E. J., B. M. Lehane, R. W. Boulanger, and J. T. DeJong. 2020. “CPT filter to estimate the end bearing of closed-ended driven piles in layered sands.” In Proc., 4th Int. Symp. Frontiers in Offshore Geotechnics, 520–528. Hawthorne, NJ: Deep Foundations Institute.
Bittar, E. J., Y. Tian, and B. M. Lehane. 2022. “Application of a new averaging approach for end bearing of driven piles in sand.” In Proc., 5th Int. Symp. Cone Penetration Testing (CPT22), 832–837. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.
Bottiau, M., and N. Huybrechts. 2019. “Recent advances in pile design, construction, monitoring and testing.” In Proc., 17th ECSMGE-2019. Reykjavik, Iceland: Icelandic Geotechnical Society.
Boulanger, R. W., and J. T. DeJong. 2018. “Inverse filtering procedure to correct cone penetration data for thin-layer and transition effects.” In Proc., 4th Int. Symp. Cone Penetration Testing (CPT18), 24–44. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.
Bustamente, M., and L. Gianeselli. 1982. “Pile bearing capacity prediction by means of static penetrometer CPT.” In Proc., 2nd European Symp. Penetration Testing, 493–500. Leiden, Netherlands: CRC Press.
Bustamente, M., and L. Gianeselli. 1997. “Portance d’un pieu De Waal, vissé moulé dans un sable sous nappe” [Capacity of a De Waal pile, auger cast in sand under groundwater level]. [In French.] Bull. des Laboratoires des Ponts et Chaussées 208 (Mar–Apr): 107–115.
Bustamente, M., and L. Gianeselli. 1998. “Installation parameters and capacity of screwed piles.” In Proc., 3rd Int. Geotechnical Seminar on Deep Foundations on Bored and Auger Piles (BAP III), 95–108. Rotterdam, Netherlands: A.A. Balkema.
Chin, F. K. 1970. “Estimation of the ultimate load of piles from tests not carried to failure.” In Proc., 2nd Southeast Asian Conf. on Soil Engineering. Singapore: Southeast Asian Society of Soil Engineering.
de Beer, E. 1971. “Methodes de deduction de la capacite portante d’un pieu a partir des resultats des essais de penetration” [Methods for deducing the bearing capacity of a pile from penetration test results]. [In French.] Ann. des Travaux Publics de Belg. 1971 (4/5 ET 6): 191–268.
de Boorder, M., D. A. de Lange, and K. G. Gavin. 2022. “An alternative CPT averaging procedure to estimate pile base capacity.” In Proc., 11th Int. Conf. Stress Wave Theory and Design and Testing Methods for Deep Foundations. Rotterdam, Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7142197.
de Cock, F. A. 2008. “Sense and sensitivity of pile load-deformation behaviour.” In Proc., 5th Int. Symp. Deep Foundations on Bored and Auger Piles (BAP V), 23–44. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.
de Lange, D. A. 2018. CPT in thinly layered soils: Validation tests and analysis for multi thin layer correction. Assen, Netherlands: Nederlandse Aardolie Maatschappij.
Duffy, K. J., K. G. Gavin, M. Korff, D. A. De Lange, and A. A. Roubos. 2024. “Influence of installation method on the axial capacity of piles in very dense sand.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 150 (6): 04024043. https://doi.org/10.1061/JGGEFK.GTENG-12026.
Fellenius, B. 2001. “From strain measurements to load in an instrumented pile.” Geotech. News Mag. 19 (1): 35–38.
Fellenius, B. H. 2002. “Determining the resistance distribution in piles. Part 2: Method for determining the residual load.” Geotech. News Mag. 20 (3): 25–29.
Figueroa, G., A. Marinucci, and A. Lemnitzer. 2022. “Axial load capacity predictions of drilled displacement piles with SPT- and CPT-based direct methods.” J. Deep Found. Inst. 16 (2): 1–22. https://doi.org/10.37308/DFIJnl.20220512.262.
Flynn, K. N., and B. A. McCabe. 2021. “Applicability of CPT capacity prediction methods to driven cast-in-situ piles in granular soil.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 147 (2): 04020170. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0002445.
Flynn, K. N., B. A. McCabe, and D. Egan. 2012. “Residual load development in cast-in-situ piles—A review and new case history.” In Proc., 9th Int. Conf. Testing and Design Methods for Deep Foundations, 765–773. Tokyo: Japanese Geotechnical Society.
Gavin, K., D. Cadogan, A. Tolooiyan, and P. Casey. 2013. “The base resistance of non-displacement piles in sand. Part I: Field tests.” Proc. Inst. Civ. Eng. Geotech. Eng. 166 (6): 540–548. https://doi.org/10.1680/geng.11.00100.
Gavin, K., M. S. Kovacevic, and D. Igoe. 2021. “A review of CPT based axial pile design in the Netherlands.” Underground Space 6 (1): 85–99. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.undsp.2019.09.004.
Geerling, J., and E. Janse. 1992. Proefbelastingen op schroefinjectiepalen te Rosmalen” [Pile tests on screw injection piles in Rosmalen]. [In Dutch.]. Delft, Netherlands: Grondmechanica Delft.
Hijma, M. P., K. M. Cohen, W. Roebroeks, W. E. Westerhoff, and F. S. Busschers. 2012. “Pleistocene Rhine–Thames landscapes: Geological background for hominin occupation of the southern North Sea region.” J. Quatenary Sci. 27 (1): 17–39. https://doi.org/10.1002/jqs.1549.
Huybrechts, N. 2001. “Test campaign at Sint-Katelijne-Waver and installation techniques of screw piles.” In Proc., Symp. Screw Piles, 151–204. Rotterdam, Netherlands: A.A. Balkema.
Huybrechts, N., M. De Vos, M. Bottiau, and L. Maertens. 2016. “Design of piles—Belgian practice.” In Proc., ISSMGE–ETC3 Int. Symp. on Design of Piles in Europe, 7–44. Leuven, Belgium: International Society of Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering.
Huybrechts, N., and V. Whenham. 2003. “Pile testing campaign on the Limelette test site and installation techniques of screw piles.” In Proc., 2nd Symp. on Screw Piles, 71–130. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.
Jeffrey, J. 2012. “Investigating the performance of continuous helical displacement piles.” Ph.D. thesis, Dept. of Civil Engineering, Univ. of Dundee.
Kempfert, H.-G., and P. Becker. 2010. “Axial pile resistance of different pile types based on empirical values.” In GeoShanghai 2010–Deep Foundations and Geotechnical In Situ Testing, 149–154. Reston, VA: ASCE.
Knappett, J. A., K. Caucis, M. J. Brown, J. R. Jeffrey, and J. D. Ball. 2016. “CHD pile performance: Part II–Numerical modeling.” Proc. Inst. Civ. Eng. Geotech. Eng. 169 (5): 436–454. https://doi.org/10.1680/jgeen.15.00132.
Krasiński, A. 2011. “Badania terenowe przemieszczeniowych pali i kolumn wkręcanych typu SDP i SDC” [Field tests of displacement piles and screwed SDP and SDC columns]. [In Polish.] Drogi I Mosty (1–2): 21–58.
Krasiński, A. 2023. “Estimation of screw displacement pile-bearing capacity based on drilling resistances.” Supplement, Stud. Geotech. et Mech. 45 (S1): 1–11. https://doi.org/10.2478/sgem-2023-0014.
Krasiński, A., and M. Wiszniewski. 2021. “Identification of residual force in static load tests on instrumented screw displacement piles.” Stud. Geotech. et Mech. 43 (4): 438–451. https://doi.org/10.2478/sgem-2021-0025.
Larisch, M. 2014. “Behaviour of stiff, fine-grained soil during the installation of screw auger displacement piles.” Ph.D. thesis, School of Civil Engineering, Univ. of Queensland.
Lehane, B. M. 2019. “CPT-based design of foundations. E.H. Davis memorial lecture.” Aust. Geomech. J. 54 (4): 23–48.
Lehane, B. M., et al. 2020. “A new ‘unified’ CPT-based axial pile capacity design method for driven piles in sand.” In Proc., 4th Int. Symp. on Frontiers in Offshore Geotechnics, 462–477. Hawthorne, NJ: Deep Foundations Institute.
Meyerhof, G. G. 1959. “Compaction of sands and bearing capacity of piles.” J. Soil Mech. Found. Div. 85 (6): 1–29. https://doi.org/10.1061/JSFEAQ.0000231.
Moshfeghi, S., and A. Eslami. 2019. “Reliability-based assessment of drilled displacement piles bearing capacity using CPT records.” Mar. Georesour. Geotechnol. 37 (1): 67–80. https://doi.org/10.1080/1064119X.2018.1448493.
NBN (Belgian Bureau of Normalisation). 2022. Eurocode 7: Geotechnisch ontwerp—Deel 1: Algemene regels [Eurocode 7: Geotechnical design–Part 1: General rules]. [In Dutch.] NBN EN 1997-1 ANB:2022. Brussels, Belgium: NBN.
NEN (Dutch Standardisation Institute). 2017. Geotechnisch ontwerp van constructies—Deel 1: Algemene regels [Geotechnical design of structures–Part 1: General rules]. [In Dutch.] NEN 9997-1+C2. Delft, Netherlands: NEN.
NeSmith, W. M. 2002. “Design and installation of pressure-grouted, drilled displacement piles.” In Proc., 9th Int. Conf. Piling Deep Foundations. Hawthorne, NJ: Deep Foundations Institute.
Park, S., L. A. Roberts, and A. Misra. 2012. “Design methodology for axially loaded auger cast-in-place and drilled displacement piles.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 138 (12): 1431–1441. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0000727.
Pucker, T., and J. Grabe. 2012. “Numerical simulation of the installation process of full displacement piles.” Comput. Geotech. 45 (Apr): 93–106. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2012.05.006.
Randolph, M. F. 2003. “Science and empiricism in pile foundation design.” Géotechnique 53 (10): 847–875. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.2003.53.10.847.
Reinders, K., A. van Seters, and M. Korff. 2016. “Design of piles according to Eurocode 7–Dutch practice.” In Proc., ISSMGE—ETC 3 Int. Symp. on Design of Piles in Europe. Leuven, Belgium: International Society of Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering.
Rijsdijk, K. F., S. Passchier, H. J. T. Weerts, C. Laban, R. J. W. van Leeuwen, and J. H. J. Ebbing. 2005. “Revised Upper Cenozoic stratigraphy of the Dutch sector of the North Sea Basin: Towards an integrated lithostratigraphic, seismostratigraphic and allostratigraphic approach.” Neth. J. Geosci. 84 (2): 129–146. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0016774600023015.
Sharif, Y. U., et al. 2021. “Effects of screw pile installation on installation requirements and in-service performance using the discrete element method.” Can. Geotech. J. 58 (9): 1334–1350. https://doi.org/10.1139/cgj-2020-0241.
Siegel, T. C., T. J. Day, B. Turner, and P. Faust. 2019. “Measured end resistance of CFA and drilled displacement piles in San Francisco Area alluvial clay.” J. Deep Found. Inst. 12 (3): 186–189. https://doi.org/10.1080/19375247.2019.1595993.
Siegel, T. C., and A. McGillivray. 2009. “Interpreted residual load in an augered cast-in-place pile.” In Proc., 34th Annual Conf. Deep Foundations, 173–182. Hawthorne, NJ: Deep Foundations Institute.
Slatter, J. W. 2000. “The fundamental behaviour of displacement screw piling augers.” Ph.D. thesis, Dept. of Civil Engineering, Monash Univ.
Tehrani, F. S., M. I. Arshad, M. Prezzi, and R. Salgado. 2018. “Physical modeling of cone penetration in layered sand.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 144 (1): 04017101. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0001809.
Theys, F., J. Maertens, and W. Maekelberg. 2003. “Practical experience with screw piles used for the high-speed railway in Belgium.” In Proc., 2nd Symp. Screw Piles, 235–271. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.
Tovar-Valencia, R. D., A. Galvis-Castro, R. Salgado, and M. Prezzi. 2021. “Effect of base geometry on the resistance of model piles in sand.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 147 (3): 04020180. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0002472.
van der Geest, A. J., B. J. Admiraal, and P. IJnsen. 2020. “Schaalproeven op draagvermogen grondverdringende (schroef)palen” [Scaled tests on the bearing capacity of ground displacing (screw) piles]. [In Dutch.] Geotechniek 24 (2): 7–16.
van der Linden, T. I., D. A. de Lange, and M. Korff. 2018. “Cone penetration testing in thinly inter-layered soils.” Proc. Inst. Civ. Eng. Geotech. Eng. 171 (3): 215–231. https://doi.org/10.1680/jgeen.17.00061.
van Impe, P. O., W. F. Van Impe, and L. Seminck. 2013. “Discussion of an instrumented screw pile load test and connected pile group load settlement behavior.” J. Geo-Eng. Sci. 1 (1): 13–36. https://doi.org/10.3233/JGS-130011.
van Impe, W. F. 2001. “Considerations on the influence of screw pile installation parameters on the overall pile behaviour.” In Proc., Symp. Screw Piles, 127–150. Rotterdam, Netherlands: A.A. Balkema.
van Mierlo, W., and A. Koppejan. 1952. Lengte en draagvermogen van heipalen. [Length and bearing capacity of driven piles]. [In Dutch.] Rotterdam, Netherlands: Stichting Bouw.
van Seters, A. 2016. “General report—Calculation methods based on direct derivation from in situ tests.” In Proc., ISSMGE–ETC 3 Int. Symp. on Design of Piles in Europe, 31–45. Leuven, Belgium: International Society of Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering.
Verheyde, F. A., and F. Baguelin. 2019. “Pile design using CPT results: The ‘LPC method’.” In Proc., 13th Australia New Zealand Conf. Geomechanics, 421–426. Sydney, Australia: Australian Geomechanics Society.
White, D. J., and M. D. Bolton. 2005. “Comparing CPT and pile base resistance in sand.” Proc. Inst. Civ. Eng. Geotech. Eng. 158 (1): 3–14. https://doi.org/10.1680/geng.2005.158.1.3.
Xu, X., and B. M. Lehane. 2008. “Pile and penetrometer end bearing resistance in two-layered soil profiles.” Géotechnique 58 (3): 187–197. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.2008.58.3.187.
Xu, X., J. A. Schneider, and B. M. Lehane. 2008. “Cone penetration test (CPT) methods for end-bearing assessment of open- and closed-ended driven piles in siliceous sand.” Can. Geotech. J. 45 (8): 1130–1141. https://doi.org/10.1139/T08-035.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 150 • Issue 8 • August 2024
Copyright
© 2024 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Sep 29, 2023
Accepted: Mar 19, 2024
Published online: Jun 14, 2024
Published in print: Aug 1, 2024
Discussion open until: Nov 14, 2024
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Axial loads
- Computing in civil engineering
- Continuum mechanics
- Databases
- Displacement (mechanics)
- Engineering fundamentals
- Engineering mechanics
- Foundations
- Geomechanics
- Geotechnical engineering
- Information Technology (IT)
- Load tests
- Pile foundations
- Pile tests
- Piles
- Sandy soils
- Soil mechanics
- Soils (by type)
- Solid mechanics
- Static loads
- Statics (mechanics)
- Structural mechanics
- Tests (by type)
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.