Comparison of Load Transfer Law of Pipe Pile between O-Cell Test and Traditional Static Load Test

Abstract

In recent years, the detection of offshore pile foundations has received wide attention in engineering. Compared with traditional methods, the O-cell test has unique advantages in offshore pile foundation detection. To study the load transfer characteristics of the O-cell method for pile testing in coastal soft soil foundation, this paper established the pile–soil numerical model to simulate the O-cell and traditional testing processes. The finite element method and equal displacement method are combined to calculate the conversion coefficient and ultimate bearing capacity, and the distribution forms of axial force, side friction resistance, and tip resistance are discussed. The research results show that the O-cell test method and the traditional method have different load transfer forms. By introducing the equal displacement method into the O-cell pile–soil model, the error between the equivalent conversion ultimate bearing capacity and the calculation result of the surcharge method is less than 0.5%, and the O-cell conversion coefficient can be accurately calculated.

Keywords

• O-cell test
• conversion coefficient
• <i>Q-s</i> curve
• load transfer characteristics