Accuracy of pile capacity assessment on the basis of piling reports

Abstract

Current assessment of foundation pile bearing capacity during driving may considerably improve operational reliability in terms of loads to be transferred. It also enables proper design and trial examinations by focusing attention on piles with atypical driving characteristics. The paper presents the method applicable to assess the bearing capacity of prefabricated driven piles and provides analysis of likelihood of this assessment by the example of numerous prefabricated piles documented by piling reports and results of static pile load tests to the extent allowing to determining the limit bearing capacity. The results attained could be the basis to determine respective safety factors in pile design based on driving resistance analysis.