COMPUTING AXIAL PILE CAPACITY IN SANDS FOR OFFSHORE CONDITIONS

The application of a new criterion to compute the axial capacity of pipe piles driven into sands is described for offshore conditions. The new criterion is tested, independently, against measured capacities from 64 pile load tests and is compared with current recommended practice of API RP2A. These comparisons show that the new criterion is more reliable than the current API criterion and that the new criterion can provide greater capacities for long, large-diameter pipe piles used in the marine environment. Topics also discussed include (1) the use of limiting values for unit shaft resistance and unit end bearing, (2) computing the capacity of piles in layered soil profiles, (3) the soil plug resistance in overcoming end bearing resistance, and (4) the influence of rate of loading and cyclic loading on pile capacity. A few examples are included to demonstrate the applications.