Pile setup
Pile setup in soft soils
Determination of ultimate pile capacity is important for proper design and construction of pile foundations. After the completion of pile driving, the pile capacity increases as the strength of the surrounding soil increases by reconsolidation, manifested by the dissipation of excess pore pressure at the soil-pile interface zone. The amount of increase in pile capacity (known as pile setup) and the time required for complete dissipation of excess pore water pressure depend on soil/pile characteristics.
This increase in pile capacity is not incorporated in current pile design procedures due to a lack of a full understanding of the gain mechanisms and how several factors such as soil type, pile material and its installation method affect capacity gain. This project studies the pile capacity increase in soft and sensitive clays to develop a relationship between the pile capacity and elapsed time after initial installation.