U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
202-366-4000


Skip to content
Facebook iconYouTube iconTwitter iconFlickr iconLinkedInInstagram

Federal Highway Administration Research and Technology
Coordinating, Developing, and Delivering Highway Transportation Innovations

 
TECHBRIEF
This techbrief is an archived publication and may contain dated technical, contact, and link information
Back to Publication List        
Publication Number:  FHWA-HRT-17-060     Date:  August 2017
Publication Number: FHWA-HRT-17-060
Date: August 2017

 

Liquefaction-Induced Downdrag on Continuous Flight Auger (CFA) Piles From Full-Scale Tests Using Blast Liquefaction

PDF Version (420 KB)

PDF files can be viewed with the Acrobat® Reader®

 

FHWA Publication No. FHWA-HRT-17-060

FHWA Contact: Jennifer Nicks, HRDI-40, (202) 493-3075, jennifer.nicks@dot.gov

Introduction

Deep foundations typically support dead and live loads through a combination of positive skin friction acting along the sides of the pile and end-bearing at the toe of the pile; however, during seismic events, negative skin friction (or downdrag) can potentially develop. Downdrag occurs because of increases in effective stress caused by pore pressure dissipation and settlement by the liquefiable soil layer(s) relative to the pile (figure 1). This phenomenon creates a dragload that the pile must support in addition to its permanent service pile head load (Qτ). As illustrated in figure 1, the depth of the dragload extends to the neutral plane. The neutral plane is the depth where the settlement of the pile equals the liquefaction settlement of the soil and where the axial load in the pile is the greatest. The elevation of the neutral plane is found by trial and error such that the service load plus negative friction should equal the positive friction plus end-bearing resistance.

Figure 1. Sketch. Schematic of a pile next to two charts: pile and soil settlement versus depth and load versus depth. The schematic of a pile extends through three layers of soil: nonliquefied soil, liquefied sand, and nonliquefied soil. An axial load, Q sub T, is applied downward on the top of the pile. Negative skin friction (in the down direction like Q sub T) occurs up to the neutral plane, which is located in the liquefied sand. Below the neutral plane is positive skin friction (in the up direction). At the bottom of the pile is the tip resistance, Q sub P. Soil settlement is shown as greater than pile settlement until reaching the neutral plane, where it goes to zero. Pile settlement is more uniform but tends to decrease with depth. The load on the pile begins with Q sub T at the top and increases until the neutral plane and then decreases until it reaches Q sub P.

Figure 1. Sketch. Relationship between liquefaction-induced settlement and skin friction.

 

Fellenius reviewed many case histories involving downdrag on piles and concluded that the dragload does not change the ultimate bearing capacity of a pile foundation, but it should be added to the dead load in design.(1) In addition, the designer must also still determine that both the structural capacity of the pile and the tolerable settlement is not exceeded. For seismic events, it has been found that assuming skin friction equals zero in the layer(s) of surrounding soil in which liquefaction occurs will result in little error.(2,3) The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials recommends that the residual strength of the soil in that zone be assumed when estimating negative skin friction in a liquefied layer(s).(4)

To evaluate the skin friction of CFA piles, a blast-induced liquefaction test program was conducted at a site in Christchurch, New Zealand. During the tests, load versus depth was measured in three instrumented, full-scale, 0.6-m diameter CFA piles of various lengths. The test program included two sets of blast-induced liquefaction, the first without load on the piles and the second with load on the piles. The blasts liquefied a 10-m layer of sand along the length of the pile. The axial load distribution along the length of the pile because of negative skin friction was measured after liquefaction and reconsolidation. This report focuses on the test results of the loaded piles as compared to conventional design practice.

Test Program

To define the soil profile at the site, a cone penetration test (CPT) sounding (with a piezocone) was performed prior to installation of the test piles (figure 2).The soil profile at the site generally consisted of three soil types: approximately 1.5 m of sandy silt at the top, approximately 9 m (from 1.5 to 10.5 m depth) of poorly graded medium-dense clean sand, and then at least 6 m (from 10.5 to 16.5 m depth) of inter-bedded layers of medium-dense to dense clean sand. A soil penetration test (SPT) boring was also performed within 3 m after installation of the piles (figure 2).

The three CFA test piles, each with a nominal diameter of 610 mm, were 8.5, 12, and 14 m in length. Results from thermal gauge wires on each test pile indicated that the pile diameter was relatively consistent in depth with no significant anomalies. The piles consisted of high-strength (38 MPa) concrete with a steel rebar cage the full length of the shafts. Two strain gauges were attached at 180-degree spacing around the circumference of the reinforcing cage at intervals of 1.5 m along the pile length. The strain gauges were damaged during the static load test setup for the 8.5-m pile.

Figure 3 and figure 4 illustrate plan and profile views of the test piles relative to the blast holes and instrumentation, respectively. A 10-m-diameter ring of eight equally distributed blast holes at 45-degree spacing around the circumference of the ring surrounded the test on the unloaded CFA piles. For the second test on the CFA piles with axial load applied, an additional set of eight blast holes were located along the same blast ring at an offset of 22.5 degrees from the original blast positions (figure 3).

As shown in figure 4, charges of 1.1 and 2.7 kg were located in each blast hole at depths of 4.0 and 8.5 m, respectively. Based on a pilot test, it was found that by sequentially detonating the eight explosive charges located at a depth of 8.5 m first, followed by the eight charges at a depth of 4.0 m, each at 300 ms intervals, the soil to a distance of 8 m from the center of the blast ring would liquefy.

Figure 2. Graphs. Five subsurface investigations: CPT Tip Resistance, SPT Blow Count, Shear Wave Velocity, Relative Density, and Fines Content with depth up to 20 m. General soil stratigraphy is also shown with depth, with sandy silt up to about 1.5 m where the water table is located, followed by clean medium dense sand up to about 13 m and then clean dense sand beneath. Cone tip resistance ranges from 0-30 MPa (or a CPT friction Ratio, R sub f, ranging from 0-4 percent). SPT Blow Count increases with depth and ranges from 0-40 blows per foot. Shear wave velocity is relatively uniform with depth, about 150–200 m/s, but increases with depth starting around 10 m below the surface. Relative Density is also relatively uniform, with depth ranging from 25-75 percent. Fines Content is highest near the surface, around 70 percent, but quickly decreases to around 10 percent and is uniform.

Figure 2. Graphs. Subsurface investigation results.

 

In addition to monitoring pile response from the blast-induced liquefaction, pore pressure and ground settlement were also evaluated. Excess pore pressure during the blasting process was monitored with 6 piezometers at depths of 2.75, 4.85, 6.8, 9.7, 12.8, and 15.85 m below the ground surface (figure 4). The piezometers were located about 1 m from the center of the blast ring (figure 3). The ground settlement as a function of depth was monitored with a profilometer located at the center of the test area (figure 3). Soil settlement was measured at 0.6 m intervals along the length of the profilometer.

Figure 3. Outer ring identifying the locations for the first blast (shown as black dots) and second blast (shown as open circles). The blast casings were on a 5 m radius. Outside of this outer ring, the location of the SPT is shown. Inside of the ring shows the location of the CPT sounding. An inner ring or piles on a 2m radius is located within the outer ring. Three test piles with depths of 8.5 m, 12 m, and 14 m are spaced evenly around this inner ring with a profilometer located in the center. A third inner ring of 1 m radius identifies the location of six pore pressure transducers.

Figure 3. Illustration. Plan view of the layout of test piles and explosive charges.

 

Figure 4. Soil stratigraphy with the location of instrumentation for the 8.5 m, 12 m, and 14 m piles, along with the location of the 1.1 kg and 2.7 kg blast charges in the inner and outer ring of the blast casings. The 1.1 kg charge was located at about 4 m depth, and the 2.7 kg charge was located at 8 m depth. The piles were instrumented with strain gauges along the length of the piles; 7 for the 8.5 m pile, 8 for the 12 m piles, and 9 for the 14 m piles. Pore pressure is measured in 6 locations with depth in between the 12 m and 14 m piles, down to a depth of 16 m.

Figure 4. Illustration. Profile view of the instrumentation and soil profile.

 

Static Load Testing

Static load testing was performed on the pile group between the liquefaction tests of the unloaded and loaded piles. The intent of the static load testing was to provide information on the actual capacity of each pile in side resistance and end-bearing after the first liquefaction test when the surrounding soil was no longer in a liquefied state. Load deflection curves from the static load test are shown in figure 5.

The 8.5-m pile was loaded to failure at 125 metric tons and settled a total of 33 mm. This displacement represents nearly 5 percent of the measured pile diameter, which is typical of the displacement necessary to develop ultimate end-bearing resistance. The load applied to the 12- and 14-m piles did not fully mobilize to end-bearing resistance conditions; both piles settled approximately 12 mm under the maximum applied load of 125 metric tons. At this displacement, the ultimate side resistance for both piles would likely be almost fully mobilized.(10,11) In contrast, at this displacement, the end-bearing resistance was likely only 45 to 55 percent of the ultimate resistance defined by displacement equal to 5 percent of the pile diameter.(12) Additional load to obtain a failure condition was not added because of limitations of the reaction assembly.

Figure 5. Chart illustrating load deflection curves resulting from static load testing on the 8.5 m pile, the 12 m pile, and the 14 m piles. The X-axis is load (in kips and in metric tons), and the Y-axis is pile head deflection (in inches and in mm). The curves for the 12 m and 14 m piles are similar and were taken up to about 12 mm of pile head deflection under 125 metric tons. Load was then released, but very little recovery in pile head deflection was measured. The curve for the 8.5 m pile was taken to failure at 125 metric tons and settled a total of 33 mm. Upon unloading, less than 3 mm of pile head deflection was recovered.

Figure 5. Graph. Load deflection curves from static load testing.

 

The load deflection curves for the 12- and 14-m piles are nearly identical. The reason likely has to do with the method of installation of auger-cast piles that may cause differences in the concrete quality, soil density, side friction, or shaft shape at the toe of the pile. For example, when the 14-m pile was constructed, the trap door on the auger failed to open during the initial penetration of the auger. Therefore, the auger was extracted by reversing the rotation, the trap door was reset, and the hole was re-drilled to the desired depth where the concrete was injected. This re-drilling process may have reduced the unit side resistance and end-bearing resistance even though the pile diameter was relatively consistent.

Based on the static load testing, plots of the measured load in the pile versus depth for both the 12- and 14-m piles, at increments of 20 percent the maximum static load, are provided in figure 6. In each of these plots, the load at the top of the pile was measured by a load cell, while load in other areas of the pile was interpreted from the strain gauge readings. As previously mentioned, measurements of skin friction are unreliable for the 8.5-m pile, so results cannot be determined.

Figure 6. Two graphs comparing the load (X-axis) versus depth (Y-axis) for the pile static load test in the 12 m and the 14 m pile. Load versus depth is shown in increments of 20 percent the maximum static load. The curves show the applied load at zero depth and then decrease relatively linearly with depth for each pile length tested.

Figure 6. Graphs. Progression of load in the 12- and 14-m piles during the static load test.

 

The measured values for end-bearing resistance and side friction were compared with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) guidance for CFA piles.(12) When supported in cohesionless soils where the SPT-N value at 60-percent hammer efficiency near the pile tip (N60) is less than 75, the ultimate end-bearing resistance (Qp) is found using equation 1. For SPT-N values greater than 15, the side friction is found using equation 2.

Q sub p is equal to the product of 0.6, N sub 60, and A sub b. (1)

Where Ab is the area of the pile base.

Q sub s-max is equal to the summation of the product of q sub s,I and A sub s,i. (2)

Where qs,i is the unit skin friction at a depth (z) equal to i (equation 3) and As,i is the surface area of the pile at a depth (z) equal to i.

q sub s is equal to the product beta and sigma prime sub v which is also equal to sigma prima sub v times the quantity 1.5 minus 0.135 times z raised to the power of 0.5. (3)

Because the piles did not settle 5 percent of the diameter, it is unclear how much end-bearing was mobilized. When comparing unit side friction, however, it was found that equation 3 estimates values much higher than that measured in the static load test. The best agreement with measured load versus depth curves was obtained using scaling factors of 70 and 55 percent of skin friction anticipated by equation 3 for the 12- and 14-m piles, respectively.

Blast Liquefaction Test

As previously mentioned, blast-induced liquefaction was conducted first on the piles without axial load and then, after static load testing, a second round of blasts was conducted around the surrounding soil with axial load applied on the piles. The photograph in figure 7 shows the configuration of the static load prior to the blast. The applied dead loads were 44, 112, and 118 metric tons for the 8.5-, 12-, and 14-m piles, respectively. Based on predicted pile capacities estimated from the static load tests, the dead loads represented a factor of safety of 3.0, 1.23, and 1.14, respectively.

Detonation of the explosive charges caused liquefaction around the loaded piles between depths of 4 and 7 m (figure 8). The ground surface within the blast ring settled approximately 80 mm, and the 8.5-, 12-, and 14-m piles settled 103, 104, and 71 mm, respectively. Based on the string pot measurements, it appears that most of the settlement occurred shortly after the blast. Figure 9 shows a soil settlement with depth. Figure 9 also shows the profilometer settlement from the first blast with no load and the Tokimatsu and Seed (1987) prediction for liquefaction-induced settlements.(13) The profilometer from the second blast matches very closely with the curve from the Tokimatsu-Seed method.

Figure 7. Photo showing dead load on top of the test piles.

Figure 7. Photo. Dead weight on test piles immediately prior to the second blast test.

 

Figure 8. Graph illustrating excess pore water pressure, delta u (X-axis) versus depth (Y-axis). Excess pore pressure under both loaded and loaded conditions are plotted, along with the theoretical effective stress assuming 120 pcf unit weight. Under no load, the excess pore water pressure versus depth is similar to the theoretical curve, whereas there is a reverse

Figure 8. Graph. Excess pore pressure from the two blasts.

 

Figure 9. The graph illustrates settlement (X-axis) versus depth (Y-axis) for the two test blasts as measured with the profilometer. The curve for the profilometer blast with load is about 3.5 in near the top of the piles and decreases to less than 0.5 in at a depth of 30 ft. The curve for the profilometer blast demonstrates less settlement, with less than 1.5 in near the top of the piles and a decrease to less than 0.5 in at a depth of about 27 ft. The theoretical Tokimatsu-Seed method to estimate the settlement profile is also shown and closely matches the curve for the profilometer blast with load.

Figure 9. Graph. Settlement profiles for the two test blasts and the predicted profile using the Tokimatsu-Seed method.

 

Load as a function of depth for the 12- m and 14-m CFA piles was measured for conditions 45 min after blasting (figure 10). There is a visible change in the skin friction at a depth of about 7 m for each pile. The dotted line in figure 10 illustrates 42 percent of the skin friction values measured from the static load test (or 25 percent as computed using equation 3) above a depth of 7 m, and 100 percent of the skin friction values from the static load test (or 60 percent as computed using equation 3) below a depth of 7 m. This depth of 7 m is in agreement with measured excess pore pressures.

With the measured pile settlements of 104 and 71 mm for the 12- and 14-m CFA piles, respectively, both of which are greater than 5 percent of the shaft diameter, it is expected that maximum end-bearing resistance would have been mobilized. By extrapolating the load versus depth curves in figure 10 to the bottom of the pile, end-bearing resistance is estimated at 35 and 18 metric tons, respectively. The measured end-bearing values were only 46 percent of those anticipated for the 12-m CFA pile based on equation 1 and 14 percent for the 14-m pile.

Figure 10. This figure shows a side-by-side comparison of the load (X-axis) versus depth (Y-axis) for the 12 m and the 14 m pile after the second blast. The liquefied zone is located at a depth of about 5 ft to 23 ft. The actual measured results are shown for each pile along with superimposed estimates of 42 percent of q sub s from static load test in the liquefied zone and 100 percent of q sub s from the static load below the liquefied zone.

Figure 10. Graph. Load in the piles after the second blast showing resistance in liquefied and nonliquefied sections.

 

There are at least two possible reasons that the end-bearing is so much smaller than anticipated. First, there may be variability in the soil profile; however, this explanation seems unlikely for this test program because blow counts would have to have been considerably low to match the end resistance (figure 10). Second, the method of installation of auger-cast piles may cause differences than what is anticipated in design. As previously mentioned for the 14-m pile, the trap door on the auger failed to open during the initial penetration. The process to reset the trap door apparently left a relatively loose layer at the bottom of the shaft, which likely explains the low end-bearing resistance.

Conclusions

Based on the results of this study, the following conclusions were reached:

  1. For the piles with applied dead load, the load was great enough and the end-bearing resistance was low enough that the piles settled relative to the surrounding soil when the pile came to equilibrium. Therefore, the skin friction was all positive along the length of the pile even within the liquefied layers. Back-analysis indicated that the side friction in the liquefied layer after reconsolidation was approximately 50 percent of the positive skin friction measured from the static load test.

  2. The results are consistent with previous negative skin friction measurements reported by Rollins and Strand (2006) for a steel pile after blast-induced liquefaction.(9) The consistency of these results strongly suggests that skin friction in liquefied layers is not zero as is often assumed but should instead be considered as about 50 percent of the pre-liquefaction skin friction in assessing downdrag and pile settlement following liquefaction.

  3. Liquefaction-induced settlement was approximately 80 mm, which equates to a volumetric strain of about 1.1 percent and is consistent with predictions based on the Tokimastu and Seed (1987) approach.(8)

  4. For auger-cast piles, the end-bearing and side resistance values can be highly dependent on the construction quality. For the test piles investigated in this study, the unit side resistance was typically 50 to 70 percent of the unit side resistance predicted according to FHWA design guidance for CFA piles in sands.(7)

  5. Negative skin friction can rapidly change from negative to positive friction if the pile settles more than about 12 mm, which is the displacement necessary to mobilize skin friction.

  6. It is quite difficult to predict settlement behavior beyond settlements of 5 percent of the base diameter. Therefore, the piles should have sufficient resistance from both skin friction and end-bearing below the liquefied zone to prevent excessive settlement of the pile considering the applied load on the pile and negative skin friction.

Acknowledgements

Funding for this study was primarily provided by a grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation (Grant CMMI-1408892) with supplemental funding from the Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research (PEER) Center (Research Agreement Number: 1110-NCTRKR), FHWA (DTFH61-14-P-00070), and the Utah Department of Transportation Research Division. We also acknowledge the contributions by Michael Olsen from Oregon State University and Tonkin & Taylor in New Zealand in performing this study.

References

  1. Fellenius, B.H. (2006). “Results From Long-Term Measurement in Piles of Drag Load and Downdrag,” Canadian Geotech Journal, 43(4), 409–430, Ottawa, ON.

  2. Boulanger, R.W. and Brandenberg, S.J. (2004). “Neutral Plane Solution for Liquefaction-Induced Downdrag on Vertical Piles,” Proceedings, ASCE Geo-Trans Conference, ASCE, Reston, VA.

  3. Fellenius, B.H. and Siegel, T.C. (2008). “Pile Drag Load and Downdrag in a Liquefaction Event,” Journal of Geotechnical and Environmental Engineering, 134(9), 1412–1416.

  4. AASHTO. (2014). LRFD Bridge Design Specifications, Seventh Edition, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, Washington, DC.

  5. Kulhawy, F.H. and Hirany, A. (1989). “Interpretation of Load Tests on Drilled Shafts – Pt. 2: Axial Uplift,” Foundation Engineering: Current Principles & Practices, GSP 22, 1150–1159.

  6. Hirany, A. and Kulhawy, F.H. (2002). “On the interpretation of drilled foundation load test results,” Deep Foundations 2002, GSP116, Vol. 2, 1018–1028.

  7. Brown, D.A., Dapp, S.D., Thompson, W.R., and Lzarte, C.A. (2007). “Design and Construction of Continuous Flight Auger (CFA) Piles,” Geotechnical Engineering Circular No. 8, FHWA, Report No. FHWA-HIF-07-03, Washington, DC.

  8. Tokimatsu, K., and Seed, H.B. (1987). “Evaluation of Settlements in Sands Due to Earthquake Shaking,” Journal of Geotechnical and Environmental Engineering, 103(8), 861–878.

  9. Rollins, K.M. and Strand, S.R. (2006). “Downdrag Forces Due to Liquefaction Surrounding a Pile,” Proc. 8th National Conference on Earthquake Engineering, Earthquake Engineering Research Institute, San Francisco, CA.

 

Researchers— This research was conducted by Kyle Rollins and Erick Hollenbaugh with Brigham Young University.

Distribution—This TechBrief is being distributed according to a standard distribution. Direct distribution is being made to the Divisions and Resource Center.

Availability—This TechBrief may be obtained from the FHWA Product Distribution Center by e-mail to report.center@dot.gov, fax to (814) 239-2156, phone to (814) 239-1160, or online at http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/research.

Key Words—auger-cast in place pile, continuous flight auger pile, downdrag, skin friction, end-bearing resistance, liquefaction

Notice—This document is disseminated under the sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Transportation in the interest of information exchange. The U.S. Government assumes no liability for the use of the information contained in this document. The U.S. Government does not endorse products or manufacturers. Trademarks or manufacturers’ names appear in this report only because they are considered essential to the objective of the document.

Quality Assurance Statement—The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) provides high-quality information to serve the Government, industry, and public in a manner that promotes public understanding. Standards and policies are used to ensure and maximize the quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of its information. FHWA periodically reviews quality issues and adjusts its programs and processes to ensure continuous quality improvement.

 

 

Federal Highway Administration | 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE | Washington, DC 20590 | 202-366-4000
Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center | 6300 Georgetown Pike | McLean, VA | 22101