TIME EFFECTS PILES UPGRADING BEARING CAPACITY OF PILED FOUNDATIONS TO ACCOUNT FOR TIME EFFECTS

The results of the project will primarily be based on the execution of a series of new pile load tests specifically designed to document the effects of time on the axial bearing capacity. A thorough characterisation of all relevant soil characteristics is necessary and will form an essential integrated task. The new results will be combined with the most reliable existing test data, and form the basis for development of new design procedures accounting for time effects. The project will consist of the fol lowing main activities: 1. Detailed project planning and project management, updating of present knowledge and data base on piles and test site selection 2. Site investigations, including characterisation of soils with in situ and laboratory testing 3. Instrumentation of test piles and ground and data acquisition 4. Site preparation, including pile purchase and installation, construction of loading frames and provision of equipment (and clean-up of the test sites at the end of the project) 5. Execut ion of pile load tests and factual reporting 6. Assessment of results, interpretation of new load tests and older data, development of design procedures, reporting, dissemination to industry and regulatory agencies and preparation of papers A comprehens ive program of in situ testing, sampling and laboratory testing will be undertaken at all test sites in advance of the load testing to determine all relevant soil characteristics. It is envisaged to test 6 piles at each site. The piles at the individual t est sites will be tested in different sequences to separate time effect from effects from sustained loads or previous load testing. New procedures to account for time effects will be developed on the basis of these results.