Load Transfer Behavior of Rock‐Socketed Piles

Abstract

The research reported is concerned with the load transfer behavior of rock‐socketed bored piles. Several large‐diameter instrumented piles were load tested to at least twice their working/design loads. The piles were observed to behave in an elastic manner when tested to normal working loads. Much of the applied loads was transferred through the pile shaft especially when the socket length was in excess of twice the pile diameter, while relatively little load was transferred to the pile base. The observed mobilized unit shaft friction values compared well with those reported by other researchers. Instrument readings continued to be monitored throughout the superstructure construction period. It has been found that static load tests carried out within a short term showed significantly different load distribution along the pile shaft compared with that in service. The differences in the load transfer behavior may be attributed to the creep between pile body and soil/rock, group interaction, and the presence of pile cap.