Pullout Resistance of “H” Piles

Abstract

Pullout capacities of driven H piles under axial tension loads were determined experimentally in stiff clays, dense sands, silts, and stratified soils. The test results are interpreted by 3 different procedures. Measured pullout capacities are compared to predicted pullout capacities based on semi‐empirical approaches. Predicted capacities vary greatly with subsurface conditions of site, effective failure surfaces of piles, pile lengths, and soil shear strength parameters. Earth pressure parameters and adhesion values obtained from the tension load tests are generally found to be consistent with the previously published data.