Driving Characteristics of Open‐Toe Piles in Dense Sand

Abstract

Driving tests are conducted on large‐scale steel model pipe piles with open toes to determine how geometric configurations of the toes affect driving performance. A further objective is to investigate a wave‐equation model for predicting driveability of open‐toe piles in dense, saturated sand. The tests are conducted in a large pressure chamber. Examination of the experimental data and of finite element analyses of the problem indicate that pipes with thickened and beveled toes require less energy for penetration than plain, cylindrical pipes, and that none of the piles plug solidly during driving up to penetrations of 21 diameters into the dense layer. It is found that the angle of wall friction on the interior of the pipe is a major factor in controlling the plug movement. One‐dimensional wave‐equation simulations of the tests are found to be adequate, but only with empirical adjustment of parameters related to static resistance.