Prediction of Safe Bearing Capacity for Bored Concrete Piles by Numerical Simulations

This study explores a potential technique for predicting the load bearing capacity of piles without extensive field testing. In this study, the Chin-Konder method has been utilized in numerical models to make experimental results in useable form. Primarily, the pile capacities derived from actual pile static load tests have been compared with their respective numerical analyses across 15 distinct locations of Bangladesh. Consequently, this comparison offers a clear insight into the accuracy of numerical simulations in approximating pile behavior. In this study, a series of finite element-based numerical analysis has been conducted to determine the bearing capacity of piles using the Plaxis 3D foundation program using actual soil investigation data. The numerical model considers Mohr–Coulomb soil model, which has a good reputation for yielding accurate results though it operates in linear states only. This entire analysis involves a comprehensive numerical model and analysis of fifteen bored piles with varying loading conditions and different lengths ranging from 18 m to 35.125 m, with diameters of 0.5 m and 0.6 m. The test outcomes indicated remarkable consistency between field and numerical simulations particularly in terms of piles bearing capacity. Afterward, the Chin-Konder approach was utilized to generate ideal load-settlement responses, aiding in estimating the allowable load bearing capacity of cast-in situ bored piles. The numerically estimated pile capacity was found approximately 45% larger than that of the design capacity prior to any load test. The numerically predicted result shows a convergence of 94%, with a good reliability of the field test. Therefore, the numerical simulations for the bearing capacity of pile could be an effective strategy for foundation design, establishing it as a cost-effective approach.