Comparative Static and Rapid Load Tests on Steel Pipe Piles: A Case Study at Sashima Test Yard

To obtain the load–displacement curve of a pile, static load test (SLT), dynamic load test (DLT) and rapid load test (RLT) are generally used. In this research, SLT and RLTs on two open-ended steel pipe piles (SPPs) were carried out in the Jibanshikenjo test yard at Sashima, Ibaraki Prefecture. The test piles had an outer diameter of 318.5 mm, a wall thickness of 6.6 mm and an embedment length of 11.0 m. The ground at the test site is alternative layers of sand, clay and silt having SPT N-values less 35. In the RLTs, relative loading duration Tr was intentionally varied in a range from 3 to 5. Static load–displacement curves obtained from various interpretation methods of RLT signals are compared with the load–displacement curve directly obtained from SLT to examine the applicability of each interpretation method.