Question

A pile has a diameter of 0.4 m and a length of 7 m. A field load test indicates an ultimate load capacity Q of 300 kN. 70% is carried by end-bearing, and 30% by skin friction. If 0.5 m diameter piles were used instead, calculate the ultimate load capacity Q and the allowable load capacity Q for the 0.5 m diameter pile using a factor of safety of 2.5.

Answer 1

To calculate the ultimate and allowable load capacity of the new pile, consider the change in diameter and use the ratios of the areas and the percentages of load carried by end-bearing and skin friction.

Step-by-step explanation:

To calculate the ultimate and allowable load capacity of a pile, we need to consider the change in diameter. Given that the original pile has a diameter of 0.4 m and a length of 7 m, while the new pile has a diameter of 0.5 m:

1. Calculate the cross-sectional area of the original pile using the formula A = π(r^2), where r is the radius of the pile (diameter/2).

2. Calculate the cross-sectional area of the new pile using the same formula.

3. Calculate the ultimate and allowable load capacity of the new pile using the ratios of the areas and the percentages of load carried by end-bearing and skin friction.