EXPERIENCES WITH OPEN ENDED PIPE PILE PLUGGING IN THE ATLANTIC COASTAL PLAIN

摘要

Open ended pipe (OEP) piles are frequently used as a deep foundation solution in the Atlantic Coastal Plain (ACP) physiographic province. Typically, these piles act as low displacement piles during installation as the pile advances through the soil. However, if the soil plug becomes stationary within the pile, the pile acts as a full displacement pile. Plugging of an OEP pile can have significant effects on pile design and installation. Typically, measurements of pile plugging are conducted after pile installation is completed by measuring the depth to the soil plug and the embedment depth of the pile. The following paper presents the results of eight case histories of open ended pipe piles with pile plugging measurements in the Atlantic Coastal Plain. For each case history, the individual pile plug length ratio (PLR) and incremental fill ratio (IFR) was determined and the plug behavior during static and/or dynamic load testing (if available) was examined. Examination of the case history data showed that the piles experienced little plugging during installation, although pile plugging did increase with depth. In addition, the increase in measured tip capacity with time from pile installation suggests that OEP piles driven in ACP soils act as plugged with time.