AN EXPERIMENTAL TECHNIQUE FOR MEASURING THE CONTRIBUTION OF MATRIC SUCTION TOWARDS THE END, SHAFT AND TOTAL CAPACITY OF MODEL PILES IN UNSATURATED SOILS

摘要

The contribution of matric suction towards the bearing capacity of single piles is typically ignored in engineering practice. Recently, Vanapalli and Taylan (2012) suggested modifications to the conventional α, βand γ methods to estimate the shaft carrying capacity of single piles using the mechanics of unsaturated soils. In the present study, a testing program was performed to investigate the variation of end, shaft and total bearing capacity of single model piles with respect to matric suction in unsaturated sand using specially designed equipment. The results of the study show that the end bearing capacity of single piles is significantly influenced due to the contribution of matric suction in sands.