Experimental study on axial response of different pile materials in organic soil

Sixty four tests were performed in a steel tank to investigate the axial responses of piles driven into organic soil prepared at two different densities using a drop hammer. Four different pile materials were used: wood, steel, smooth concrete, and rough concrete, with different length to diameter ratios. The results of the load tests showed that the shaft load capacity of rough concrete piles continuously increased with pile settlement. In contrast, the others pile types reached the ultimate shaft resistance at a settlement equal to about 10% of the pile diameter. The ratios of base to shaft capacities of the piles were found to vary with the length to diameter ratio, surface roughness, and the density of the organic soil. The ultimate unit shaft resistance of the rough concrete pile was always greater than that of other piles irrespective of soil condition and pile length. However, the ultimate base resistance of all piles was approximately close to each other.