Centrifuge modelling of rock-socketed drilled shafts under uplift load

Rock-socketed drilled shafts are widely used to transfer the heavy loads from the superstructure especially in mountainous area. Extensive research has been done on the behavior of rock-socketed drilled shafts under compressive load. However, little attention has been paid to uplift behavior of drilled shaft in rock, which govern the overall behavior of the foundation system. In this paper, a series of centrifuge tests have been performed to investigate the uplift response of rock-socketed drilled shafts. The pull-out tests of drilled shafts installed in layered rocks having various strengths were conducted. The load-displacement response, axial load distributions in the shaft and the unit skin friction distribution under pull-out loads were investigated. The effects of the strength of rock socket on the initial stiffness, ultimate capacity and mobilization of friction of the foundation, were also examined. The results indicated that characteristics of rock-socket has a significant influence on the uplift behavior of drilled shaft. Most of the applied uplift load were carried by socketed rock when the drilled shaft was installed in the sand over rock layer, whereas substantial load was carried by both upper and lower rock layers when the drilled shaft was completely socketed into layered rock. The pattern of mobilized shaft friction and point where the maximum unit shaft friction occurred were also found to be affected by the socket condition surrounding the drilled shaft.