Technical Issues on Static Load Tests on Barrettes and Bored Piles

Abstract

This paper addresses to 1) Characteristic of slurry and mechanism of forming cakes, 2) Effects of the shapes of piles on load capacities, and 3) Modulus of elasticity of concrete. The results of laboratory tests on the strengths of mud cakes formed of bentonite slurry and polymer slurry are discussed. Also discussed are the results of loading tests on bored piles and barrettes with and with nodules. It has been found that the mud cakes formed of polymer slurry offer larger frictional resistance to shearing than bentonite slurry. It has also been found that nodules on piles will increase the load capacities of piles drastically. Furthermore, equations are proposed for calculating the moduli of elasticity of concrete based on the axial loads and stains obtained in pile load tests.