Down-drag on Piles in Clay due to Negative Skin Friction

Abstract

In Part I of this report the results are given from 43 months of measurements of forces and bending moments on two instrumented precast piles driven through 40 m (130 ft) of soft clay and 15 m (50 ft) into underlying silt and sand. The force in the piles increased due to negative skin friction. After the first 5 months a force of nearly 40 tons was observed at the bottom of the clay layer. During this time the reconsolidation of the clay after the driving took place. The force due to the reconsolidation effect amounted to about 30 tons, while the rest was due mainly to negative skin friction caused by a small regional settlement. The latter force increased linearly with time by about 15 tons per year. Seventeen months after the driving the pile heads were loaded with 44 tons and one year later another 36 tons were added. The load on the pile head eliminated the negative skin friction, which however started to return with the continued regional settlements.In Part II of the report general design formulae for piles considering negative skin friction are given. The formulae should be used to check that the permanent and transient working loads, which have been chosen according to ordinary design rules, are not too large when negative skin friction develops.When settlements due to negative skin friction are not acceptable, the negative friction can be reduced by applying a thin coat of bitumen to the piles. References are made to investigations concerning reduction of skin friction, and practical difficulties are pointed out.