Centrifuge model testing for pile foundation reuse

Abstract

With continuous development in the urban environment, the ground is becoming increasingly congested with redundant foundations. The underground development of services and infrastructure already restricts the location of new building foundations and the redundant foundations only add to this problem. This paper describes how existing single repile foundations in overconsolidated clay are likely to behave when their loading conditions are changed by unloading caused by demolition and subsequent reloading from a new development. The influence of any new foundations on the existing foundations is also described. Experimental data were obtained from a series of centrifuge model tests undertaken at 60g in which a number of different geometries of novel pile groups were modelled. Model tests included comparison of the behaviour of bored piles when supplemented with mini-pile groups.