Methods of pile design based on CPT and SPT results

Pile bearing capacity depends on the same factors as the static penetration resistance measured in a cone penetration test (CPT) and, to a lesser extent, as the dynamic penetration resistance measured in a standard penetration test (SPT). Thus, many methods have been proposed relating pile bearing capacity to CPT tip resistance and sleeve friction, and SPT blow count. These methods, although conceptually quite similar, differ in many important details, such as the definition of ultimate bearing capacity, the way the penetration resistance values are defined for use in calculations, the relative importance of penetration resistance values above and below the pile base for base resistance calculations, and the types of soils and piles for which the methods were developed. In this paper, we review some of the empirical methods proposed to estimate pile bearing capacity from penetration tests.