Behaviour of open-ended pipe piles in sand during installation and loading

An experimental study was performed to investigate the physical processes which influence the axial load capacities of open-ended steel pipe piles in sand. A double-walled pipe pile was developed to allow independent determination of the stresses on its inner and outer surfaces. An electronically operated single acting air hammer was developed for pile driving. Measurements were made of pore water pressures adjacent to the inner and outer walls, as well as side shear on the inside and outside.