Comparison of plugging impact of open-ended with closed-ended model piles in clayey soils

Herein, an experimental investigation of the plugging impact on the capacity of open-ended piles installed in clayey soil is presented. Model tests involving static axial compression load tests are carried out on four open-ended modeled piles with different diameters (12.5, 19, 25, and 50 mm). In the same manner, four closed-ended modeled piles are tested to make a comparison. A load cell system is used to determine the resistance acting on the piles, with an instrumented transducer on the outside walls of the pile. The eight steel model piles are tested in the circular steel tank with a diameter of 350 mm and 400 mm in length. Three undrained shear strengths of the clay sample, 5 KPa, 10 kPa, and 18 kPa, are used in model tests. The outcomes of the tested models uncover that the pipe pile capacity is mainly mobilized at the low shear strength. In addition, it is realized that the soil plugging in the small diameter has an impact on pipe pile capacity. Based on experimental results, five statistical models are established to achieve relations between the maximum load for the closed-ended pipe. It is realized that the value of Qexp is highly correlated with the diameter and Qcalc.. © 2021, Saudi Society for Geosciences.