A Full-Scale Field Study on Bearing Characteristics of Cast-in-Place Piles with Different Hole-Forming Methods in Loess Area

This paper presents the results from a full-scale field study on the 3 different types of cast-in-place piles: rotary drilling piles (RDPs), manual digging piles (MDPs), and impact drilling piles (IDPs), for a bridge construction project of Wuqi–Dingbian Expressway, in Shaanxi. The results indicate that under the similar conditions, MDP exhibits the largest bearing capacity (11000 kN) in the loess area, followed by RDP (9000 kN) and IDP (8000 kN). And all tested values exceed the estimated value (7797.9 KN), indicating that the calculation formula of bearing capacity recommended by the Chinese standard is safe and conservative. During the load transfer process, the axial force attenuation rate of the pile body increases with pile side resistance. The average attenuation rate of MDP is the largest (24.2%), followed by RDP (19.72%) and IDP (16.69%). The bearing characteristics of these test piles are mainly pile side resistance, but the manual digging method created the least amount of disturbance to the soil around the pile, and due to its hole wall being rough, this enhances the pile-soil interactions. Hole-forming methods mainly affect the exertion of pile side resistance compared with pile end resistance. In view of pile side resistance and pile end resistance not taking effect at the same time, degree of exertion of these 2 resistances should be considered when designing cast-in-place piles in loess areas, and different partial coefficients should be used.