Experimental verification of installation and bearing capacity of vibro-driven steel pipe piles in a centrifuge
Experimental verification of installation and bearing capacity of vibro-driven steel pipe piles in a centrifuge
This study examines the bearing capacity of steel pipe piles installed by both vibro-driven and static penetration methods in centrifugal fields and 1g. A series of model tests was conducted using a beam-type centrifuge apparatus at 20g to replicate realistic stress conditions. Brass model piles were penetrated into densely compacted mixed silica sand, and penetration resistance as well as dry density of the soil inside each pile were measured. Results indicated that penetration resistance was 1.5 to 2.0 times higher in centrifugal conditions pile installation compared to 1g fields, and this increase correlated with greater dry density and clogging of the sand within the pile. The measured penetration resistance under 20g was close to values predicted by classical bearing capacity theory, suggesting the centrifuge method is effective for evaluating full-scale pile performance. A comparison of vibro and static penetration methods revealed that vibro penetration led to lower resistance in the early stages due to soil disturbance by vibration. However, at greater depths where vibration effects diminished, penetration resistance became nearly identical for both methods.
Hiroki Oguma; Junji Miyamoto; Tomoya Sato; Kazuhiro Tsurugasaki
11th International Conference on Physical Modelling in Geotechnics (ICPMG2026)
Session 1: New facilities, new equipment, and measuring techniques
https://doi.org/10.53243/ICPMG2026-215