Plug length developed in pipe pile embedded within partially saturated cohesion less soils (Part 1)‎

Abstract EN

This paper presents an experimental study to investigate the change of plug length for pipe pile under different state of saturation and investigate the effect of number of pipe piles on plug length.

The influence of matric suction (i.e., capillary stresses) in unsaturated zone is typically considered on the plug length of pipe piles.

The experimental work consist of testing 20 models of pipe piles, these models divided into 4 different configuration of pipe piles; single pipe pile, group of double pipe piles, group of triple pipe piles and group of six pipe piles.

All these models are loaded and tested under three different states; dry condition, fully saturated condition (i.e., matric suction equals to 0 kPa) and unsaturated conditions with three different matric suction values (6, 8 and 10 kPa), which are achieved by predetermined lowering of water table.

The relationship between matric suction and depth of ground water table was measured in suction profile set by using three Tensiometers (IRROMETER).

The soil, water characteristic curve (SWCC) was estimated by applying fitting methods through the program (Soil Vision).

The results of experimental work demonstrate that the values of plug length decreased with increase in value of matric suction for the same configuration of pipe piles, and the values of plug length decreased with increase in number of pipe piles