Soil plug formation for short piles

[Carnegie]

I am a structural engineer designing a footing on H-piles driven to bedrock. If the piles are considered short piles (I'm using Brom's criteria) should I ignore the formation of a soil plug for calculation of the geotechnical tip resistance? Thanks.

 

[PEinc]

I would. If you are driving to rock. The rock will be stiffer than any plug of soil. I would use steel area for point bearing on rock.

http://www.PeirceEngineering.com

 

[BigH]

Don't forget to check the structural (steel) capacity of the pile when driven to refusal on rock.

 

[Carnegie]

Yeh, the nominal structural axial capacity is checked too. I just had some confusion as to whether a soil plug would form for an intermediate or long pile vs a short pile. And if this is even a necessary consideration since the pile tip is bearing on bedrock.

 

[Carnegie]

Really my question is will a soil plug form for a long pile bearing on rock. Or because it is bearing on rock a soil plug is not really a consideration. Kind of a silly question but needs to be asked by me regardless. Thanks.

 

[PEinc]

Actually, that was not your question. However, yes, a soil plug will form but .... see previous response.

http://www.PeirceEngineering.com