Analysis of the pile skin resistance formation

Abstract This paper introduces a method based on a static load test which is aimed to verify the mechanism of the piles soil–skin interaction. The authors base their analysis on detailed data from static load test with extensometers on CFA piles. The main goal of the research is to determine the proper method of examining how the skin of the pile and soil interacts and apply it to practical engineering practice. As the first stage of the research is limited to the available set of piles, the authors make assumptions that will be verified on later stages of research as more data become available. The authors attempt to formulate the boundary conditions for the formation of pile skin resistance formation using mathematical physics equations to describe the phenomena. Current research proves that it is possible, with the suitable for practical engineering calculations, to describe soil–pile interaction mechanism based on static load test results. Experimental research indicated that there is possibility, for practical engineering calculations purposes, to assume that skin resistance of the pile due to depth can be presented with linear graph. The description is made upon extensometer results, but is meant to be appropriate with the standard static load test results, which provide load–settlement curve of the pile.