Pressure, Resistance, and Stability of Earth eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 87 pages of information about Pressure, Resistance, and Stability of Earth.

Pressure, Resistance, and Stability of Earth eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 87 pages of information about Pressure, Resistance, and Stability of Earth.

He has seen other cylindrical piles with a bearing ring of not more than 3/4 in. resting on gravel at a depth of from 20 to 30 ft., cleaned out practically to the bottom, sustain a measured load of 60 tons without settlement.

As to skin friction in sand, a case came under his observation wherein a 14-in. hollow cylindrical pile which had stood for 28 days at a depth of about 30 ft. in the sand, was cleaned out to its bottom and subjected to hydraulic pressure, measured by a gauge, and sunk 2 ft. into the sand without any pressure being registered on the gauge.  It should be explained, however, that the gauge could be subjected to a pressure of 250 lb., equal to a total pressure of 7,000 lb. on the piston of the jack without registering, which corresponded, assuming it all as skin friction, to a maximum of not more than 78 lb. per sq. ft., but it should be noted that this included bearing value as well, and that the pressure was very far from 7,000 lb., in all probability, at the beginning of the test.

In the case of the California stove-pipe wells driven by the Board of Water Supply on Long Island, the writer is informed that one of these tubes, 12 in. in diameter, was sunk to a depth of 850 ft.  In doing this work the pile was excavated below the footing with a sand pump and was then sunk by hydraulic pressure.  Assuming the maximum capacity of the jacks at 100 tons, which is not probable, the skin friction could not have amounted to more than 75 lb. per sq. ft.  It cannot be assumed in this case that the excavation of the material below the pile relieved the skin itself of some of its friction, as the operation consumed more than 6 weeks, and, even if excess material was removed, it is certain that a large percentage of it would have had time to adjust itself before the operation was completed.

[Illustration:  PLATE XXIX, FIG. 1.—­A 14-GAUGE, 14-IN., HOLLOW (NON-TELESCOPIC), CALIFORNIA STOVE-PIPE PILE WHICH MET IMPENETRABLE MATERIAL.]

[Illustration:  PLATE XXIX, FIG. 2.—­CHENOWETH PILE, PENETRATING HARD MATERIAL.]

In connection with this, the writer may call attention to the fact that piles driven in silt along the North River, and in soft material at other places, are sometimes 90 ft. in length, and even then do not offer sufficient resistance to be depended on for loading.  This is due to the fact that the end of the pile does not bear in good material.

The relation between bearing value and skin friction on a pile, where the end bearing is in good material, is well shown by a case where a wooden pile[G] struck solid material, was distorted under the continual blows of the hammer, and was afterward exposed.  It is also shown in the case of a 14-in.  California stove-pipe pile, No. 14 gauge, the point of which met firm material.  The result, as shown by Fig. 1, Plate XXIX, speaks for itself.  Fig. 2, Plate XXIX, shows a Chenoweth pile which was an experimental one driven by its designer.  This pile, after getting

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Pressure, Resistance, and Stability of Earth from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.