Skin friction of taper-shaped piles in sands

The main theme of this paper is to evaluate the skin friction and unit skin friction of different types of pile on a defined model ground. The typical silica sands were selected to make model ground at high relative densities of 80 % and 60 % respectively at confining pressure of 50 kPa to perform the pile load test on selected two different model ground. Model ground has been prepared by free falling of sand through sieve on the chamber to meet the required relative densities. Relative densities have acquired after evaluating desired height and area of nozzle through which dry sands fall. To fulfill the requirement, different types of tapered piles were selected to perform the pile load test. Straight and different types of tapered pile have driven in silica sands respectively at relatively high densities. Experimental results have showed that the skin friction of straight pile is considerably low with compared to tapered pile and wedging effects can be clearly seen towards the depth of penetration. In conclusion, it is clearly seen that the skin friction of tapered pile can be improved with increasing tapering angles. Higher the angle the greater the skin friction. Further, lateral stresses around the pile increases laterally during loading. Lateral stresses are increased with increase on amounts of pile expansion. The skin frictions of tapered piles have pressing effect and soil tamping effect.