Engineering manual No.

14

Updated: 06/2018

Analysis of a single pile settlement

Program: Pile

File: Demo_manual_14.gpi

The objective of this engineering manual is to explain the application of the GEO 5 – PILE program
for the analysis of the settlement of a single pile in a specified practical problem.

Problem specification
The general specification of the problem is described in chapter 12. Pile foundations – Introduction.
All analyses of the single pile settlement shall be carried out on the foundations of the previous
problem presented in chapter 13. Analysis of vertical load-bearing capacity of a single pile.

Problem specification chart – single pile

Solution
We will use the GEO 5 – Piles program to analyse this problem. In the text below we will describe
the solution to this problem step by step.

In this analysis we will calculate the settlement of a single pile using the following methods:

− linear settlement theory (according to prof. Poulos)

− nonlinear settlement theory (according to Masopust)

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 The linear loading curve (solution according to Poulos) is determined from the results
of the calculation of the vertical bearing capacity of the pile. The fundamental input
into the calculation comprises of the pile skin bearing capacity and pile base bearing capacity values
– Rs and Rb . These values are obtained from the previous analysis of the vertical bearing capacity of
a single pile depending on the method applied (NAVFAC DM 7.2, Effective Stress, CSN 73 1002
or Tomlinson).

The nonlinear loading curve (solution according to Masopust) is based on the specification using
the so-called regression coefficients. The result is, therefore, independent of the load-bearing capacity
analysis methods and can, therefore, even be used to determine the vertical bearing capacity of a
single pile when the capacity corresponds to the allowable settlement (usually 25 mm).

Specification process: Linear settlement theory (POULOS)

In the “Pile” program, open up the file from manual no. 13. In the “Settings” frame, we will leave
the analysis settings unchanged – we will use the “Standard – EN 1997 – DA2“ setting, which is the
same as in the previous problem. The analysis of bearing capacity will be done according
to NAVFAC DM 7.2. We will also check the box “Do not calculate horizontal bearing capacity”. The
linear loading curve (Poulos) has already been specified for this analysis setting.

“Settings“ frame

Note: The analysis of the limit loading curve is based on the theory of elasticity. The

ground is characterised by the modulus of deformation E def and Poisson’s ratio  .

In the next step we will go to the frame “Soils” and check the deformational properties of soils

required for the analysis of settlement, i.e. the oedometric modulus E oed , or deformation modulus

E def and Poisson’s ratio  .

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 Angle of Cohesion Poisson´s Oedometric
Soil Unit weight internal of soil ratio modulus
 kN m 3 
friction
 ef /  u  cef / cu kPa  − E oed = MPa 
(Soil classification)

CS – Sandy clay,
18,5 -/0,0 -/50,0 0,35 8,0
firm consistency

S-F – Sand with trace of

17,5 29,5 0,0 0,30 21,0
fines, medium dense soil

Soil parameters table – Settlement of a single pile

Then, in the frame “Load”, we will define the service load for the purpose of analysing the
settlement of a single pile. Click on the button “Add” and add a new load with the parameters as shown
in the figure below.

Dialog window “New load“

All other frames will remain unchanged. We can now continue to the settlement analysis in the
“Settlement” frame.

In the “Settlement” frame, we will specify the secant modulus of deformation E s MPa  for each
of the soil types using the “edit E s “ button.

For the 1st layer of cohesive soil (class CS) we will set the value of the secant modulus of deformation
to E s  17.0 MPa . For the 2nd layer of cohesionless soil (class S-F) we will assume the secant modulus
of deformation E s  24.0 MPa .

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 Dialog window “Input for load settlement curve – secant modulus of deformation E s “ – CS soil

Dialog window – “Input for load settlement curve – secant modulus of deformation E s ” – S-F soil

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 Note: The secant modulus of deformation E s depends on the diameter of the pile and the thickness

of each of the soil layers. The values of this modulus should be determined on the basis of in-situ tests.

Its value for cohesionless and cohesive soils further depends on the relative density index I d and the

consistency index I c , respectively.

Further, we will set the limit settlement, which is the maximum settlement value for which the
loading curve is calculated. In this task, we will consider a maximum settlement of 25 mm.

“Settlement“ frame – Linear loading curve (solution according to Poulos)

Then, we will click on the “In detail” button and in the dialog window, we can see the settlement
value calculated for the maximum service load.

Results of settlement

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 For the vertical bearing capacity analysis using the NAVFAC DM 7.2 the resultant settlement of the
single pile is 11,3 mm.

Single pile settlement analysis: Linear settlement theory (POULOS), other methods
Now we will go back to the settings of the analysis. In the “Settings” frame, click on the “Edit”
button. In the “Pile” tab for the analysis for drained conditions, we will first select the option “Effective
Stress” and later the option “CSN 73 1002” for the next analysis. The other input parameters will
remain unchanged.

Dialog window “Edit current settings“

Subsequently, we will get back to the “Settlement” frame, where we will see the results. The
magnitude of the limit settlement s lim , the pile type and the secant modulus of deformation E s
remain identical with those used in the previous analysis.

Dialog window – “In detail” – effective stress method results

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 For the vertical bearing capacity of a single pile determined using the EFFECTIVE STRESS method,
the resultant settlement is s = 6.1 mm .

“Settlement“ frame – Linear loading curve (according to Poulos) for the Effective Stress method

For the vertical bearing capacity of a single pile, which is determined by the CSN 73 1002 method,
the pile settlement is s = 6.1 mm .

“Settlement“ frame – Linear loading curve (according to Poulos) for the CSN 73 1002 method

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 The results of the single pile settlement analysis according to linear theory (Poulos) dependent on
the vertical bearing capacity analysis method used are presented in the following table:

Load at the onset of Total resistance Settlement of single

Linear loading curve
mobilization of skin Rc kN  for pile
friction R yu kN 
s mm
Analysis method s lim = 25,0 mm

NAVFAC DM 7.2 875,73 1326,49 11,3

EFECTIVE STRESS 2000,47 2303,4 6,1

CSN 73 1002 2215,89 2484,40 6,1

Summary of results – Settlement of a single pile according to Poulos

Analysis of single pile settlement: Nonlinear settlement theory (MASOPUST)

This solution is independent of the previous analyses of vertical bearing capacity of a pile. The
method is based on the solution to regression curve equations according to the results of static pile
loading tests. This method is mostly used in Czechia and Slovakia. It provides reliable and conservative
results for the local engineering geological conditions.

We will click on the “Edit” button in the “Settings” frame. In the “Pile” tab, we will choose the
“nonlinear” option (Masopust)“ for the loading curve.

Dialog window ”Edit current settings“

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 The other data remain unchanged. Then we will continue to the “Settlement” frame.

We consider the service load for the nonlinear limit loading curve because this is an analysis
according to the limit state of serviceability. We will leave the shaft protection factor value at m2 = 1.0
. That means we will not reduce the resultant value of the vertical bearing capacity of the pile with
respect to the installation technology. We will leave the values of the allowable (maximum) settlement
s lim and secant modulus of deformation E s identical with those used in the previous analyses.

Furthermore, we will set the values of the regression coefficients using the “Edit a, b” and “Edit e,
f” buttons as shown in the figures below. While editing is being carried out, the values of regression
coefficients recommended for various types of soils and rocks are displayed in the dialogue window.

Dialog window “Input for load settlement curve – regression coefficients a, b (e, f)“ – CS soil

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Dialog window – “Input for load settlement curve – regression coefficients a, b” – S-F soil

Dialog window – “Input for load settlement curve – regression coefficients e, f”

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 “Settlement“ frame – solution according to the nonlinear settlement theory (Masopust)

Note: The specific skin friction depends on regression coefficients “a, b“. The stress on the pile base
(at fully mobilised skin friction) depends on regression coefficients “e, f”. The values of these regression
coefficients were derived from regression curve equations determined on the basis of a statistical
analysis with results from about 350 static pile loading tests in Czechia and Slovakia (for more details
visit the program help – F1). For cohesionless soils and cohesive soils, these values depend on the

relative density index I d and the consistence index I c , respectively (for more details visit the program

help – F1).
The pile settlement for the specific service load is s = 4.6 mm .

Results of settlement – nonlinear curve

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 “Settlement“ frame – Nonlinear loading curve (according to Masopust)

Note: This method is also used for the pile load-bearing capacity analysis, where the program
calculates the pile bearing capacity for the limit settlement on its own (usually 25 mm).

Total load-bearing capacity for s lim : Rc = 1681.67 kN  Vd = 1015.0 kN SATISFACTORY

Conclusion
The program calculated the pile settlement for the specified service load to be within the range
from 4,6 to 11,3 mm (depending on the method used). This settlement is smaller than the maximum
allowable settlement – the pile is satisfactory from the 2nd limit state point of view.

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