Calculation of Bearing Capacity of Tapered Drilled Shafts in Cohesionless Soils Using Shape Factor

Fourteen calibration ehamber tests were performed using one cylindrical and two tapered piles with different taper angles to investigate the changes of the bearing capacity of tapered piles with soil state and taper angle of piles. The results of calibration chamber tests show that the ultimate base resistance of tapered piles increases with increasing mean stress and relative density of soil. It also increases with increasing taper angle for medium sand, but with decreasing taper angle for dense sand. The ultimate shaft resistance of tapered piles increases as vertical and horizontal stresses, relative density and taper angle increase. Based on the results of model pile load tests, a new design method with shape factors for estimation of the bearing capacity of tapered piles is proposed considering the effect of soil state and taper angle on bearing capacity of tapered piles. In order to check the accuracy of predictions calculated using the new method, middle-scale field pile load tests were also conducted on cylindrical and tapered drilled shafts in clayey sand. Comparison of calculated values with measured ones shows that the new design method produces satisfactory predictions tor tapered piles.