Load Bearing Capacity of Drilled Shafts with Anomalies

Quality assurance and quality control of drilled shafts has become a concern due to difficulties in accurately locating construction anomalies and determining the load bearing capacity of anomalous drilled shafts. Various nondestructive testing techniques have been developed to estimate the integrity of the concrete in drilled shafts. While these techniques have been widely accepted, variables and unknowns can affect the measurement results. Results are typically difficult to interpret, leading to unnecessary construction delays and possible litigation over shaft integrity. In addition, influences of surrounding ground materials, stress states under different load conditions, and crack and residual stress development during concrete curing further complicate the determination of shaft performance. This paper focuses on the evaluation of load bearing capacity of anomalous drilled shafts under various conditions by numerical analysis and modeling.