GeoStructPy
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Disclaimer: This tool is intended for use by the APEC Consultancy team for preliminary geotechnical calculations only. The developers assume no liability for design decisions made based on the output of this application. All results must be verified by a qualified geotechnical or structural engineer before use in any project.

Bored Pile Design — Static Capacity

Paste borehole log JSON data (from the Borehole Log Digitizer), set pile parameters, and compute skin resistance (Beta/Alpha methods) and base resistance per Reese & O'Neill (1988) and FHWA-NHI-10-016 Drilled Shafts.

Scope note: The current build returns axial capacity only (skin friction + base resistance). Transverse-shear capacity from spiral / horizontal ties (ACI 318-19 §22.5 and §25.7.3 for spirals) is not yet automated — perform this check manually if the pile is subject to lateral or seismic shear demand. Lateral-load (p-y) analysis is also out of scope here; use LPILE or FB-MultiPier for laterally loaded shafts.

Borehole Data

Paste the JSON from Borehole Log Digitizer (Save Project output) or type manually.

Pile Properties

Concrete Properties

Reinforcement

Transverse Shear Demand (ACI 318-19 §22.5)

Rock Properties (at Pile Tip)

Rock parameters are only used by the base-resistance computation when the tip layer is classified as rock in the borehole log. Uncheck to hide if your pile terminates in soil.

References & Methodology

  1. Das, B.M. & Sivakugan, N. (2019). Principles of Foundation Engineering, 9th Edition, SI. Cengage Learning. Ch. 12 — Pile Foundations: §12.7 Load transfer mechanism; §12.8 Equations for estimating pile capacity; §12.13 Frictional resistance Qs in sand (β-method); §12.14 Skin resistance in clay (α-method); §12.16 Point bearing on rock; §12.23 Negative skin friction. Ch. 13 — Drilled-Shaft Foundations: §13.5 Load transfer; §13.6–13.10 Bearing capacity in granular soil and clay; §13.13 Drilled shafts extending into rock.
  2. Poulos, H.G. & Davis, E.H. (1980). Pile Foundation Analysis and Design. John Wiley & Sons. The authoritative monograph on pile–soil interaction; chapters cover single-pile axial capacity, settlement (elastic theory), pile groups, negative skin friction, lateral loading, and dynamic effects.
  3. Reese, L.C. & O'Neill, M.W. (1988). Drilled Shafts: Construction Procedures and Design Methods. FHWA-HI-88-042. (Source of β-method for granular soils.)
  4. Tomlinson, M.J. (1971). Some effects of pile driving on skin friction. Proc. ICE Conf. on Behaviour of Piles, London. (α-method for cohesive soils.)
  5. Burland, J.B. (1973). Shaft friction of piles in clay — a simple fundamental approach. Ground Engineering, 6(3), 30–42. (Effective stress β-method.)
  6. FHWA (2010). Drilled Shafts: Construction Procedures and LRFD Design Methods, FHWA-NHI-10-016, Brown et al.
  7. AASHTO (2020). LRFD Bridge Design Specifications, §10.8 — Drilled shafts. §5.13.4 — Reinforcing.
  8. ACI Committee 318 (2019). Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete (ACI 318-19): §10.6.1.1, §19.2.1, §20.5.1.3.2, §22.5 (shear), §25.7.3 (spirals).
  9. Hoek, E. & Brown, E.T. (1997). Practical estimates of rock mass strength. Int. J. Rock Mech. & Min. Sci., 34(8), 1165–1186.
  10. ISRM (1981). Rock Characterization, Testing and Monitoring — ISRM Suggested Methods. Pergamon Press.
  11. ASTM D7012-14. Standard Test Methods for Compressive Strength and Elastic Moduli of Intact Rock Core Specimens.