Introduction of rectangular pyramidal piles in Belorussia

Conclusions

1. The investigations corroborate the results of well-known theoretical and practical studies on the effect of the geometric shape of piles on their bearing capacity. A computational analysis and model and full-scale pile tests established some quantitative relationships between the bearing capacity and shape of driven piles currently being used in construction.

2. Investigations and construction experience indicate that there is no "universal" pile which is optimal for all structures and all types of soil conditions. According to the results of investigations of short driven piles, and from design and construction experience, it can be concluded that for loose and medium-density, homogeneous sands and clay soils having a consistency ranging from semistiff to soft/plastic, it is expedient to adopt rectangular pyramidal piles for large-scale construction in the conditions in Belorussia, instead of the prismatic type, as they have shown that, under the above conditions, the volume of pile work is reduced 1.6 times, and labor consumption and costs are reduced commensurately.