Experimental and numerical work is described that was performed to explore the response of soil plugs within open-ended pipe piles. The work concentrated on calcareous soil, with particular application to oil production platforms in Bass Strait. The experimental studies substantiatied the theoretical arguments that the available skin friction along the inside of pipe piles is significantly higher than common design values for the external skin friction. Arching within the soil plug leads to an increase in the available plug capacity that varies exponentially with the aspect ratio of the soil plug. These and other study findings are discussed.
Randolf, M F
Leong, E C
Hyden, A M
Murff, J D
TRT Terms: Arching (Soils); Calcareous soils; Offshore construction; Piles (Supports); Pipe; Plugs (Fillers); Skin resistance; Soils