Considering pile-soil interaction together with the variability in pile materials, construction methods and ground conditions, pile design requires a comprehensive sequence of geotechnical analyses. In a performance-based pile design approach, preliminary pile dimensions are first established through theoretical and analytical calculations. A test pile based on the preliminary design is then constructed on site, and the load-carrying capacity of the individual pile is determined through an instrumented pile load test.
Following numerical calibration of the field load test results, optimization studies are carried out through numerical modeling of the pile system beneath the foundation. Pile load tests constitute a key field-testing component of this iterative design process for piled foundations and pile-supported ground improvement systems. Therefore, these tests should be properly designed, instrumented and performed by an experienced specialist team.
