Field testing on piles

In 2006 NGI initiated a research project "Time effects on pile capacity", motivated by evidence from past field testing of a considerable gain of the axial bearing capacity of piles with time.

Gains of 10 to 50 % have been reported over a period of two years, and 50 to 100 % after 10 years. The project goal is to develop design guidelines that accounts for time effects. This will be achieved through a systematic test program, where piles at five different sites over a time period of two years is tested. The site conditions cover soft and stiff clays and loose to medium dense sands.

The work is organized as a Knowledge-building Project with User Involvement (KMB) with about 35 % funding from The Research Council of Norway (RCN). The rest is financed by various industry partners with a significant portion from Petroleum Companies. Multiconsult AS acts as project partner towards RCN, and NGI has the full responsibility for planning, and executionof the project.