Q-  What are loads and forces taken into account for designing a pile and what is load carrying capacity of a pile.

Ans. For designing a pile the following loads and force are taken into account -

i. Direct vertical load to be transmitted by the pile.

ii. Impact stresses developed during the process of pile driving.

iii. Bending stresses developed due to curvature of the pile.

iv. Bending stresses developed due to eccentricity of loads coming on the pile.

v.  Stresses developed during handling operation.

vi. Lateral forces due to wind, waves, currents of water, etc.

vii. Forces due to impact of ships, in case of marine structures.

viii. Impact forces due to ice sheets.

ix.  Forces due to uplift pressure.

x.  Earth quake forces.

The load carrying capacity of a pile is defined as the maximum load which can be carried by a pile at which the pile continues to sink with out further increase of load.

The load on a pile is determined in the following ways -

i. Ultimate bearing resistance divided by suitable factor of safety.

ii. Permissible settlement.

iii. Over all stability of the pile foundation.