Graduation Year
2022
Document Type
Thesis
Degree
M.S.C.E.
Degree Name
MS in Civil Engineering (M.S.C.E.)
Degree Granting Department
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Major Professor
Gray Mullins, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Manjriker Gunaratne, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Michael J. Stokes, Ph.D.
Keywords
Dragload, Load Transfer, Negative Skin Friction, Pile Foundations, Soil Settlement
Abstract
All soils settle under the weight of newly constructed embankments. In the case of MSE wall-type embankments, piles are driven prior to embankment construction. Under the weight of the newly constructed embankment, the soil surrounding the piles may settle more than the piles themselves. This downward movement potentially drags the piles down and induces a force within the pile known as downdrag. The research on the downdrag phenomenon involving cohesionless granular soils is sparse, thus the focus of this study is to investigate the effects of downdrag on pile performance driven in Florida sandy soils. A site consisting of soil profiles with relatively compressible sands underlain by denser sands was investigated. The field work entailed instrumenting, monitoring, and collecting data from a pile behind the embankment. Collected data was analyzed to find the key parameters that affect pile performance when subjected to downdrag.
Scholar Commons Citation
Araujo, Malaak Omelia, "Effects of Downdrag on Pile Performance" (2022). USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/etd/9292
