Measured and Predicted Axial Response of 98 Piles

This article deals with the prediction of the response to monotonic axial loading of single piles in various soil conditions. A 98‐pile load test data base was obtained from the Mississippi State Highway Department and was used to evaluate 13 methods designed to predict the ultimate load of a pile and five methods designed to predict the settlement of a pile. The methods include SPTA/Su methods, cone penetrometer methods, a pressuremeter method, and a dynamic formula method. The accuracy and precision of each method is quantified statistically, and a risk analysis is performed in order to properly assess the factor of safety. A cost analysis is also performed in order to find the factor of safety that will minimize the cost of construction plus the cost of a potential failure.