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Mohammad Hamdan

This course will discuss the design of pile foundations. We will learn the methods of calculating the pile bearing capacity. The bearing capacity for a pile consists of skin and end bearing resistance. Here you will understand how to calculate the skin and end bearing resistance. Also, we will discuss the effects of the pile group on pile individual bearing capacity. We will determine the impact of pile group on individual pile bearing capacity and the amount of reduction of pile bearing capacity. Also, we will discuss the safety factor for pile design and the acceptable ranges for the safety factor.

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This course will discuss the design of pile foundations. We will learn the methods of calculating the pile bearing capacity. The bearing capacity for a pile consists of skin and end bearing resistance. Here you will understand how to calculate the skin and end bearing resistance. Also, we will discuss the effects of the pile group on pile individual bearing capacity. We will determine the impact of pile group on individual pile bearing capacity and the amount of reduction of pile bearing capacity. Also, we will discuss the safety factor for pile design and the acceptable ranges for the safety factor.

The second part of the course will discuss the type of foundations; in general, we have two types of foundation. Shallow and deep foundations. Here we will concentrate on deep foundations. Deep foundations are classified into driven and cast-in-situ piles. Cast-in-situ piles are constructed at filed by the drilling borehole in the existing ground, then filling the borehole with reinforcement and concrete. We will discuss the method of constructing cast-in-situ piles in detail. Furthermore, this course will discuss the geotechnical investigation, the importance of the geotechnical investigation, and tests conducted on the soil to determine soil bearing capacity.

The third part of this course will discuss the methods of estimating the flexural moment and shear force for piles. You will learn here how to calculate the flexural moment over the full length of the piles. Similarly, we will learn how to determine the shear force over the entire length of a pile. Furthermore, we will learn how to determine the amount of longitudinal or flexural reinforcement based on the maximum moment we computed. Also, we will learn how to determine the shear reinforcement for piles. in general, spirals are used as a shear reinforcement for piles.

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What's inside

Syllabus

Structural foundations
Types of foundations
Deep foundations
The working mechanism's of piles
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Geotechnical investigation
Cast in-situ pile construction
Stresses on pile concrete
stresses on pile concrete under axial working load
Pile bearing capacity
Pile skin resistance
Pile end bearing capacity
Effects of pile group on individual pile bearing capacity
Factor of safety
Field verification of pile capacity
Flexural and shear reinforcement for piles
Estimation of flexural moment for piles
Estimation of shear force for piles
Longitudinal reinforcement for piles
Shear reinforcement for piles
Design example
Design example info
Pile concrete stresses under axial working load
Pile skin resistance calculation
Pile End bearing capacity
flexural moment calculation
Shear force calculation
Flexural reinforcement for piles

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Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Structures design: Pile foundation design with these activities:
Review Soil Mechanics Principles
Reinforce your understanding of soil mechanics, a fundamental prerequisite for pile foundation design, ensuring a solid base for grasping advanced concepts.
Browse courses on Soil Mechanics
Show steps
  • Review key concepts in soil mechanics textbooks or online resources.
  • Solve practice problems related to soil properties and behavior.
  • Summarize the key principles of soil mechanics.
Review 'Foundation Design: Principles and Practices' by Donald P. Coduto
Broaden your understanding of foundation design principles, providing a comprehensive context for the specific topic of pile foundations.
View Foundation Design on Amazon
Show steps
  • Read the chapters related to deep foundations and pile design.
  • Compare the book's approach to the course materials.
  • Identify any differences or additional insights.
Review 'Pile Design and Construction Practice' by Willis H. Thomas
Gain practical insights into pile design and construction methodologies, complementing the theoretical knowledge acquired in the course.
Show steps
  • Read the chapters related to design methodologies and construction techniques.
  • Take notes on key concepts and practical considerations.
  • Relate the book's content to the course syllabus.
Four other activities
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Calculate Pile Bearing Capacity
Sharpen your skills in calculating pile bearing capacity through repetitive exercises, reinforcing your understanding of skin and end bearing resistance.
Show steps
  • Obtain example problems with varying soil conditions and pile dimensions.
  • Calculate the skin resistance and end bearing capacity for each problem.
  • Compare your results with solutions and identify areas for improvement.
Create a Presentation on Pile Installation Methods
Deepen your understanding of pile installation techniques by creating a presentation, consolidating your knowledge and improving your communication skills.
Show steps
  • Research different pile installation methods (e.g., driven, bored, etc.).
  • Prepare slides with clear explanations and visuals.
  • Practice your presentation to ensure a smooth delivery.
Develop a Pile Design Spreadsheet
Create a spreadsheet tool to automate pile design calculations, enhancing your efficiency and accuracy in real-world engineering projects.
Show steps
  • Identify the key formulas and equations for pile design.
  • Implement these formulas in a spreadsheet program (e.g., Excel).
  • Test the spreadsheet with various input parameters and validate the results.
  • Document the spreadsheet's functionality and limitations.
Design a Pile Foundation for a Hypothetical Structure
Apply your knowledge to design a complete pile foundation for a hypothetical structure, integrating all the concepts learned in the course.
Show steps
  • Define the structural loads and soil conditions for the hypothetical site.
  • Select appropriate pile type and dimensions based on the site conditions.
  • Calculate the pile bearing capacity and settlement.
  • Design the pile cap and connections.
  • Prepare a detailed design report with calculations and drawings.

Career center

Learners who complete Structures design: Pile foundation design will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Foundation Design Engineer
A Foundation Design Engineer specializes in designing foundations for various structures. This course directly addresses the core skills needed, covering pile bearing capacity, skin resistance, end bearing capacity, and the impact of pile groups. The course's detailed exploration of deep foundations, including driven and cast-in-situ piles, will be highly relevant. Additionally, the course would be a great introduction to the design of pile foundations for an aspiring Foundation Design Engineer.
Forensic Engineer
Forensic Engineers investigate structural failures to determine their cause. A course on pile foundation design is useful for Forensic Engineers who investigate failures involving pile foundations. The course provides a thorough understanding of pile bearing capacity, skin resistance, end bearing capacity, and the effects of pile groups. The coverage of flexural moment and shear force estimation is also relevant in failure analysis. The course's focus on design examples would be insightful for a Forensic Engineer.
Geotechnical Engineer
A Geotechnical Engineer analyzes soil and rock properties to design foundations and earthworks. This course helps you understand geotechnical investigation, which is crucial for determining soil bearing capacity, as well as the working mechanisms of piles. These are essential skills for a Geotechnical Engineer. You will also learn about deep foundations, including driven and cast-in-situ piles. The course's discussion of geotechnical investigation, including tests conducted on soil, may be useful to a Geotechnical Engineer. The course covers a deep dive into the stress endured by pile concrete.
Bridge Engineer
Bridge Engineers focus on the design, construction, and maintenance of bridges. This course on pile foundation design is highly relevant because bridges often rely on deep foundations for support. The course will help a Bridge Engineer by providing an understanding of pile bearing capacity, skin resistance, end bearing capacity, and the effects of pile groups. The coverage of flexural moment and shear force estimation also addresses key concerns for Bridge Engineers working on bridge foundation design. Furthermore, the fact that the course discusses safety parameters would be helpful.
Structural Engineer
Structural Engineers design and analyze structures, ensuring their stability and safety. To be a successful Structural Engineer, understanding foundation design, especially pile foundations, is critical. This course provides a detailed exploration of pile bearing capacity, skin resistance, and end bearing capacity. In addition, the course delves into the effects of pile groups on individual pile bearing capacity, which is essential for Structural Engineers to account for in complex designs. Further, the method of estimating the flexural moment and shear force for piles that is taught in the course will be useful for a Structural Engineer.
Coastal Engineer
Coastal Engineers work on projects related to coastal protection, harbor development, and offshore structures. Pile foundations are commonly used in coastal and offshore construction. This course helps Coastal Engineers by focusing on pile bearing capacity, skin resistance, end bearing capacity, and the effects of pile groups. The course may also be useful by providing the Coastal Engineer with insights into geotechnical investigation, cast-in-situ pile construction, and the estimation of flexural moment and shear force for piles. This knowledge is essential for designing stable and durable coastal structures.
Civil Engineer
Civil Engineers plan, design, and oversee the construction and maintenance of infrastructure projects. For a Civil engineer involved in foundation design, this course offers valuable insights into pile foundations. You'll learn about deep foundations, including driven and cast-in-situ piles, and the geotechnical investigations required to determine soil bearing capacity. The course also covers the calculation of flexural moment and shear force for piles, which are essential for ensuring structural integrity. Moreover, the course's discussion of factor of safety would be useful to a Civil Engineer.
Architectural Engineer
Architectural Engineers focus on the structural and mechanical systems within buildings, ensuring their safety and efficiency. Foundation design is a crucial aspect of building design, making this course valuable for Architectural Engineers. The course helps Architectural Engineers by providing an understanding of pile bearing capacity, skin resistance, and end bearing capacity. The course's deep dive into deep foundations, particularly driven and cast-in-situ piles, helps Architectural Engineers make informed decisions during design. Furthermore, the course's discussion of safety parameters for piles is an important topic.
Construction Manager
Construction Managers oversee construction projects from start to finish, ensuring they are completed on time and within budget. This course on pile foundation design provides Construction Managers with valuable knowledge about deep foundation types, cast-in-situ pile construction, and field verification of pile capacity. Understanding these aspects helps Construction Managers make informed decisions during the construction process, especially when dealing with complex foundation systems. The course's focus on practical design examples would be useful to a Construction Manager.
Dam Engineer
Dam Engineers design, construct, and maintain dams and related structures. Pile foundations are sometimes used to support dam structures or stabilize the surrounding soil. This course helps Dam Engineers by explaining pile bearing capacity, skin resistance, and end bearing capacity. Further, the course's discussion of geotechnical investigation, deep foundations, and the estimation of flexural moment and shear force for piles will be useful in certain dam projects.
Highway Engineer
Highway Engineers plan, design, and maintain highways and road networks. Pile foundations might be necessary for bridges, overpasses, or areas with unstable soil conditions along highways. The course will help the Highway Engineer by providing an understanding of pile bearing capacity, skin resistance, and end bearing capacity. Additionally, the course's discussion of geotechnical investigation, deep foundations, and the estimation of flexural moment and shear force for piles will be useful in certain highway projects.
Marine Engineer
Marine Engineers design, develop, and oversee the installation and maintenance of ship propulsion systems, onboard systems, and port infrastructure. This course may be useful because port infrastructure often involves pile foundations in marine environments. The course's discussion of pile bearing capacity calculations, deep foundations, and geotechnical investigations may be useful to a Marine Engineer in designing and maintaining port and coastal structures. Moreover, the course's discussion of safety parameters for piles is important.
Tunnel Engineer
Tunnel Engineers design and oversee the construction of tunnels for transportation, water conveyance, and other purposes. While not always directly applicable, pile foundations can be relevant in tunnel construction, particularly for supporting tunnel portals or stabilizing ground conditions. In this context, this course helps a Tunnel Engineer understand pile bearing capacity, skin resistance, and end bearing capacity. The discussions of geotechnical investigation and deep foundation types may be useful in certain tunneling projects.
Environmental Engineer
Environmental Engineers develop solutions to environmental problems, including soil contamination and groundwater remediation. This course may be useful if remediation projects involve stabilizing soil with pile foundations or constructing containment structures. The course's discussion of pile bearing capacity calculations, deep foundations, and geotechnical investigations may be useful for Environmental Engineers in these situations. The course's discussion of safety parameters for piles may also be useful.
Mining Engineer
Mining Engineers plan and design mines, oversee extraction operations, and ensure safety and environmental compliance. This course may be useful if mining operations involve constructing structures with pile foundations in unstable ground conditions. The course's discussion of pile bearing capacity calculations, deep foundations, and geotechnical investigations may be useful for Mining Engineers in designing these structures. The course's discussion of safety parameters for piles may also be useful.

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Structures design: Pile foundation design.
Provides a comprehensive overview of pile design and construction practices. It covers various aspects, including pile selection, installation techniques, and load testing. It serves as a valuable reference for understanding real-world applications and challenges in pile foundation engineering. This book is commonly used by industry professionals.
Provides a broad overview of foundation design principles, including shallow and deep foundations. While not solely focused on piles, it offers valuable context and background information on foundation engineering. It useful reference for understanding the broader context of pile foundation design and its relationship to other foundation types. This book is commonly used as a textbook at academic institutions.

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