Evaluation of pile capacity estimation methods in Bangladesh: A comparative study using static analysis and load tests

This research examines the accuracy and reliability of different theoretical and semiempirical methods to estimate the ultimate axial capacity of piles in Bangladesh, particularly for precast driven piles and cast-in-situ bored piles. By comparing predicted capacities with various methods, i.e., Meyerhof (1976), API RP 2A (1993), Tomlinson (1994), Norwegian Pile Guideline (2005), and Indian Standard (2010) for driven piles and Meyerhof (1976), NAVFAC DM 7.2 (1984), AASHTO (1986), O'Neill and Reese (1988), and Decourt (1995) for bored piles with actual measured capacities from static load tests, this study employs sub-soil investigation reports and pile load test results of 22 projects from around the country. The study employs various statistical parameters such as regression, coefficient of determination (COD), arithmetic mean, standard deviation, and cumulative probability to make a comparison among these methods. The study identifies that the most accurate estimates for driven piles are given by Tomlinson (1994) and API (1993), while Meyerhof (1976) and AASHTO (1986) are best suited for bored piles. In addition, the study indicates correlations between calculated and estimated capacities and offers suggestions for enhancing pile design procedures in Bangladesh's soft ground conditions.