Abstract

This article presents a study on the performance of semi-empirical methods based on the Standard Penetration Test (SPT) for the prediction of bearing capacity already disseminated in the practice of Brazilian Foundation Engineering (Aoki and Velloso, 1975AOKI, N.; VELLOSO, D. An approximate method to estimate the bearing capacity of piles. In: PANAMERICAN CONFERENCE ON SOIL MECHANICS AND FOUNDATION ENGINEERING, 5., 1975, Buenos Aires. Proceedings [...] . Buenos Aires: [s. n.], 1975. v. 1, p. 367-376.; Décourt and Quaresma, 1978DÉCOURT, L.; QUARESMA, A. R. Capacidade de carga de estacas a partir de valores de SPT. In: CONGRESSO BRASILEIRO DE MECÂNICA DOS SOLOS E ENGENHARIA DE FUNDAÇÕES, 6., 1978, Rio de Janeiro. Anais [...] . Rio de Janeiro: [s. n.], 1978. v. 1, p. 45-53., 1996DÉCOURT, L.; ALBIERO, J. H.; CINTRA, J. C. A. Análise e projeto de fundações profundas. In: HACHICH, W. et al. Fundações: teoria e prática. 2. ed. São Paulo: Editora PINI, 1996. p. 265-327.; Teixeira,1996TEIXEIRA, A. H. Projeto e execução de fundações. In: SEMINÁRIO DE ENGENHARIA DE FUNDAÇÕES ESPECIAIS E GEOTECNIA, 3., 1996, São Paulo. Anais [...] . São Paulo: [s. n.], 1996. v. 1, p. 33-50.), together with the recent method proposed by Pereira (2020), and the theoretical method known as a Method (disseminated around the world). These were applied to precast concrete piles based on sandy clay in the Uberlândia-MG region. In the performance analysis, the ultimate shaft and tip resistances and the bearing capacity values, which were utilized as references, were mobilized in the dynamic loading tests performed on ten piles. The results of these tests were compared with those obtained using the mentioned methods. In general, both methods yielded robust results, with relatively accurate predictions, except the a Method, which was found to perform below the semi-empirical methods considered. The research still highlights the need for discretion in the application of semi-empirical/theoretical methodologies because there are certain scenarios wherein these methods can yield inaccurate results.

Keywords:
pile foundation; bearing capacity; semi-empirical/theoretical methods; SPT; dynamic load testing