In this study, forty-five compressive bearing capacity tests were conducted on a model pile embedded in sand to investigate the influence of loading rate on the bearing capacity of the pile. The tests were carried out using a model steel pile with a 30-mm diameter and depth-to-diameter ratios of 7,10, and 15 in uniform deposits of loose, medium, and dense sand. Loads were applied to the model pile at five different rates: 1 mm/mln., 0.5 mm/mln., 0.1 nun/min., 0.05 mm/min., and 0.01 mm/min. Experimental results showed that bearing capacity of the model pile increases with increasing the rate of loading. The relationship between the compressive bearing capacity and the loading rate can be represented by a straight line on a log-log plot.
The behavior of piles or pile groups subjected to axial compressive, uplift, inclined, or lateral loads has perhaps received the greatest attention of numerous investigators over the last few decades. However, studies regarding the effect of loading rate on the beating capacity of piles are limited. A review of the literature indicates that research on the influence of loading rate on bearing capacity of both shallow and deep foundations is scanty. The limited studies regarding the effect of loading rate on the bearing capacity of piles showed that the loading rate affects the beating capacity of piles in clay (Briaud and Garland 1985; Horvath 1995; Al-Mhaidib, 1999). It is, therefore, of interest to investigate the influence of the rate of loading on the bearing capacity of piles in sand. This paper presents the results of an experimental study to investigate the influence of loading rate on the bearing capacity of piles in sand. The test results are presented and the influence of loading rate on the bearing capacity of piles in sand is discussed.