Consolidation parameters from axial pile load tests

Recently proposed theoretical models and relationships for prediction of pile set-up effects in cohesive soils are assessed by comparison with a compiled data base consisting of load tests on piles in clays covering a range of geotechnical properties and stress history. The results indicate that reasonable predictions can be made with simplified relationships although this is dependent on the clay's stress history. Consolidation parameters are needed for set-up predictions, and these were deduced from the measured time-dependent friction gain for some of the tests. The deduced parameters were compared with values calculated empirically, and the results showed reasonable agreement.