Abstract:
Pile driving in rock formations such as the Northland Allochthon presents challenges when estimating engineering properties and pile design parameters for foundation analysis. The sheared and weak nature of the Northland Allochthon can lead to rapid degradation when exposed or disturbed, causing deposits to behave as highly weathered soils. This complexity complicates the assessment of optimal design parameters for geotechnical analysis, particularly concerning skin friction, which can be overestimated in some cases when traditional methods are employed.
This paper focuses on using pile testing at two infrastructure projects (road bridges) to propose a method for estimating pile design parameters aimed at optimizing foundation design. Furthermore, it provides insights into classifying Northland Allochthon material as a rock mass, which enhances the estimation of associated engineering properties and suggests suitable pile design parameters for deep foundation analysis within this geological context