ABSTRACT
In recent years, studies have focused on understanding the behavior of driven piles, drilled shafts, augered cast-in-place (ACIP) piles and micropiles designed to carry much higher vertical and lateral static and dynamic loads with limited deflection in various geological conditions. Noteworthy improvement in recent times in north America include better understanding of the soil-pile interaction under static and dynamic conditions, development of computer codes to deal with complex loading and geological conditions, design methods and innovative instrumentation and monitoring systems used during construction and service conditions. Plastic composites and self consolidating concrete have been used in the construction of driven piles and drilled shafts respectively. With the complexity of the problems encountered in the field, it is critical that numerical methods must be used and this is particularly true when nonlinear soil models are used. More attention is paid to better quantify the loadsettlement behavior of piles in addition to the bearing capacity.
