Experimental Investigation Into Plugging of Open Ended Piles
This paper presents the results of a model pile test in a transparent photoelastic medium. This medium is composed of crushed glass particles in a refractive index matching liquid. The test setup allows for quantitative photoelastic measurements. For the measurement of the photoelastic data the phase stepping technique is used. Stresses in the granular medium located next to and in the plug were recorded at varying installation depths of the pile during monotonic jacking of the transparent pile in combination with the pile head load. The horizontal stress ratio in the plug for this particular test is found to be equal to the vertical stress. A distinct stress arch below the pile base is observed during penetration. The high local stress increase in and below the plug move with the pile as the plug travels downward into the soil and do not change much in absolute magnitude.