Creep Parameters for Pile Settlement Equations

Friction pile settlement in frozen ground is tyically predicted on the basis of a creep equation relating shear stresses at the soil/pile interface to pile displacement rates. Creep parameters are used to characterize soil type, soil/ice structure, temperature, and loading conditions. Experimental tests involving model steel piles embedded in frozen sand provided data showing that change in a given test variable can alter the numerical value for some of the creep parameters. The test variables included static, incremental, and dynamic loading; pile surface roughness; soil ice content; and sand particle size. Changes observed included the apparent effect on creep rate when a small dynamic load was superimposed on the static load. A tabulation of observed creep parameter changes is included.