Study of Creep Settlement of Driven H-piles in Loading Tests

In Hong Kong, the maximum test load is required to be maintained constant for 72 hours during loading tests of piles according to the loading test procedures in the Code of Practice for Foundations 2017. Such a long duration of maintained loading is uncommon in pile loading tests overseas. In the paper, the behaviour of driven H-piles under maintained loading will be studied using creep settlements measured during the 72 hours of maintained loading of piles from various sites in Hong Kong. The reason for such a long period of maintained loading is not discussed in the literature. The paper aims to address the more fundamental issues of (a) usefulness of maintained loading if any, (b) whether it is meaningful to conduct maintained loading at peak test load and (b) whether the period of maintained loading can be reduced the time needed for loading test.