2022 Volume 17 Issue 1 Pages 1-17
Equations for estimating the vertical bearing capacity of logs in sandy and clayey soft ground was examined using the results of 29 vertical loading tests at 6 sites. The experiments were conducted using logs with a bottom diameter of 0.110–0.190 m and length of 2.0–12.0 m. In addition, screw weight sounding tests, standard penetration tests, unconfined compression tests, and electric cone penetration tests were conducted and the vertical bearing capacity of the logs was estimated using data from these soil investigation methods. The logs were pushed into the ground so that their tops were 0.5–1.5 m below the ground surface to avoid wood decay and insect damage. As a result, it was found that vertical bearing capacity of logs can be estimated by multiplying a previously proposed equation by ξ depending on the soil investigation method, and based on this, estimating equations for the design was proposed using the lower limit values of the variation of ξ.
