When it comes to designing deep foundations, one of the most important tasks is determining the load-carrying capacity of piles. The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) provides comprehensive guidelines for evaluating pile capacity, ensuring that structures such as bridges, flyovers, and high-rise buildings rest on safe and reliable foundations.
What Is Pile Capacity?
Pile capacity is essentially the maximum load a pile can safely transfer to the soil or rock beneath it. According to AASHTO, the total pile resistance is a combination of two components:
