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Proceedings of the XVII ECSMGE-2019
Geotechnical Engineering foundation of the future
ISBN 978-9935-9436-1-3
© The authors and IGS: All rights reserved, 2019
doi: 10.32075/17ECSMGE-2019-0204

Comparison of different approaches of pile design in

chalk adopted in France and UK
Comparaison des différentes approches de la conception des pieux
dans la craie adoptées en France et au Royaume-Uni
M. Doghman
LGCgE, University of Lille, Lille, France
H. Mroueh
LGCgE, University of Lille, Lille, France
S. Burlon
Terrasol, Paris, France

ABSTRACT: Chalk is found widespread across northern Europe and under the North Sea, including the
continental shelf of France and the UK and is still considered as an important issue for the design of piles.
Different methods are used in France and the UK for designing piles in chalk. In France, pressuremeter and
penetrometer tests are used for pile designing, in any soil type, according to the French standard for pile design
(NF P94-262/A1). CIRIA C574 is the official document for designing piles in chalk in the UK. The aim of this
paper is to compare the two practices regarding the pile design under ultimate limit state. For this purpose, a
summary of different methods was firstly presented, and then a comparison of different piles calculation results,
using data from a French site, was done. The comparison has shown significant differences between results.

RÉSUMÉ: La craie est très répandue à travers l’Europe du Nord et sous la mer du Nord, surtout sur le plateau
continental entre la France et le Royaume-Uni. Elle est toujours considérée comme un terrain au comportement
complexe pour la conception des pieux. Différentes méthodes sont utilisées en France et au Royaume-Uni pour
la conception des pieux dans la craie. En France, les essais pressiométriques et pénétrométriques sont utilisés
pour le dimensionnement des pieux, dans n’importe quel type de sol, selon la norme française pour la conception
des pieux (NF P94-262/A1). CIRIA C574 est le document officiel pour la conception des pieux dans la craie au
Royaume-Uni. L’objectif de cet article est de comparer les deux pratiques concernant la conception de pieux à
l’état limite ultime. Dans ce but, un résumé de ces différentes méthodes a été présenté, puis une comparaison des
résultats de calcul des différents pieux, en utilisant des données provenant d'un site français, a été effectuée. La
comparaison a montré des différences significatives entre les résultats.

Keywords: Chalk; piles; pressuremeter; penetrometer; CIRIA C574

1 INTRODUCTION conditions than sands and clays, as those

surrounding the North Sea, and including the
Many offshore wind projects are being developed continental shelf of the UK, Ireland, France,
in more complex and challenging ground

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 B.1 - Foundations, excavations and earth retaining structure

Denmark and Germany, where the chalk is 2 PILE DESIGN IN CHALK

widely spread (Figure 1).
The bearing capacity of piles can be estimated
based on foundation soil parameters determined
by previous laboratory or in situ testing. In
geotechnical literature, several empirical
methods are used for the determination of pile
bearing capacity. These methods have been
developed from a great number of field tests. In
each of these methods, the total pile bearing
capacity for the compressive force, Rc, is
considered the simple sum of the shaft resistance
along the pile, Rs, and the pile base resistance, Rb.
𝐿
𝑅𝑠 = 𝑃𝑠 ∫0 𝑞𝑠 (𝑧)𝑑𝑧 (1)
Figure 1.Extent of chalk deposition over the North
West European continental shelf (Anderton et al,
1979) Where Ps is the pile perimeter, L is pile length
Due to different ground investigation and qs is the shaft resistance at level z.
techniques, there are different approaches
adopted for the design of deep foundations in 𝑅𝑏 = 𝐴𝑏 ∗ 𝑞𝑏 (2)
chalk. Even if there is a great experience in the
design of piles with some well-recognised design Where Ab is the pile base area and qb is the unit
guidelines (API, 2011), it appears that there is a resistance on the base.
little guidance for driven piles design in chalk. In Therefore, the difference between these
France, at present, the design of piles in chalk is several methods is the determination of Rs and Rb.
done according to the specifications of the French
national standard of the application of the 2.1 French perspective
Eurocode 7 for deep foundations NF P 94- Some methods are based on the knowledge of the
262/A1 (AFNOR, 2018). According to this intrinsic mechanical properties of soil, c and 
standard, designing of piles is related to in-situ
(Caquot & Kerisel, 1966). But for chalk, these
test results, the pressuremeter and the
methods can’t be used. The chalk of the Paris
penetrometer. In the UK, the design of piles in Basin, which is almost always more or less
chalk, have primarily been done to the
altered to great depths, cannot be collected in
recommendations of CIRIA C574 (Lord et al., intact form (Pasturel, 1968). For this reason,
2002). This paper aims to compare these two
pressuremeter and penetrometer tests are the
perspectives, giving an overview of the French most used.
and British practices. Application to some related
The Fasicule 62 Title V (MELT, 1993) has
case histories is also provided to illustrate this
been adopted since 1993 by the Ministry of
comparison. Equipment. It groups rules for calculating pile
capacity from pressuremeter and penetrometer
tests. However, many tests of static pile loading
have been carried out since 1990 and have not
been taken into account in the development of

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 Comparison of different approaches of pile design in chalk adopted in France and UK

∗ 1 𝐿+3𝑎
Fasicule 62-V rules (MELT, 1993). Bustamante 𝑝𝑙𝑒 = 3𝑎+𝑏 ∫𝐿−𝑏 𝑝𝑙∗ (𝑧)𝑑𝑧 (6)
and Gianeselli (2006) used these pile tests and
older tests, available in the LCPC database, to 𝐵
propose new rules for calculating pile resistance. With a=max{ ; 0,5} and b=min{a;h}
2
More recently, the old calculation rules as well as Where L is the pile length, B is the pile
those presented by Bustamante and Gianeseli diameter and h is the height of the pile contained
(2006) have been revised by Burlon et al. (2014). in the bearing layer.
The objective of this revision is the need to
implement of the Eurocode 7 into French 2.1.2 Penetrometer method (CPT)
practice, which led to the publication of the new
The value of the unit shaft resistance at the depth
French standard for the application of Eurocode
z is determined from the following relation:
7 to deep foundations NF P 94-262 (AFNOR,
2012).
𝑞𝑠 (𝑧) = 𝛼𝑝𝑖𝑙𝑒−𝑠𝑜𝑖𝑙 ∗ 𝑓𝑠𝑜𝑖𝑙 [𝑞𝑐 (𝑧)] (7)
2.1.1 Pressuremeter method (PMT)
Where qc is the cone resistance, pile-soil is a
The design of piles according to the
dimensionless parameter depending on soil and
pressuremeter results consists in correlating the
pile type (Table 1) and fsoil is a function depending
base resistance and the shaft resistance to the
on type of soil and qc values.
limit pressure.
The value of the shaft resistance is calculated
according to the following general expression: 𝑓𝑠𝑜𝑖𝑙 (𝑞𝑐 ) = (𝑎 ∗ 𝑞𝑐 + 𝑏) ∗ (1 − 𝑒 −𝑐𝑞𝑐 ) (8)

Where a, b and c are soil dependant parameters.

𝑞𝑠 (𝑧) = 𝛼𝑝𝑖𝑙𝑒−𝑠𝑜𝑖𝑙 ∗ 𝑓𝑠𝑜𝑖𝑙 (𝑝𝑙∗ ) (3)
For chalk, a=0.0015, b=0.1 and c=0.25.
The value of the base resistance is calculated
Where 𝑝𝑙∗ is the net limit pressure (PMT), pile- according to the following general expression:
soil is a dimensionless parameter depending on
soil and pile type (Table 1) and fsoil is a function 𝑞𝑏 = 𝑘𝑐 ∗ 𝑞𝑐𝑒 (9)
depending on type of soil and limit pressure 𝑝𝑙∗.
∗ Where 𝑞𝑐𝑒 is the equivalent penetration
𝑓𝑠𝑜𝑖𝑙 (𝑝𝑙∗ ) = (𝑎 ∗ 𝑝𝑙∗ + 𝑏) ∗ (1 − 𝑒 −𝑐𝑝𝑙 ) (4) resistance and kc is the penetrometer bearing
capacity factor. kc is a function of soil type and
Where a, b and c are soil dependant parameters. pile class (Table 2).
For chalk, a=0.007, b=0.07 and c=1.3.
The value of the base resistance is calculated 2.2 British perspective
according to the following general expression:
Until recently, designing of piles in chalk have
∗
𝑞𝑏 = 𝑘𝑝 ∗ 𝑝𝑙𝑒 (5) been done according to the recommendations of
CIRIA PG6 (Hobbs & Healy, 1979). It includes a
∗ series of empirical relationships, based on several
Where 𝑝𝑙𝑒 is the equivalent net limit pressure
and kp is the pressuremeter bearing capacity case histories then available, between the SPT
factor.kp is a function of soil type and pile class blowcounts and shaft and base resistances for
(Table 2). different pile types.

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Table 1.Values of αpile-soil

Pile class Pile category pile-soil (PMT) pile-soil (CPT)
C1: Bored piles 1. No support 1.8 0.80
2. With slurry 1.8 0.80
3. Permanent casing 0.5 0.25
4. Recoverable casing 1.7 0.75
5. Dry Bored Pile/ or Slurry - -
Bored Pile with Grooved
Sockets
C2: CFA piles 6. CFA pile 2.1 0.95
C3: Screw piles 7. Screw cast in place pile 1.7 0.75
8. Screw piles with casing 1 0.45
C4: Closed-ended driven piles 9. Pre-cast or Pre-stressed 1 0.45
Concrete Driven Pile
10. Coated Driven Steel Pile ( 1.9 0.85
coating concrete, mortar,
grout)
11. Driven cast-in-place pile 2.1 0.95
12. Driven steel pile, closed- 0.4 0.20
ended
C5: Open-ended driven piles 13. Driven steel pile, open-ended 0.5 0.25
C6: Driven H piles 14. Driven H pile 0.4 0.20
15. Driven grouted H pile 2.4 1.10
C7: Driven sheet pile walls 16. Driven sheet pile 0.4 0.20
C8: Micropiles 17. Micropile I (gravity pressure) - -
18. Micropile II (low pressure) - -
19. Micropile III (high pressure) 2.4 1.10
20. Micropile IV (high pressure 3.1 1.40
with TAM)

Table 2.Bearing resistance factors

Pile class C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8
kpmax 1.45 1.6 2.35 2.3 1.4 1.7 1 1.45
Kcmax 0.3 0.3 0.4 0.4 0.15 0.35 0.15 0.3

Nowadays, CIRIA C574 is considered the on the basis of SPT results, the shaft capacity
official guide for pile dimensionning in chalk. should be calculated on the basis of the average
vertical effective stress along the shaft, as follow-
2.2.1 Shaft resistance ings:
- Bored piles: After more case histories were
available, by increasing the range of piles 𝜏𝑠𝑓 = 𝑘 ∗ 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝛿 ′ ∗ ̅̅̅
′𝑣 =  ∗ ̅̅̅
′𝑣 (10)
considered, improving the understanding of chalk
behaviour and reviewing available plate loading Where k is the coefficient of earth pressure, 𝛿 ′
and pile load test, Lord (1990) concluded the is the effective angle of interface friction, and ̅̅̅
′𝑣
need for a different design approach. the average verticale effective stress.
CIRIA C574 recommends that, whilst the end CIRIA C574 assigns  value of 0.8 to bored
bearing capacity should continue to be calculated piles in low and medium-density chalk.

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 Comparison of different approaches of pile design in chalk adopted in France and UK

For high-density chalk, the pile should be 𝑞𝑢 = 200 ∗ 𝑁 kPa (13)

treated as rock socket and the shaft capacity is es-
-timated as: - CFA piles:
𝑞𝑢 = 200 ∗ 𝑁 kPa (14)
𝜏𝑠𝑓 = 0.1 𝑞𝑐 (11)
- driven cast-in-place piles:
Where qc is the uniaxial crushing strength of
the chalk. 𝑞𝑢 = 250 ∗ 𝑁 kPa (15)
- CFA piles (Continuous Flight Auger): Using
the vertical effective stress procedure proposed - driven preformed piles:
for bored piles, a prudent design line for CFA
piles in chalk would be: 𝑞𝑢 = 300 ∗ 𝑁 kPa (16)

𝜏𝑠𝑓 = 0.45 ̅̅̅

′𝑣 (12)
3 CASE STUDY
This value is a lower bound to a very limited In order to compare pile compressive
number of selected test results. resistance according to French and UK standards,
- Driven cast in place piles: Using the vertical a number of examples will be introduced.The
effective stress procedure, and considering that
considered site is located in Fleury-sur-Andelle
the normal stress to which the remoulded chalk
which is a French commune located in the Eure
around the pile shaft had been subjected is department in the Normandy region. Figure 2
expected to be similar to that for bored piles, the illustrates the geotechnical profile as well as
 value of this type of piles would be equal to 0.8. results from PMT, CPT and SPT. These tests
- Driven pre-formed piles: In this category were executed within the LCPC laboratory in the
there are two types of piles, small displacements 1979.
piles such as H-piles, open-ended steel and box First, the comparison will be held between
piles, and large displacement piles such as precast results from different approaches as well as
concrete piles, closed-ended steel tubes and results from pile load tests. Two types of piles,
boxes. square precast concrete and closed ended steel
The limiting shaft resitances recommended by cylindrical pile, are considered. Second, three
CIRIA C574 ranges from 10 to 20 kPa in small types of cylindrical piles, CFA, precast concrete
displacement piles in low to medium-density and open ended steel piles, are considered just for
chalk, and up to 120 kPa in high density grade A the comparison between different approaches.
chalk. As for large displacement piles, these Table 3 lists the geometry parameters of each
limits range from 30 to 50 kPa. pile, and Table 4 presents the parameters needed
2.2.2 Base resistance for the calculation according the British
approach. Due to the lack of SPT N values below
The determination of pile base resistance in 10 m of soil depth, the corresponding value at
chalk is related to the, no corrected, SPT N 10.2 m was estimated by extrapolating the
values. It is recommended that the following trendline between 9 and 10 m.
ultimate base stresses be adopted for: Results of calculation are presented in Table
- bored piles: 5. Overall, there are very large discrepencies
between results. The French approaches give

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 B.1 - Foundations, excavations and earth retaining structure

much better estimation of the total bearing greater than those estimated by French standards,
capacity compared to static pile results.The pile and also much greater than the correspondent pile
base resistances estimated according to CIRIA is shaft resistances.

Figure 2. In situ test, Fleury-sur-Andelle (Bustamante et al., 1979)

Table 3.Piles geometry parameters

Pile Section dimensions (cm) Length (m)
Square precast concrete 40 10.2
In-situ
Closed ended steel 44.5 10.2
CFA 50 10
Example Precast concrete 40 10
Open ended steel 50 10

Table 4.British calculation parameters

Calculation parameters
Soil Soil
Square precast Closed ended
description property CFA Open ended steel
concrete steel
φ'=20°
Clay loam ̅̅̅ =0.3 =0.3 =0.3 =0.3
′𝑣 =8.5 kPa
φ'=35° tanδ=tan(0.67φ')=0.45 tanδ=tanφ'=0.7 tanδ=tanφ'=0.7 tanδ=tan(0.67φ')=0.45
Gravel ̅̅̅
𝑣 =19.5 kPa
′ ks=1 ks=1 ks=1 ks=0.8
Chalk ̅̅̅
′𝑣 =62.2 kPa qs=30kPa qs=30kPa =0.45 qs=20kPa
Chalk: base
10 m N=20bl qb=300N qb=300N qb=200N qb=300N
10.2 m N=22bl

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 Comparison of different approaches of pile design in chalk adopted in France and UK

Figure 3 illustrates unit shaft resistance profile CFA pile, where the database for this pile
of each example pile determined according to technique is considered limited in the British
different method of calculation. practice compared to the French one. For the
In general, the pressuremeter method gives the precast concrete piles, the difference is smaller
highest values regardless of the pile type. The but it is always in the advantage of the French
difference between results is the highest for the methods especially the pressuremeter method.
Table 5.Calculation results
Pile French Standard UK standard Static test
PMT CPT CIRIA
Rs Rb Rc Rs Rb Rc Rs Rb Rc Rc
(kN) (kN) (kN) (kN) (kN) (kN) (kN) (kN) (kN) (kN)
Precast concrete 761.4 552.9 1314.3 630.8 552 1182.8 369.2 1056 1425.2 1090
Closed ended steel 356.2 327.1 683.3 345.8 201.1 546.9 343.1 1026.5 1369.9 700
CFA 1349.2 426 1775.2 1029.5 500.7 1530.2 360.2 785.4 1145.6 -
Precast concrete 583.8 392 975.8 482 427.2 909.2 290 754 1044 -
Open ended steel 377 372.7 749.7 325.7 250.3 576 256.4 1178.1 1434.5 -

For the open-ended cylindrical piles, we but a work of estimation depending on results
almost have the same trend. from pile load tests in the corresponding country.
CIRIA approach seems to be conservative in Further comparative researches, relative to
comparison to the French standards. This is results from pile load tests, should be conducted
because the British practice made the shaft to compare both approaches more in details.
resistance depends on the vertical effective stress
which is considered small for the chalk.
5 ADKNOWLEDGEMENT
This work benefited from France Energies
4 CONCLUSION
Marines and French National Research Agency
This paper aimed to summarise key aspects of the (Investments for the Future) funds: SOLCYP+
present rules adopted in France and UK for ANR-10-IEED-0006-18
designing pile foundations in chalk. Different
qs (MPa)
approaches are adopted for piles designing in 0 0,025 0,05 0,075 0,1 0,125 0,15
chalk due to different ground investigations 0
techniques used in each country. 0,5
1
Based on some field data from a french site, It 1,5
2
was observed that CIRIA approach is too 2,5
3
conservative regarding the shaft resistances, and 3,5
4
gives high values of base resistances. Somehow, 4,5
5
French approaches seem to give better estimation 5,5
of pile resistance compared to static pile 6
6,5
resistance. This can be due, perhaps, to the origin 7 PMT
Depth (m)

7,5 CPT
of selected study site, French site. After all, 8
8,5 CIRIA
designing a pile in different standards is nothing 9
9,5
10
a. CFA Pile
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qs (MPa) API, 2011. Recommended Practice for Planning,

0 0,025 0,05 0,075 0,1 0,125 0,15 Designing and Constructing Fixed Offshore
0 Platforms: Working stress Design, RP 2A-
0,5
1 WSD. 21st edition. Washington, DC
1,5
2 American Petroleum Institute.
2,5
3 Bustamante, M., Gianeselli, L. 1993. Design of
3,5
4 auger displacement pilesfrom in situ tests.
4,5
5 Geotechnical Seminar: Deep Foundations on
5,5 PMT
6 Bored and Auger Piles, 21-34. Balkema.
6,5 CPT
Bustamante, M., Cambarieu, O., Gianeselli, L.,
Depth (m)

7 CIRIA
7,5 1980. Portance des pieux dans la craie altérée,
8
8,5 Bulletin des Laboratoires des Ponts et
9
9,5 chaussées -Réf 388.
10
b. Precast concrete pile Burlon S., Frank R., Baguelin F., Habert J.,
Legrand S., Bustamante M., Gianeselli L.
qs (MPa) 2014. Model factor for the bearing capacity of
0 0,025 0,05 0,075 0,1 0,125 0,15 piles from pressuremeter test results-Eurocode
0 7 approach, Géotechniqe, 64(7), 513–525.
0,5
1 Caquot, A., Kerisel, J. 1966. Traité de mécanique
1,5
2 des sols. Paris, France: Gauthier-Villars
2,5
3 Hobbs, N.B., Healy, P.R. 1979. Piling in Chalk.
3,5
4 Piling Guide 6, CIRIA, London.
4,5 Lord, J.A. 1990. Foundations in chalk. Chalk
5
5,5 Proceedings Int Chalk Symp, Brighton
6 PMT
6,5 CPT Polytechnic, 301-325. London: Thomas
Depth (m)

7
7,5 CIRIA Telford.
8
8,5 Lord, J.A., Clayton, C., Mortimore, R. 2002.
9
9,5 Report C574: Engineering in Chalk, Uk:
10 CIRIA.
c. Open ended cylindrical steel pile
MELT-Ministère de l'Equipement du Logement
Figure 3. Shaft resistance profiles
et des Transport, 1993. Fasicule 62 Titre V-
Règles techniques de calcul et de conception
6 REFERENCES des fondations des ouvrages de génie civil,
CCTG, Texte officiel, No 93-3.
AFNOR, 2018. Justification des ouvrages Pasturel, D. 1968. Essais de chargement de pieux
géotechniques-Normes d'application dans la craie altérée, Bulletin des Laboratoires
nationale de l'Eurocode 7-Fondations des Ponts et chaussées -Réf 388.
profondes, NF P94-282/A1, Norme
française. Saint-Denis, France: AFNOR
Groupe.
Anderton, R., Bridges, P.H., Leeder, M.R.,
Sellwood, B.W. 1979. A dynamic stratigraphy
of the British Isles, George Allen & Unwin,
London.
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