A Comprehensive Database of Tests on Axially Loaded Driven Piles in Sands reviews the critical need to develop better load-test databases for piles driven in sands. The key quality parameters, population of current entries and reporting formats are described before offering preliminary results obtained from comparisons between axial capacities calculated by various predictive approaches and site measurements. This book also shows that the "simplified" and "offshore" ICP and UWA variants proposed by some practitioners are over-conservative and that their use could be discontinued. The new pile capacity and stiffness database offers a broad scope for evaluating potential prediction biases relating to a wide range of soil and pile parameters. Submission of further high quality tests for inclusion in regularly updated versions is encouraged.

While axial capacity is often the governing design criterion with driven piles, the reliability of predictions made by conventional procedures is generally poor. A long-term research program run at Imperial College London in conjunction with Industry, the UKs Health and Safety Executive and Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council led to the new design recommendations published by Jardine and Chow in 1996. Their procedures offered considerable improvements and have been applied worldwide in many offshore, marine and onshore projects.