Excel Piglet Manual

Technical Note No 13 PIGLET EXCEL MANUAL REV 00
Stent Foundations Ltd
Technical Note No 13 – PIGLET (Excel) Manual

00 MP March 09 KK March 09 Live 1st Issue – For review and implementation
Revision By Date Verified Date Status Description
Copyright Balfour Beatty

Written by: Mark Pearson Checked by: Kayvan Kiany
1 of 25
Contents:
STENT EXCEL PIGLET MANUAL...............................................................................1
Contents:................................................................................................................... 2
1 Introduction..................................................................................................... 3
2 Assumptions...................................................................................................... 3
3 Axes.................................................................................................................... 3
4 Loads.................................................................................................................. 4
5 Set up................................................................................................................. 5
6 Step 1 – Title.................................................................................................... 5
7 Step 2 - Scope................................................................................................. 5
8 Step 3 – Soil Details.......................................................................................6
9 Step 4 – Pile Details....................................................................................... 6
10 Step 5 – Loading Cases – Loads / Deflections......................................7
11 Step 6 – Loading Cases – Loading Type..................................................7
12 Step 7 - Pile Group Geometry..................................................................8
APPENDIX A - ASSUMPTIONS....................................................................10
A1 Cap is Rigid.................................................................................................. 10
A2 Cap is Fully Flexible..................................................................................10
A3 No Load Transferred From Cap Underside to Ground......................11
A4 Soil Stress Strain Is Linear....................................................................11
A5 No Pile Carries More Than Limiting Load (If Set)............................12
APPENDIX B - TRANSFER OF COORDINATES AND LOADS..............13
B1 Coordinates................................................................................................. 13
B2 Loads (or deflections)..............................................................................15
APPENDIX C - SOIL PARAMETERS.............................................................18
C1 Preliminary Pile Tests...............................................................................19
C2 From Stent “PIGLET data base”............................................................21
C3 From Site Investigation In-situ and Laboratory Tests..................22
C4 From The PIGLET Manual.......................................................................22
APPENDIX D - INFORMATION NEEDED FOR DATA BASE................23
APPENDIX E - CONCRETE YOUNG’S MODULUS.....................................24
APPENDIX F - FIXED AND FREE HEAD PILES........................................25

2 of 25
1 Introduction
The intention of this document is to make the use of PIGLET excel version
understandable; it is a PIGLET for dummies, written by dummies!
To use this manual follow the sections through, sections 1 to 5 describe

important points. Sections 6 to 12 give step by step advice on estimating and
filling in the data for each data block. In some steps, where the advice might
be over involved additional details are given in the relevant appendix.
Good luck, here goes!!
PIGLET is a programme that analyses the response of piles, to the

application of forces and moments (or imposed deflections) in any or all
directions. The programme can be applied to individual piles or groups and
gives an estimate of individual pile and pile group loads and deflections.
2 Assumptions
The assumptions that PIGLET makes are outlined below, see Appendix A for
more details:
1 Rigid cap is completely rigid.
2 Flexible cap is “fully flexible”.
3 No load is transferred between the underside of the cap and the
ground.
4 Stress Strain relationship of the soil is linear.
5 Any particular pile can carry NO additional load after it reaches
its individual limiting load (if set).
3 Axes
The axes that PIGLET uses are of fundamental importance.

 PIGLET applies the given loads or deflections at the axes origin.
 PIGLET uses a modified right hand axis as indicated in Figure 1
overleaf:

3 of 25
Px
My to z
Mx to z
Py
Tx to y
y
Pz
z
Figure 1 Definition of axes, force directions and moment rotations used by PIGLET
Important aspects to note are that:

 The x and y axes are swapped compared to what one would normally
expected for a right hand set of axes. (This has been done so that z
acts downwards)
 Mx to z is counter-clockwise (This has been done so that a positive
moment causes compression in the positive quadrant).
 In descriptions elsewhere (Ixx Iyy manual and example sheets) Stent
have written Mx to z as My and My to z as Mx. (This has been done purely
for brevity).
4 Loads
All loads must be specified at the axes origin. The pile cut off must be the
plane defined by z = 0. So you have three choices:
1 The x and y origins are chosen to suit the load application point and
the pile coordinates set accordingly.
2 The origin is set to suit the pile layout and the cap loads
transferred accordingly.
3 Origin is set “elsewhere” and pile coordinates and cap loads are
transferred accordingly.
See Appendix B which deals with transferring pile coordinates and cap loads
from load application point to axis origin.

4 of 25
5 Set up
The excel spreadsheet requires the “Fortran dynamic link library” (ouch!
that is the .dll file) to be stored in one of two specific locations.
The paragraph below is extracted from the “Read Me” sheet in the PIGLET
excel workbook.
In order for Excel to find the DLL file, the directory must be set to that
containing Piglet5-1.dll. The simplest way of achieving this is to keep a copy
of this file in the same directory as the Piglet spreadsheet, and to open the
spreadsheet file by going through the full 'File: Open' procedure (not just
double-clicking on the file name). This resets the directory in which Excel
will look for the DLL to the current one. Alternatively, you can store the
DLL in C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office10, which is always
searched, and then can open any PIGLET Excel file by double-clicking on it.
6 Step 1 – Title
This is cell C5 in the “Data” worksheet.

Enter the name of the site and a brief description of the PIGLET run. This
will appear on your input and output summaries.
7 Step 2 - Scope
This is cell C7 in the “Data” sheet in the PIGLET workbook.

Enter a ‘1’, ‘2’ or ‘3’ based on the choices below:
1 Vertical load only.
With this option PIGLET only considers the vertical loads, and
takes no account of moments or lateral loads that are either
entered in the loads section or might be induced by the position of
the coordinate origin.
2 Vertical and Horizontal Loading in Single Plane.
This option allows the input of moment and lateral loads in the x-z
plane only. No account is made for moments or lateral loads in the
y-z plane that are either entered in the loads section or might be
induced by the position of the coordinate origin.
3 General 3 dimensional loading.

5 of 25
This is stated as 6 degrees of freedom, that is forces P x, Py and Pz,

and moments Mx to z, My to z and Tx to y.
IF IN DOUBT USE SCOPE 3 – OR ASK
8 Step 3 – Soil Details
This is cells C10 to C15 in the “Data” worksheet.

PLEASE NOTE: The excel version of PIGLET uses different algorithms
to the DOS version; so different values of soil parameters are required.
PIGLET adopts a linear stress strain relationship for the soil. This means
that the load settlement curve for the piles is a straight line. This affects
how soil parameters are derived.
PIGLET requires the soil’s vertical and lateral shear moduli, as it varies over
the pile length, and the soil’s poison’s ratio.
There are four basic methods to estimate these soil parameters, which are
in order of preference:
1. From preliminary pile tests on the site.
2. From Stent data base of previous PIGLET parameters in similar soils.
3. From the site investigation in-situ and laboratory test results.
4. From the PIGLET manual.
Appendix C gives guidelines on these methods.
Appendix D gives details of information needed to add to the Stent data
base.
9 Step 4 – Pile Details
This is cells C18 to C23 in the “Data” worksheet.

The free standing length is the length of pile between the underside of the
pile cap and the soil that is providing restraint.
Typically this will be zero; however a value may be ascribed where
1 Underside of cap is above ground level (e.g. mooring buoys)
2 Very soft soil exists near surface that will not contribute to pile
restraint.
3 There is a desire to model soil that shrinks away from the pile near
the surface.
Young’s Modulus for the pile is specified for the free standing length, and
the embedded pile (this to allow for change in pile section above ground

6 of 25
surface or a sleeved length through soft soil), for vertical and lateral
responses.
Appendix E details values of Young’s modulus relative to concrete cube or
cylinder strength.
Finally cell C23 requires piles to be pinned or fixed into the pile cap.
Typically where the pile layout is two dimensional and the piles are
reinforced into the cap with steel spaced in two dimensions then the piles
are “fixed”. For other situations {(one dimensional layout and/ or reinforced
with a central bar(s)} the piles are “free”. See Appendix F for diagramatic
examples.
10 Step 5 – Loading Cases – Loads / Deflections
This is cells C27 to H46 in the “Data” worksheet.

You can specify loads OR deflections that are imposed on the cap, for the
purposes of this section we will refer to loads only.
Up to 20 load cases can be specified.
Remember loads must be specified at the point of origin of the axes; that is
where (x,y,z) = (0,0,0). The value z of the origin must be coincidental with
underside of pile cap. Refer to Appendix B for details on how to transfer
loads.
The cap is assumed rigid EXCEPT for scope 1 (see section 7) – vertical
loading only, where loads can be specified at the head of each pile.
11 Step 6 – Loading Cases – Loading Type
This is cells I27 to I46 in the “Data” worksheet.

This is the “loading type”, it is where you tell PIGLET how you want the cap
analysed. There are a number of choices.
11.1 Vertical Load only

If you are considering vertical load only (that is scope 1 in step 2 section 7
above), then type
1 For Loads applied to a rigid cap
2 For deflections imposed on a rigid cap
3 For loads applied to individual piles (Fully flexible cap)
4 For deflections imposed on individual piles (Fully flexible cap)

7 of 25
For a fully flexible cap (items 3 and 4) the loads or deflections for each pile
are allocated for each load case in the Pile Group data section, see section
12.
11.2 For laterally Loaded Piles

If you are considering lateral loads (that is scopes 2 or 3 in step 2 section 7
above), then type
1 For loads
2 For Deflections
3 For Vertical, Horizontal and Torsional Loads applied to a rigid cap
but with zero cap rotation permitted.
11.3 For Limiting Pile Load

It is possible to specify the maximum load any particular pile can carry, once
the iteration process reaches this load no additional load is allocated to that
pile. This option applies to laterally loaded caps, (that is scopes 2 or 3 in step
2 section 7 above). The limiting pile load is specified in the pile group
geometry data, see section 12 below.
In order to follow this design process type
-1 For Loads applied to the cap.
-2 For Deflections imposed on the cap.
-3 For Vertical, Horizontal and Torsional Loads applied to a rigid cap
but with zero cap rotation permitted.
12 Step 7 - Pile Group Geometry
This is cells C51 to AE550 in the “Data” worksheet.

You are allowed up to 500 piles!!
Columns C and D are pile shaft and base diameters, (DOS version used to ask
for radii).
Columns E and F are the x and y coordinates, remember that PIGLET y axis
is across the page and x axis up. Also the coordinates origin (x,y,z) = (0,0,0)
must be the point of load application. Refer to Appendix B for details on how
to transfer coordinates.
Column G is the embedded length - that is the length of pile between the
underside of the free length and the toe, this can be different for each pile,

8 of 25
however in groups where pile lengths differ by more than a factor of 4

results should be regarded with circumspection.
Columns H and I give the rake of the piles in the x to z and y to z planes
respectively, these are angles measured from the z axis in radians positive
implying a pile lying between x and z (or y and z).
Columns J and K are named “profile switches”. These apply to Scopes 2 and 3
only, and allow the programme output to be varied. If they are set to
0 Or blank - the programme computes pile head loads and
deflections.
1 The programme computes moment profiles down the pile.
2 The programme computes moment and deflection profiles
down the pile.
Please note that the output is the moment (or deflection) profile in one
plane, either x-z or y-z, thus they are not necessarily the maximum.
Note also that these are the lateral deflection profiles are the free field
lateral deflections, as such they do not allow for interaction between other
piles.
Columns L to AE are used for individual pile loads or deflection data as

follows:
Where a fully flexible cap is specified, Scope 1, Load Type 2 or 4
then the individual pile loads or deflections are entered in each
column for each load case.
Where lateral loads are present, Scopes 2 or 3, Load Types -1, -2,
-3 the limiting individual maximum pile load can be set in these
columns.

9 of 25
APPENDIX A - ASSUMPTIONS
A1 Cap is Rigid
PIGLET assumes that the pile cap is completely rigid, that is any pile
deflection is proportional to its distance from the rotation axis.
Absolutely
Straight
Figure A1 – Deflection of a rigid cap
In reality the pile cap will deflect under loads to some degree, an
exaggerated effect of cap flexibility is given below.
Deflected
Figure A2 – Exaggerated deflection of a normal cap
A2 Cap is Fully Flexible
When a fully flexible cap is specified, PIGLET completely ignores any effect
of the pile cap, hence loads must be given as vertical loads at the piles
themselves. Any load specified in section “Load Cases” is ignored.
Note settlement will be induced in the piles surrounding the pile being
loaded, even if they themselves are not loaded: see Figure A3 overleaf.

10 of 25
Load Specified for each pile
Figure A3 – Deflection of a fully flexible cap
For any pile PIGLET assumes a logarithmic decay of settlement with

distance from the pile, however in a group of piles the neighbouring pile will
provide a reinforcing effect to the soil. PIGLET takes this into account in
the programme.
A3 No Load Transferred From Cap Underside to Ground
PIGLET makes no allowance for the bearing of the pile cap on the ground. In
reality for a cap cast on the ground there will be some transfer of load, this
will have the effect of reducing settlement and pile load, and so it is
conservative to ignore it.
A4 Soil Stress Strain Is Linear
PIGLET adopts a linear relationship between stress and strain for the pile
soil interaction. This means that the relationship between load and
settlement is linear. It is therefore important to consider which part of the
pile behaviour you are trying to model in PIGLET. See Figure A4 overleaf, as
can be seen the PIGLET line would be different if a good correlation were
required at 75% DVL or 100% DVL.

11 of 25
Load Vs Settlement - PIGLET Vs Reality

Load (kN)
0 500 1000 1500 2000
0
1
Settlement (mm)
Reality
3
75% DVL
PIGLET at 75% DVL
4 100% DVL
PIGLET at 100% DVL
Figure A4 – Load Vs Settlement PIGLET and Reality
A5 No Pile Carries More Than Limiting Load (If Set)
The application of a linear response results in very high corner loads. Thus
PIGLET allows a modified linear response whereby the user can specify a
pile’s ‘ultimate’ load. If this is done PIGLET then performs an incremental
elastic analysis until the specified ultimate load is reached on any pile, the
load contribution from that pile is then held at its ultimate load and the
incremental elastic analysis continued. This results in a non-linear group
response.

12 of 25
APPENDIX B - TRANSFER OF COORDINATES AND LOADS
The only rules with regard to coordinates and loads are

- that the loads are applied at the coordinate origin,
- that the loads are applied along the same axes as the coordinates.
- that the load and coordinate axes are as defined in figure 1 in section 3
above.
If the load application point and the coordinate origin are not coincidental,
or if the direction of the coordinate or load axes are different from figure
1, then either or both will need to be transferred.
B1 Coordinates
There are three possibilities see figure B1 below:

Translation – when the new and old axes are in the same direction, just the
centroid has been moved δx and δy is shown in figure B1 below (note that in
this case δz = 0 for clarity).
Rotation – when the new axes point in different direction to the old, but the
origin is at the same point a rotation of φ is shown in figure B1 below.
Both – when the new and old axes point in different directions, and the
centroid has been moved, e.g. rotation of φ and movement of δx and δy is
shown in figure B1 below (δz = 0 for clarity).
x'
x x x' x
x' δy
δy y'
δx
y' φ
y'
φ δx
y y y
TRANSLATION R O T A T I O N B O T H
Figure B1 – Possible changes required to x and y axes
Translation
To translate the x, y and z coordinates to the x’ y’ and z’ coordinates in the
example in figure B1 the value of δx should be subtracted from all the
original x values, and δy should be subtracted from all the original y values.
For examples where δz ≠ 0,
(xi’, yi’, zi’) = (xi - δx, yi – δy, zi – δz)

13 of 25
Rotation
The direction of one axis is taken as being vertical, (the z axis here), thus
this section deals with rotation in one plane only (x-y). Rotation in two planes
is so unlikely that it is not considered here.
To rotate the axes the coordinates are best written in polar form, see
graphical representation in Figure B2 below:
x'
ri
y'
αi
φ
y
Figure B2 – Graphical representation of polar coordinates
(xi, yi) = (ri , αi)

where ri = √ { xi² + yi² }
αi = tan-1[xi / yi]
Note take care to avoid excel errors for values of yi = 0
Then for a rotation of φ the revised polar coordinates become:

ri’ = ri
αi’ = αi - φ
and from these the revised Cartesian coordinates are:
(xi’, yi’) = (ri’ sin[αi’], ri’ cos[αi’])
Both
To perform both operations as follows:
 On the original coordinates perform one operation to arrive at
intermediate coordinates,

14 of 25
 On the intermediate coordinates perform the second operation to

arrive at the final coordinates.
In all of the above the z coordinate has been ignored, however a similar
approach may be used to translate or (extremely unlikely) rotate in
directions that include a z component.
B2 Loads (or deflections)
Loads (or deflections) will usually be specified based on a geometrical

system of three axes at 90 degrees to one another. I will explain the use of
the above word “usually” at the end of this section!
PIGLET allows the user to specify either a set of Loads, or a set of
deflections. For the purposes of these notes only Loads are considered,
however the same principles can be applied to displacements.
Loads [or deflections] are split into two sorts, forces (P) [or displacements
(δ)] and moments (M) [rotations (φ)]. Given the three axes (x,y,z) there are
therefore six values.
For Loads: Px, Py, Pz, My to z, Mx to z, Tx to y
For deflections δx, δy, δz, φy to z, φx to z, φx to y
For the purposes of these notes only Loads are considered, however the
same principles can be applied to displacements.
PIGLET requires the loads to be specified at the origin and in the
directions as the set of axes to which the pile coordinates are input.
In essence the methods used to transfer loads are the same as those used
to transfer coordinates; with the additional complication that loads applied
eccentric from the origin will induce moments. Thus considering the three
possibilities, translation, rotation and both:
Px'
Px Px Px' Px
Px'
δy
δy Py'
δx
Py' φ
Py'
φ δx
Py Py Py
TRANSLATION R O T A T I O N B O T H
Figure B3 – Possible changes required to load axes

15 of 25
Translation
To translate the loads from the x, y and z coordinates to the x’, y’ and z’
coordinates in the example in figure B3 the values of P x, Py and Pz remain
unchanged. The effect of the loads being offset from the new centroid will
be to induce additional moment, thus:
My to z’ = My to z + Pz δy
Mx to z’ = Mx to z + Pz δx
Tx to y’ = Tx to y + Py δx - Px δy
Px’ = Px
Py’ = Py
Pz’ = Pz
Rotation
To rotate the load axes the loads (both forces and moments) are best
written in polar form, see graphical representation in Figure B2 overleaf:
(Px, Py) = (Pxy , αP)
where Pxy = √ { Px² + Py²}
αP = tan-1[Px / Py]
Note that care to avoid excel errors for values of Py = 0
(Mx to z, My to z) = (Mxy , αM)
where Mxy = √ { (Mx to z)² + (My to z)²}
αM = tan-1[(Mx to z) / (My to z)]
Note that care to avoid excel errors for values of My to z = 0
Px or Mx to z
Px' or Mx to z'
Pxy or Mxy
Py' or My to z'
αP or
αM φ
Py or My to z
Figure B2 – Graphical representation of polar forces and moments

Then for a rotation of φ the revised polar forces become:
Pxy’ = Pxy
αP’ = αP - φ

16 of 25
and from these the revised Cartesian forces are:

(Px’, Py’) = (Pxy’ sin[αP’], Pxy’ cos[αP’])
similarly the revised polar moments:

Mxy’ = Mxy
αM’ = αM - φ
and from these the revised Cartesian coordinates are:
(Mx to z’, My to z’) = (Mxy’ sin[αM’], Mxy’ cos[αM’])
Both
To perform both operations proceed as follows:
 On the original loads perform one operation (translation or rotation)
to arrive at intermediate loads,
 On the intermediate loads perform the second operation (rotation or
translation) to arrive at the final loads.
“Usually”
It is possible that the loads may be specified on axes that are not at 90
degrees to one another, if this is the case you will have to resolve them into
loads acting on axes at 90 degrees to one another and then into the
directions indicated in figure 1 in section 3.

17 of 25
APPENDIX C - SOIL PARAMETERS
PIGLET (DOS or EXCEL) requires the following soil parameters:

1 Average Poisson’s ratio over pile length, ν.
2 Vertical shear modulus profile (for axial and torsional) loads,
comprising:
2.1 The vertical shear modulus at ground level, Go (>= 0).
2.2 The rate of increase of vertical shear modulus with
depth, m = dG/dz (>= 0).
2.3 The value of shear modulus at pile toe, G b. (noting that
PIGLET will not use a value lower than that calculated
from the linear variation of 2.1 and 2.2 above.)
3 Horizontal shear modulus profile, this is for lateral loads, and since
deformation under lateral load occurs over the upper part of the
pile horizontal shear modulus should be considered over the top 10
pile diameters or so, comprising:
3.1 The horizontal shear modulus at ground level, Gh
(typically 0 but not < 0).
3.2 The rate of increase of horizontal shear modulus with
depth, mh = dGh /dz (>0).
Note:
The shear modulus at the pile toe can be much greater than the
shear modulus implied by Go and m. This is to reflect piles that are
founded in a very stiff stratum.
Where a much stiffer stratum exists below the pile toe at depth h
with shear modulus Gh, the enhanced base stiffness can be
estimated from the following expression:
1 1 Gz=L 1 - e1-h/L
= + 1-
Gb Gh Gh Gz=L
Where Gb = Revised base shear modulus
Gh = Shear Modulus of stiff stratum below toe
L = Length of pile
h = Depth to stiff stratum note h > L
Gz=L = Shear Modulus at toe using Go + m L
PIGLET suggests that this is appropriate for h = 0 to 4L beyond
which the stiff strata will have no effect. As guidance values of
h/L and Gh/Gb are plotted for various ratios of G h/Gz=L, in Figure C1
overleaf. This might help you decide if increasing Gb is appropriate.

18 of 25
Plot of Effect of stiffer strata at depth h on Gb for various Gh/GL
Gb/Gh
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
0
2
h/L
4
100 10 5.0 3.0 2.0 1.5
5
Figure C1 Plot of effect of stiffer strata at depth h on G b for various Gh/GL
As described in section 8 there are four main methods for estimating these
parameters. The methods, in order of preference, are:
C1 Preliminary Pile Tests
If a preliminary pile test is available it is possible to refine the soil

parameters such that the PIGLET results best match the pile test. In doing
this it is important to remember that PIGLET is a linear model and your pile
test is NOT! See figure C2 below.
Load Vs Settlement - PIGLET Vs Reality

Load (kN)
0 500 1000 1500 2000
0
1
Settlement (mm)
Reality
3
75% DVL
PIGLET at 75% DVL
4 100% DVL
PIGLET at 100% DVL
Figure C2 “Real” Pile test result compared to PIGLET results

19 of 25
PLEASE BE VERY AWARE THAT THE PIGLET DOS VERSION USES

DIFFERENT ALGORITHMS TO THE EXCEL VERSION, THERFORE
DIFFERENT SOIL PARAMETERS ARE REQUIRED.
PIGLET DOS
From figure C2 it is apparent that before any refinement of soil parameters
it is necessary to decide exactly what load you are attempting to model. The
full working load would be a conservative approach. However if you are
considering a structure where achieving full load is very unlikely a lower
value may be used. (E.g. at Stratford City we used a value half way between
75% and 100% SWL.)
Once the load has been chosen it is a simple task to modify the soil vertical
shear modulus (start value, gradient and base value) and possibly the
concrete Young’s Modulus until a good fit is achieved.
PIGLET EXCEL
In order to achieve similar results to the DOS version for pile groups it has
been found (at Stratford City) that higher values of soil shear moduli are
required. Below are Mark Randolph’s e-mailed comments on this issue 20 th
March 2008:
“The original DOS version of PIGLET used an approximate approach for analysing vertical pile groups,
which tended to overestimate the stiffness of large pile groups (see Figure 19 of the attached 1994
paper). The new version of PIGLET uses an approach based on published work of Mylonakis and Gazetas
(see my Rankine lecture, Geotechnique 2003), and now approaches an asymptote equivalent to a shallow
raft foundation for very large (or wide) groups. This reduces the pile group stiffness by as much as 25
to 30 % for groups of around 400 piles.
So, the increased settlements are a result of a new kernel algorithm for vertical loading, which I believe
is more accurate than previously. It is probably also worth drawing your attention to a Geotechnique
publication my Mandolini, A. & Viggiani, C. (1997). Settlement of piled foundations Geotechnique 47, No. 4,
791–816, who concluded that measured pile group settlements tended to be predicted best using a G0
value for the shear modulus (i.e. small strain stiffness). I suspect the old version of PIGLET worked OK
by overpredicting stiffness but most designers used medium to large strain modulus values for the soil.
The new version is believed to be more accurate, but for large groups a small(er) strain shear modulus
might be more appropriate.
Apologies for this rather long response, but it is not an easy problem to be really confident with.
Regards
Mark”
The recommendation of Mandolini and Viggiani in their paper “Settlement of

Piled Foundations” published in Geotechnique 47, No. 4, 791-816 is
reproduced below:

20 of 25
“For foundations designed according to the conventional capacity-

based approach, and hence characterised by a relatively high safety
factor, linear and non-linear analyses are essentially equivalent for
the prediction of settlement. They are based on elastic properties of
the subsoil back-figured from the initial stiffness of load tests on
single piles. Some evidence suggests that the low strain shear
modulus, obtained by in situ shear wave velocity measurements, can be
also successfully employed in the prediction of settlement.”
Thus for the Excel PIGLET programme the initial stiffness of the soils
inferred by the first load increment in the pile test should be used. See
Figure C3 below (be careful to ignore seating deformations if apparent.):
Load Vs Settlement - Initial Pile Response PIGLET Vs Reality

Load (kN)
0 100 200 300 400 500
0.0
0.2
Settlement (mm)
0.4
0.6 Reality
PIGLET at 75% DVL
PIGLET at 100% DVL
0.8
Initial Pile Response
1.0
Figure C3 “Real” Pile test result showing grade of initial pile response
C2 From Stent “PIGLET data base”
We are in the process of generating a data base for all pile tests and
PIGLET analyses to relate used and measured parameters to site
investigation data for varying soil types. The hope is that we will arrive at a
position where we can, with better justification, calculate the anticipated
pile settlement and pile group settlement. The reason for this is that the
advice given in the PIGLET manual, (see section C4), appears to be
inaccurate, and is likely to vary for different pile installation types.
See appendix D for information that is required for the data base.

21 of 25
C3 From Site Investigation In-situ and Laboratory Tests
If a site investigation is available then it is likely that it contains as a

minimum Standard Penetration Tests in all materials and undrained shear
strengths in cohesive materials. From these the Young’s Modulus (E) and
Poisson’s ratio (ν) may be estimated, then using the expression:
G = E / (2 [ 1 + ν ])
Note:
It is likely that a non linear variation in Poisson’s ratio and Shear Modulus
will be calculated. Since PIGLET requires a single Poisson’s ratio and a linear
Shear Modulus a best estimate will be necessary. Note that for the vertical
Shear Modulus the estimate should encompass all the values except any
exceptionally high values near the toe. For the lateral Shear Modulus the
estimate should only include the values within say the top 10 pile diameters,
and should be 0 or close to 0 at the top.
C4 From The PIGLET Manual
There are some recommendations given in the PIGLET manual, they are as
follows:
For cohesive soils
For vertical loads 200 ≤ G/su ≤ 400
For lateral loads 100 ≤ G/su ≤ 200
For Granular soils
Randolph: G = N MPa
Wroth et al: G = 4 N0.77 MPa
Below the water table the shear modulus increases at 1 to 5 MPa/m
for loose to dense sand.
In soft rocks the effects of pile installation must be taken into account,
refer to Wakeling 1970 and Randoph and Wroth 1978b.
See “Note” in section C3.

22 of 25
APPENDIX D - INFORMATION NEEDED FOR DATA BASE
The value of shear modulus attained from some recent preliminary pile tests
have proved to be greater than the upper bound suggested by the Piglet
manual.
For this reason it is necessary to develop our own advice based on actual site
experience.
Therefore for any preliminary pile test the following data should be
recorded:
Pile type: CFA; LDP (dry, polymer, bentonite); Driven
Pile size: Pile cross sectional dimensions, and length
Pile strata: Summary of soils over twice pile length (if possible)
SPT/Cu: Plots for area of pile test
Shear Modulus: Back calculated shear modulus, Go, m and Gb for DOS
Shear Modulus: Back calculated shear modulus, Go, m and Gb for Excel
Comparison: Of results of group analysis using DOS and Excel

23 of 25
APPENDIX E - CONCRETE YOUNG’S MODULUS
The concrete Young’s Modulus can be related to the characteristic 28 day

concrete cube and cylinder strength. Data is taken from British standards
and is summarised below:
BS8110-1: 1997 Structural use of concrete – Part 1: Code of practice for

design and construction
Figure 2.1 gives Ec = 5.5 √{fcu / γm}
Where Ec = Short term Youngs Modulus
Fcu = Characteristic 28 day cube strength
γm = Concrete material factor
= 1.5 is the ULS value for concrete in
flexure or axial load (table 2.2)
Clause 2.4.2.4 gives Poisson’s Ratio for concrete as 0.2.
Further information is available on
SLS value of γm in 3.2 of BS8110-2:1985
Creep and Shrinkage (Ec long term) in section 7 of BS8110-2:1985
BS5400 : Part 4 : 1990 Steel, concrete and composite bridges Part 4. Code
of practice for design of concrete bridges.
Table 35 gives:
Characteristic Strength Static Modulus
Cube Cylinder Mean Range
20 16 25 21 to 29
25 20 26 22 to 30
30 25 28 23 to 33
35* 28* 29* 24* to 34*
40 32 31 26 to 36
45* 36* 32* 27* to 38*
50 40 34 28 to 40
60 50* 36 30 to 42
* Interpolated values
Further information is available on
Creep and Shrinkage (Ec long term) in Appendix C BS5400 : Part 4 :
1990

24 of 25
APPENDIX F - FIXED AND FREE HEAD PILES
Typically where the pile layout is two dimensional and the piles are
reinforced into the cap with steel spaced in two dimensions then the piles
are “fixed”. For other situations {(one dimensional layout and/or reinforced
with a central bar(s)} the piles are “free”.
Examples are illustrated below:
Figure F1 – Example of “Fixed Head” Piles
Figure F2 – Example of “Free Head” Piles

25 of 25

Excel Piglet Manual

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Excel Piglet Manual

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Excel Piglet Manual

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Technical Note No 13 PIGLET EXCEL MANUAL REV 00

Stent Foundations Ltd

Technical Note No 13 – PIGLET (Excel) Manual

Copyright Balfour Beatty

Copyright Balfour Beatty

To use this manual follow the sections through, sections 1 to 5 describe

Good luck, here goes!!

PIGLET is a programme that analyses the response of piles, to the

The axes that PIGLET uses are of fundamental importance.

Copyright Balfour Beatty

Important aspects to note are that:

Copyright Balfour Beatty

This is cell C5 in the “Data” worksheet.

This is cell C7 in the “Data” sheet in the PIGLET workbook.

Copyright Balfour Beatty

This is stated as 6 degrees of freedom, that is forces P x, Py and Pz,

8 Step 3 – Soil Details

This is cells C10 to C15 in the “Data” worksheet.

9 Step 4 – Pile Details

This is cells C18 to C23 in the “Data” worksheet.

Copyright Balfour Beatty

10 Step 5 – Loading Cases – Loads / Deflections

This is cells C27 to H46 in the “Data” worksheet.

11 Step 6 – Loading Cases – Loading Type

This is cells I27 to I46 in the “Data” worksheet.

11.1 Vertical Load only

Copyright Balfour Beatty

11.2 For laterally Loaded Piles

11.3 For Limiting Pile Load

12 Step 7 - Pile Group Geometry

This is cells C51 to AE550 in the “Data” worksheet.

Copyright Balfour Beatty

however in groups where pile lengths differ by more than a factor of 4

Columns L to AE are used for individual pile loads or deflection data as

Copyright Balfour Beatty

Figure A1 – Deflection of a rigid cap

Figure A2 – Exaggerated deflection of a normal cap

A2 Cap is Fully Flexible

Copyright Balfour Beatty

Load Specified for each pile

Figure A3 – Deflection of a fully flexible cap

For any pile PIGLET assumes a logarithmic decay of settlement with

A3 No Load Transferred From Cap Underside to Ground

A4 Soil Stress Strain Is Linear

Copyright Balfour Beatty

Load Vs Settlement - PIGLET Vs Reality

Figure A4 – Load Vs Settlement PIGLET and Reality

A5 No Pile Carries More Than Limiting Load (If Set)

Copyright Balfour Beatty

APPENDIX B - TRANSFER OF COORDINATES AND LOADS

The only rules with regard to coordinates and loads are

There are three possibilities see figure B1 below:

Figure B1 – Possible changes required to x and y axes

Copyright Balfour Beatty

Figure B2 – Graphical representation of polar coordinates

(xi, yi) = (ri , αi)

Then for a rotation of φ the revised polar coordinates become:

Copyright Balfour Beatty

 On the intermediate coordinates perform the second operation to