Pile foundations are provided for structures, where soil at the top layers possesses low bearing capacity. A comprehensive understanding of pile foundation located in liquefiable soils is a key requirement to enable designer to arrive at an economic design and for safe performance of structure during its intended service life. The failure of various structures on pile foundation system in liquefied soil subjected to earthquake load shows limitation of present methodologies available for design. Hence, study of pile foundations in liquefiable soil under earthquake loading attracted attention of researchers over many years. In addition, many governing factors, as compiled by researchers during analysis and design of pile foundation in liquefiable soils, need to be critically analysed. Therefore, in present paper comparative aspects of various issues addressed by different researchers are presented. It briefs about various International Codes followed in design and analysis. This review article also provides analytical study/numerical model developments, and experimental works performed by various researchers with an effort to bring out the progress in analysis and design. The current paper also discussed various behavioural issues, design aspects, recommendations by researchers dealing with proablems of pile foundation considering liquefaction condition of soil and some exemplary cases.

To study the dynamic responses of a civil engineering structure, shake table tests and centrifuge tests are more commonly used. Due to various limitations, sometimes it is not possible to carry out the required tests on original structures, but it becomes inevitable to perform experiments by changing the scale (scaled up or reduced scale) in a model from the prototype. The geometrical shape and materials of the scaled model may be different from the prototype. In the present study, a detailed presentation is made about the design philosophy, limitations, advantages of shake table tests, as well as centrifuge tests. It is also detailed that the principles and approaches used in the development of the model in the scaled format of a prototype. Stepwise, it is illustrated the development of a scaled model, extrapolating the results in a prototype. The present paper will be useful to researchers performing dynamic experiments using shake table tests or centrifuge tests with a scaled model.

In the present study, the response of the pile foundation subject to seismic load in both non-liquefied and liquefied soil is investigated by developing a mathematical code. Further, the response of pile foundation is compared for both the cases of soils. It is observed from the results that the responses of pile foundation are different in both cases. It is also observed from pile response that pile embedded in liquefiable soil warrants more attention. Therefore, the evaluation of the liquefaction potential of soil is very much essential before planning of construction of any important facility or structure. Hence, in the present study, a mathematical code is also developed to evaluate the liquefaction potential of soils. A parametric study is also carried out for pile foundation in liquefied soils using developed code. During an evaluation of liquefaction potential of soil at any depth using the methods available in the literature, the amax (maximum acceleration) at ground level is used. In the present study, a method is also proposed to evaluate the liquefaction potential of soil considering the actual acceleration of soil at the depth of concern and including the soil properties, site parameters that are responsible for soil acceleration amplification.

In the present study, the shake table tests were performed to investigate the amplification behaviour of cohesion-less soil column. The soil columns were subjected to dynamic load of sinusoidal base excitation with varying the frequencies and amplitudes. In the experimental setup, a scale-down model was designed consisting of four aluminium piles with pile cap, embedded in the soil sample. Three accelerometers were placed in different depths inside the soil column and one was placed at pile cap. It was observed that the acceleration responses of soil got amplified in upward direction in the soil column. The response of acceleration at pile cap level also got amplified in comparison with the base excitation due to soil-pile-structure interactions. However, it is observed that the amplification of acceleration responses depends upon the frequencies and amplitude of the base excitations. Additionally, in order to observe the amplification characteristics of soils, the simulation study using DEEPSOIL software tool for a selected site with an analogous case study was performed.

Numerical optimization techniques are used widely for different engineering fields. But there are limited applications of this method in geotechnical engineering. However in this study, topology optimization of pile foundation for different site conditions and loading conditions is obtained through a finite element (FE) analysis study. The suitable topology of piles in foundation system offering minimum internal energy, i.e. maximum stiffness for a given fraction of material is studied. The study is also enhanced to the piles which are located in the soils prone to liquefaction. In the present study, the design methodology for cost optimization of construction of a pile group with a raft foundation is also presented through a case study. In the optimization algorithm, the raft dimensions, no of piles, pile diameter, pile length are taken as the design variables.

Pile foundation is considered as a suitable and best foundation system at the site with the top stratum of soils possessing comparatively lower bearing capacity with respect to intended loads. It is also recommended at the site where soils possess susceptibly liquefaction potential (liquefaction prone site). In the present paper, it is studied various challenges encountered during the design and construction of pile foundations in non-liquefiable and liquefiable soils. It is also presented various suitable, appropriate, feasible and technically acceptable solutions adopted to overcome the same. In the present work, it is also investigated various suitable methodologies adopted for the construction of pile foundations considering site condition and size of projects. It is also briefed the engineering measures adopted at liquefaction prone site for pile foundation, ground improvements and liquefaction mitigation techniques. Various codes and their guidelines for construction, testing of pile foundation also briefed. It is observed, evaluation of various soil properties from the geotechnical investigation, evaluation of liquefaction potential of soil is very essential before selecting the appropriate pile foundation system and design the same in non-liquefiable and liquefiable soil. Suitable construction methodology also very essential to accomplish the execution of pile foundation safely, meeting desired quality and within the required time frame.

Prior to construction of important civil engineering structure at sea bank or offshore location, it is essential to perform geotechnical investigations. It helps obtaining various geotechnical parameters used in analysis, design, and construction. It is commonly observed, soils near beaches or offshore locations possess lower bearing capacity, prone to liquefaction and structures exposed to waterfront condition. Hence, if any structure is planned, pile foundations are commonly recommended. In the present paper, geotechnical investigation is presented of a selected site planed for construction of onshore and offshore structures. Further, various engineering soil parameters are evaluated from it. Liquefaction potential of soils evaluated adopting methods available in literatures. In the present paper, the considerations followed during design of pile foundations supporting offshore structures considering liquefaction of soils are presented. Also, site amplification studies have been carried out for the selected site using DEEPSOIL software.