_Applied_  
_sciences_  
_Insights into Plugging of Pipe Piles Based on Pile Dimensions_  
**[PERSON]**\({}^{\copyright}\) **and [PERSON]**\({}^{\copyright}\)  
Civil and Urban Engineering Department, Tandon School of Engineering, New York University,  
New York, NY 11201, USA; [PERSON]L_ADDRESS]  
\({}^{\star}\) Correspondence: [PERSON]DDRESS]  
**Abstract:** Preliminary identification of plugging of open-ended pipe piles based on their dimensions, ahead of driving, is explored in this study using data analytics. Piles can be unplugged, plugged, or internally plugged, depending on their dimensions, and geotechnical conditions. Plugging of pipe piles influences both pile capacity and driving behavior; however, the classification assumed at the design time does not always manifest during driving, sometimes resulting in driving difficulties. The relationship between pile plugging and pile dimensions was investigated using a dataset of 74 load tests on pipe piles, where geotechnical profiles were also available. An analytics approach borrowed from data science was adopted. First, capacity was computed using four recognized designed methods considering the unplugged, plugged, and internally plugged conditions. Next, the calculated capacities were compared to capacities measured (interpreted) from static load tests. Finally, voting was employed to identify plugging based on the closeness of the computed capacity assumptions to the interpreted capacity. Most piles were found to be unplugged. A diameter criterion is proposed as a tool to give early insight into the plugging condition of a pile ahead of driving which resulted in a 70 \(\pm\) 10% accuracy. The proposed criterion was validated once using a dataset of 23 piles with CPT data and a second time using 24 published driving records where plugging records were available and achieved similar accuracy, in both cases. It was concluded that piles larger than \(\sim\)0.9 m (36 inches) in diameter have a higher likelihood of being unplugged, while piles smaller than 0.5 m (20 inches) have a higher likelihood of being plugged. deep foundation; resistance; L/D ratio; length; diameter; data-driven decisions; data science; data analytics  
**1. Introduction**  
Pipe piles are routinely used to support a variety of structures ranging from residential and commercial structures to infrastructure projects. As a result, and due to the vast differences in soil conditions, these piles are used with a wide range of diameters and lengths. During installation of open-ended pipe piles, initially, the pile penetrates the soil in a _coring_ mode where the soil enters the pile at an equal or higher rate to the rate of pile penetration. As penetration advances, the pile may become plugged if the soil core inside the pile develops ample frictional resistance along the inner pile wall, impeding further soil incursion inside the pile. Technically, the soil _core_ is typically referred to as a \"_plug\"_ only when it is wedged against the pile, thus preventing any additional soil entry into the pile. Unfortunately, the term plug has often been used to refer to the core regardless of its state during installation [1]. The driving response of piles is affected by the plugging condition [2], which makes their dynamic analyses more intricate [3]; however, plugging is perhaps more crucial since it directly contributes to the end bearing capacity of the pile. In addition, plugged piles displace more soil than unplugged piles, which consequently increases the effective stresses around the pile [4], thus indirectly contributing to the shaft capacity. Generally, the majority of piles that experience plugging during static loading do not plug during driving [5]. This could be attributed to a combination of an increase in the bearing capacity factor, \(Nq\), over its static value due to inertial effects [6]; moreover, [PERSON] et al. [7] claimed that the internal and external friction of a driven pile is mobilized intermittently during penetration, and therefore, the soil core advances up the pile.