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Nomenclature

Symbol Description
\(A_b\) area of pile base
\(A_s\) area of shaft surface
\(B\) pile diameter
\(c_u\) undrained cohesion at the pile toe
\(c_{u\text{, avg}}\) average undrained cohesion of soil layer
\(c_{u\text{, inc}}\) undrained cohesion increment with depth
\(C\) correlation constant for custom weak rock model
\({FS}_b\) factor of safety for tip resistance (default 3.0)
\({FS}_s\) factor of safety for skin friction (default 2.5)
\(h_\text{penet.}\) depth of penetration into the layer
\(j\) mass factor (function of RQD, see Rock Tomlinson method)
\(K\) coefficient of lateral earth pressure
\(N_c\) bearing capacity factor for cohesive soils
\(N_q\) bearing capacity factor for granular soils (function of shear resistance angle, see Table 1)
\(N_\text{SPT}\) standard penetration test blow count
\(p_a\) atmospheric pressure (101.325 kPa or 2116.217 psf)
\(Q_a\) allowable bearing capacity
\(Q_b\) ultimate tip resistance
\(q_b\) ultimate unit tip resistance
\(Q_s\) ultimate skin friction
\(q_s\) ultimate unit skin friction
\(Q_u\) ultimate bearing capacity
\(\text{RQD}\) rock quality designation (%)
\(W\) effective pile weight
\(\alpha\) factor of adhesion (for cohesive soils and weak rock)
\(\beta\) socket correction factor (Rock Tomlinson method)
\(\phi'\) effective angle of internal friction for the soil layer
\(\sigma_c\) uniaxial compressive strength of the weak rock
\(\sigma_v'\) vertical effective stress at the pile toe
\(\sigma_{v \text{, avg}}'\) average vertical effective stress along the layer
\(\xi\) uplift coefficient (default 0.8)