Comparative Analysis of Driven Pile Bearing Capacity Based on Pile Driving Analyzer Test Results and Settlement Evaluation of the Berawa Hotel Project

Ratna Santika (Department of Civil Engineering, Warmadewa University, Bali, Indonesia)
I Wayan Ariyana Basoka (Department of Civil Engineering, Warmadewa University, Bali, Indonesia)
Ida Ayu Cri Vinantya Laksmi (Department of Civil Engineering, Warmadewa University, Bali, Indonesia)

RESWARA: Jurnal Riset Ilmu Teknik
Vol. 4 No. 4 (2026): RESWARA: Jurnal Riset Ilmu Teknik, October 2026

Bearing capacity and settlement are fundamental parameters in foundation design, as inaccurate estimations can trigger excessive or differential settlement. Although Standard Penetration Test (SPT) empirical methods are widely used in practice, their predictive accuracy varies depending on site-specific ground conditions. This study evaluated the applicability of five SPT-based empirical methods (Meyerhof, Poulos and Davis, U.S. Army Corps, Coyle and Castello, and Kulhawy) for driven pile foundations in sandy gravel soil at the Berawa Hotel project site. Empirical predictions were compared against Pile Driving Analyzer (PDA) test results and finite element analysis using PLAXIS 3D. The Coyle and Castello method provided the closest empirical agreement to the field PDA test (Q_"ult" =173.00" tons" ), predicting an ultimate bearing capacity of 213.74" tons"  (23.55% relative difference). PLAXIS 3D further refined this estimate to 199.76" tons"  (15.47% relative difference). For total settlement (13.15" mm"  measured via PDA), predictions were 6.94" mm"  for Coyle and Castello and 4.28" mm"  for PLAXIS 3D. Among the empirical approaches evaluated, Coyle and Castello is the most reliable for bearing capacity estimation in this soil profile, while PLAXIS 3D serves as a robust numerical tool for verifying overall foundation performance.