Abstract: The prestressed high-strength concrete pipe pile (PHC) has the advantages of high strength, good bending performance and high single pile axial capacity, which is suitable for subsurface conditions. It also has short construction duration and less impact on the adjacent environment. This paper presents a case of pile type selection for a high-rise building complex in Shanghai soft soils. The subsurface conditions under the project area were evaluated and pile bearing stratum was selected based on field geotechnical investigations and laboratory tests. Both advantages and disadvantages of installing PHC pile and cast-in-situ concrete pile to be applied in this project are presented in the paper. Based on the analysis, the axial analysis of both types of piles were satisfactory but the selection of the PHC pile was more appropriate.

Key words: foundation project in soft soils, pipe pile installations, PHC pipe pile