As part of the GEOLAB project, the Institute of Geotechnics of TU Darmstadt is calling geotechnical engineers from industry and academia to participate in an international Blind Prediction Contest (BPC) on the response of piles under monotonic and cyclic lateral loading. Two separate tests will be performed on a hollow open-ended steel pile embedded in dry sand. One test under monotonic loading and the other under quasi-static cyclic loading with more than 10,000 loading cycles.

The sand has been extensively characterised with laboratory tests, including monotonic (drained and undrained) and cyclic triaxial tests.  In addition, a standard Cone Penetration Test will be performed to characterise the sand condition in depth after compaction. All the produced data will be made available for the participants with the opening of the event on 6 May 2024.

Contestant teams can submit predictions for both tests or for the monotonic test only. All prediction methods are welcome.

General information on the tests and the BPC is made available in the event webpage.

More detailed information will be published with the opening of the event on 6 May 2024.

Stay tuned for updates by subscribing to our mailing list in the BPC website.