Wind Effects on Foundations of Silos and Light Structures: Solution by Use of Steel Piles in Diabasic Soil

Abstract

Wind solicitations generate horizontal, tensile, and compressive stresses on building foundations. In empty light structures, such as agricultural greenhouses and, in the specific case of silos and elevated structures such as metal water tanks, the consideration of these loads becomes important because the lack of the weight component due to the storage load significantly influences the balance of forces. This study focused on the behavior of metallic steel profiles, aiming at its application as a foundation element for the pile, considering the soil of Diabasic origin common to the Center-South region of Brazil. Load tests in real scale were carried out on three steel profiles, type I, gauge W 250 mm x 32.7 kg m-1 , drilled in the ground up to 12m deep by means of a pile driver. One steel profile was submitted to lateral loading, another to vertical compressive loading, and the other to vertical tensile load. Test results determined the bearing load of the pile for each loading type, calculated the soil reaction coefficient for lateral loading, and verified the applicability of load capacity prediction methods to tensile and compressive strengths of piles, commonly used in foundation projects.