Current Limitations and Challenges of Driven Piles in Rock as Demonstrated Using Three Case Studies in Wyoming

Ng, Kam; Yasrobi, Seyed Yashar; Sullivan, Todd

doi:10.1061/9780784479087.048

Cited by 9 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…Unfortunately, a static load test was not performed to validate these observations. Table 2 summarises the pile performance acceptances for the two case studies described in this paper and the three case studies described by Ng et al (2015) using either Weap or Capwap as the construction control method. A pile performance is accepted when the factored pile resistance is greater than the required factored load.…”

Section: Analytical Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Motivated by the challenges faced by WYDOT on steel H-piles driven on rock and IGM, detailed pile analyses of two case studies along with three case studies conducted by Ng et al (2015) were used to illustrate the limitations of current pile design and construction control procedures. It is envisioned that this paper will facilitate research on piles driven on rock.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This incurs additional construction duration and cost, which could create conflicts between owners and piling contractors. A recent study on three case studies of steel H-piles on soft rocks by Ng et al (2015) concluded that current static analysis methods, originally developed for soil, provided inconsistent and potentially conservative geotechnical resistance estimations of a driven pile on soft rock. Hence, it is important to establish methods to distinguish rock materials for driven pile design and construction as well as develop methods to predict better the resistances of piles driven on soft rocks.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Case studies to demonstrate challenges of driven piles on rock

Sullivan

2017

Geotechnical Research

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2In Wyoming, pile foundations for bridges are often driven on rock materials because of the state's shallow bedrock stratigraphy. Unfortunately, no static analysis methods are currently available for estimating the resistance of these driven piles. In this paper, two recently completed bridge projects (the Owl Creek and Woods Wardell sites) on steel H-piles in Wyoming are explicitly presented, and data from three past projects are included to highlight the limited knowledge and challenges pertaining to the present design and construction practices. Static analysis methods were used to estimate the geotechnical resistances of these piles. The wave equation analysis program and the case pile wave analysis program were used to verify their performances during construction. Structural capacities of these piles were also calculated. The results of the studies show that the static analysis methods and structural analyses yield inconsistent pile resistance estimations. Recommendations in terms of pile bracing and embedded pile length are proposed to predict better the resistances of piles on soft rock. NotationA g cross-sectional area of a pile F y minimum yield strength of a steel pile K effective length factor L unbraced pile length P e elastic critical buckling resistance P n nominal structural capacity of a pile P o equivalent nominal yield resistance Q applied load q u uniaxial compressive strength R nominal pile resistance R p nominal end bearing R s nominal side resistance r s radius of gyration about the axis normal to the place of buckling g load factor f resistance factor y slender element reduction factor IntroductionThe shallow bedrock stratigraphy in Wyoming, USA results in steel H-piles with a high driving durability on rock often being used as the foundation system to support bridges in the state. Driven steel H-piles are preferred over drilled shafts because of the local availability of steel pile materials, driving equipment and experienced contractors. Also, for a moderate structure load of a typical bridge in Wyoming, the driven steel pile system is more cost-effective than the drilled shaft foundation system. The total axial resistance of these piles consists of a combination of side resistance and end bearing. To attain the required capacity, particularly in a soft overburden soil, the pile would have to rely on its resistance on a stiff rock or intermediate geomaterials (IGMs) Aashto's LRFD bridge design specificationsRecommendations for piles driven on rock suggested by the AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications (Aashto, 2014) are described as follows.(a) The resistance of a pile driven on soft rock shall be determined in the same manner as soil (article 10.7.3.2.2). The resistance factors of the static analysis methods and dynamic methods for driven piles are summarised in article 10.5.5.2.3. (b) Piles driven in hard rock shall be governed by the structural limit state described in article 6.9.4.1. The structural compressive resistance of a pile shall be considered as the smallest value bas...

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Section: Analytical Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Case studies to demonstrate challenges of driven piles on rock

Sullivan

2017

Geotechnical Research

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“…Pile resistances estimated using the signalmatching method from the CAse Pile Wave Analysis Program (CAPWAP) vary significantly with the resistances predicted using existing SA methods for driven piles in IGMs (3). Additionally, it has been observed that the pile resistances predicted for IGMs using current SA approaches vary from those found by dynamic load testing (DLT) (11)(12)(13). The prediction of pile resistances in soft rocks using twenty static pile load trials did not yield any applicable prediction equations, either (3).…”

mentioning

confidence: 94%

“…Thus, the design of driven piles in IGMs is commonly conducted using current Static Analysis (SA) methods developed for soil. If IGM is treated as soil, construction concerns, such as early pile refusal and pile breakage, might occur because of a lack of suitable design approaches and static pile load test data ( 11 ). The results of an investigation by Ng and Sullivan on fifteen steel piles driven into IGMs in Wyoming revealed that the current SA techniques designed for soils produced inconsistent and conservative predictions of geotechnical resistances ( 12 ).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of Static Load Test Systems for Driven Piles in Intermediate GeoMaterials

Masud

Oluwatuyi

et al. 2023

Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation R

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The driven pile designs in intermediate geomaterials (IGMs) entail relatively significant levels of uncertainty because of the transitional properties of IGMs between soil and hard rock. The performance and acceptability of driven piles in IGMs are typically evaluated using dynamic load test (DLT) approaches. Even though dynamic techniques have significant technological and financial advantages, a static pile load test (SLT) is required to comprehend the static behavior of driven piles in IGMs. This study presents three distinct SLT systems (independent, integrated, and innovative) that are performed on steel H-piles driven in IGMs in Iowa, Wyoming, and Colorado, respectively. Test pile 2 (TP2) is driven into siltstone in Wyoming, whereas test pile 1 (TP1) and test pile 3 (TP3) are driven into shale in Iowa and Colorado, respectively. DLTs are conducted using Wave Equation Analysis Program (WEAP) and Pile Driving Analyzer (PDA) with a signal-matching analysis utilizing the Case Pile Wave Analysis Program (CAPWAP). The ultimate pile resistances are evaluated using six distinct failure criteria. According to the Davisson criterion, TP1 has the ultimate pile resistance of 305 kips, which is 11% and 2% less than the CAPWAP and WEAP analyses, respectively. For TP2, ultimate pile resistances based on all SLT criteria are higher than that from the DLTs, except for the 5%B criterion with ultimate pile resistance at 7% lower than CAPWAP. It is evident from TP3 that the ultimate resistances acquired from SLTs are higher than the resistances obtained from dynamic analysis.

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Reliability-based design improvement and prediction of steel driven pile resistances in rock-based intermediate geomaterials

Masud

Kalauni

et al. 2023

Acta Geotech.

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Current Limitations and Challenges of Driven Piles in Rock as Demonstrated Using Three Case Studies in Wyoming

Cited by 9 publications

References 5 publications

Case studies to demonstrate challenges of driven piles on rock

Case studies to demonstrate challenges of driven piles on rock

Evaluation of Static Load Test Systems for Driven Piles in Intermediate GeoMaterials

Reliability-based design improvement and prediction of steel driven pile resistances in rock-based intermediate geomaterials

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