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

Masud, Nafis Bin; Ng, Kam; Kalauni, Harish K.; Wulff, Shaun S.

doi:10.1007/s11440-023-01909-1

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 31 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The design and construction of bridge foundations are difficult and challenging due to significant geological variability and a need for standardized definitions of IGM [6]. The lack of dependable design methodologies and measured IGM characteristics hindered reliable prediction of geotechnical resistance of driven piles in IGMs [7][8][9][10][11].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Improved Wave Equation Analysis for Piles in Soil-Based Intermediate Geomaterials with LRFD Recommendations and Economic Impact Assessment

Kalauni,

Masud,

et al. 2024

Geotechnics

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The Wave Equation Analysis of Pile Driving (WEAP) has been widely used to determine drivability, predict static resistance, and assure the integrity of piles in soils. Assigning static and dynamic properties of Soil-based Intermediate Geomaterials (S-IGMs) remains a challenge in WEAP, partly attributed to IGMs that act as transition geomaterials between soil and hard rock. Furthermore, reliable static analysis methods for unit resistance predictions are rarely available for driven piles in S-IGMs in the default WEAP method. To alleviate these challenges, this study presents improved WEAP methods for steel piles driven in S-IGMs, including proposed damping parameters and Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) recommendations based on newly developed static analysis methods and the classification of S-IGMs. A back calculation approach is used to generate the appropriate damping parameters for S-IGMs for three distinct subsurface conditions utilizing a database of 34 steel H- and pipe piles. Newly developed WEAP and LRFD procedures are also recommended. Additional independent 22 test pile data are used to compare and evaluate the accuracy and efficiency of the proposed WEAP methods with the default WEAP method. Compared with the default WEAP, bearing graph analysis results revealed that the selected proposed WEAP method, on average, reduces the underprediction of pile resistances by 6% and improves the reliability with a 43% reduction in the coefficient of variation (COV). Calibrated resistance factors for the proposed WEAP method increase to as high as 0.75 compared to the current AASHTO recommendation of 0.50. An economic impact assessment reveals that the proposed WEAP method is more efficient than the default WEAP method as the average difference in steel weight for 32 test piles is 0.06 kg/kN, almost close to zero, reducing the construction challenges in the current engineering practice.

show abstract