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By Liang Shen

The Cooper River Bridge, the longest cable-stayed bridge in North America, replaces two existing bridges along U.S. Highway 17 and connects the City of Charleston and the town of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. Two diamond shaped towers support the 1,546 ft long main span over Cooper River and allows for a 1000 ft wide navigation channel. The Charleston high-level approach is 4351 ft long and provides a 250 ft wide navigation channel for Town Creek, while the Mount Pleasant high-level approach is 2,090 ft long. Due to the high seismicity in the region, potential vessel impact, and hurricanes, large lateral loads are expected. From various types of foundations, 10-foot diameter drilled shafts were selected for their high capacity against vertical and lateral loadings. The shafts are founded on a stiff to very stiff lightly cemented calcareous sandy clay or sandy silt layer, called Cooper Marl, which underlies the coastal sediments of the interbedded clays and sands. A group of 11 shafts supports each main tower, while a rock island protects it from vessel collision. A group of 4 to 8 shafts foundations support the other piers of the main span unit. A pair of shafts supports the High Level Approach piers. The shaft tip elevations vary from 120 ft to 230 ft below water line. An elaborate geotechnical investigation was conducted on the site, including a load test program on full-scale shafts under axial and lateral loads. The results of the tests were used to calibrate the lateral and axial soil resistance. The objective of this paper is to present the different aspects of the bridge foundation design.

Jan 1, 2013

By Seth L. Pearlman

A major excavation support case history for the Eastern approach to the Third Harbor Tunnel (THT) in Boston, MA is described, which uses an anchored Soil Mixed Wall (SMW). Both general and project specific information is provided regarding the design and construction of SMW walls. In addition, conclusions are presented that discuss the suitability of this particular application and other possible variations.

Jan 1, 1993

By W. Robert Thompson

Hurricane Katrina caused significant damage to transportation structures on the Gulf coast in August, 2005, including the destruction of the US 90 Bridge over Biloxi Bay, Mississippi. Part of the successful design/build proposal for the replacement bridge included a comprehensive test pile program of indicator piles and load test piles in the geotechnical investigation program. A total of 22 indicator piles were installed on the project using the pile driving analyzer to monitor the pile behavior. Five load tests were performed: two axial Statnamic, two lateral Statnamic, and one static axial. The results of the test pile program established driving criteria for production piles that included end-of-drive blow counts and pile tip elevations with an appropriate allowance for setup. The program also confirmed that the planned installation equipment and techniques of GC Constructors, a joint venture of Massman Construction Co., Kiewit Southern Co., and Traylor Bros., Inc., would install the piles to the design tip elevations before production piles began. An extensive program of restrike measurements at a range of times after initial driving of the indicator piles provided a systematic documentation of pile setup in the soil profiles on the site. These resistance values were used to develop a dimensionless setup factor ?S? as the ratio of the restrike resistance to the end of drive resistance. This factor varied from 1.5 for piles penetrating clays and tipped in sand to 3.0 for piles bearing completely in clay and helped establish an end-of drive blow count that included an allowance for setup. The CAPWAP analyses of restrike data with setup and the load test data were used to confirm the design unit side shear and end bearing values developed from the borings and static capacity calculations and to select the design pile lengths.

Jan 1, 2009

By Harry G. Poulos

Ground movements can arise from a large number of sources and can have a significant effect on nearby piles and deep foundations. The loading of the piles by ground movements is a different mechanism to that arising from direct applied loading to the pile head, and consequently it is not generally possible to adequately analyze the effects of ground movements simply by applying some type of equivalent loading to the pile head. The main effects of ground movements are the development of additional movements, axial forces and bending moments in the piles, and thus the key design aspects are related to movements and to the structural integrity of the pile. However, the ultimate geotechnical load carrying capacity is generally not affected by the ground movements themselves. This paper will describe an approach to the analysis of ground movement effects on piles, considering axial and lateral movements separately. Some of the main features of pile response will be discussed for three specific problems involving ground movements: piles near and within embankments, piles near an excavation for a pile cap, and piles subjected to seismic ground motions.

Jan 1, 2006

By Francis D. Leathers

Four friction pile load test programs, including 23 tension tests and 9 compression tests, have been performed as part of the Central Artery/Tunnel Project in Boston, Massachusetts. The tests, performed on both precast, prestressed concrete (PPC) piles and steel piles, yielded the following adhesion values: [Soil Type Clay Clay Glacial Till Interbedded Sand and Clay Interbedded Sand and Clay Pile Type PPC Steel Steel Steel PPC Adhesion (psf) 610 to 1,200 230 to 900 220 to 550 680 1,280 ] The adhesion appears to be affected by differences in pile material type, with PPC piles having higher adhesion than steel piles. However, part of the apparent difference for the clay may be due to differences in time between driving and testing. The significant range of test data means that the need for site specific testing to determine or verify design values of adhesion should be considered during design. Creep rates at loads near failure ranged from about 0.02 to 0.18 inches per log cycle of time, with most values in the range of about 0.04 to 0.08 inches per log cycle of time.

Jan 1, 1994

By John Wise

Significant movement to an existing slurry wall which serves as a retaining wall on 'O' Street in Southeast Washington, D.C. initiated the Department of Public Works for the District of Columbia to invite specialty contractors to propose a rehabilitation and stabilization for the failed slurry wall. Nicholson Construction Company proposed and was awarded a contract for the construction of an anchored precast lagging and soldier pile wall to be located approximately 4 feet in front of the existing structure with granular fill placed between the new and existing walls. Stabilization of the existing slurry wall also included drilling horizontal weep holes and demolishing the failed panels down to the existing ground surface. A new and improved drainage system was also constructed to increase the amount of water directed toward the existing storm sewer system running along 'O' Street. This paper provides a detailed account of these construction activities.

Jan 1, 2003

By Martin J. Pedley

The use of soil nailing has grown steadily in the UK over the last 15 years and it has recently become more popular in the Republic of Ireland. This paper presents three soil nailing temporary works case histories where the technique has been used to support steep excavations in difficult ground conditions. It demonstrates the effectiveness of soil nailing when applied in appropriate conditions. Details of design methods and construction techniques are described and those aspects of soil nailing that will benefit from further study and development are identified.

Jan 1, 2000

By S. L. Karunakaran

Selection of an appropriate foundation system requires great skill and ingenuity on the part of the designer. Certain guidelines for choosing between a pile and raft foundation are presented. A number of methods are available for estimating the capacity of piles, giving a wide range of values for the theoretical load carrying capacity. A few aspects to be taken into account while arriving at an appropriate theoretical capacity are discussed. The effect of fluctuation of water table level on the pile capacity and method of accounting for this factor on the pile capacity obtained through initial load test are also discussed. A case study presents a comparison between the estimated values of capacity of piles and the values obtained through the initial load test.

Jan 1, 1996

By Enrique Ibarra, Manuel J. Mendoza

"Abstract: This paper describes the current state-of-practice for the design of cast-in-place drilled shafts in granular soils under axial loading, addressing recent advances that take into account the surrounding soil grain size distribution and their behavior. The important role of the gravel content in the shaft response under axial loading is emphasized. Usual design approaches in Mexico are described, and the results of load tests from different sources are discussed. The analysis emphasizes the primary contribution of the lateral area of shafts to their axial bearing capacity, raising doubts regarding the common local idea of “point bearing shafts”. Finally, some lines of research are noted to permit advances in the important field of deep foundations. 1 INTRODUCTIONIn Mexico, cast-in-place drilled shaft foundations are widely used to support various structures in the west area of Mexico City, where alluvial and volcanic deposits predominate. Deep foundations are also used in modern construction works located in other major cities of Mexico. In fact, the use of drilled shafts for tall buildings and overpasses in the center of Guadalajara as well as in transportation works related to the Metro and roadways in Monterrey is well known. It is worth mentioning that these same structures have been applied in road bridges throughout the country.Procedures for pile construction in Mexico have been basically the same for the past 20 years (Paniagua et al., 2005); however, modern equipment has been incorporated into the construction industry, including innovations in sludge-drilling technology, control and the quality of the castings. In addition, novel and efficient procedures such as construction with continuous auger displacement piles have been implemented (Auger Cast in Place, ACP) and have begun to be used locally with success (Schmitter and Paulin, 2006).However, it can be argued that the technological developments that have resulted in more efficient construction procedures have not included a breakthrough in the full understanding of the phenomena or basic mechanisms of load transfer from piles to the surrounding subsoil and therefore in supported, tested and practical design methods. This is particularly true when seeking to determine the unit side shear strength of shafts drilled in granular media with gravels, where it has been observed that the commonly used calculations developed for sands underestimate the load-bearing capacity by frictionin a most important way. Due to the above reasons, it seemed appropriate to present in this paper a review of the current stateof- practice in Mexico for the design of cast-in-place drilled shafts, particularly in granular media, highlighting some recent advances and research that takes into account the grain size distribution and behavior of granular soil."

Jan 1, 2014

By Michael A. Knott

Large lateral forces on bridge foundations due to extreme events such as vessel collisions, earthquakes, and wave forces on storm surges during hurricane events are often the controlling design condition for bridge foundations. A review of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) vessel collision analysis and design codes used in the United States for highway bridges will be presented. The paper includes the background and development of the AASHTO Guide Specification and Commentary for Vessel Collision Design of Highway Bridges (1991) and vessel collision provisions of the AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications (3rd Edition 2004 and the approved 2005 Interims). Experience in using the AASHTO codes will be discussed and observations on the adequacy and gaps, comparison with the European Standard Code, and recommendations for immediate and long term needs will be presented.

Jan 1, 2013

By Dan A. Brown

This paper describes a method of conducting rapid lateral loading tests of deep foundations in which the load is applied to the foundation with a time duration of less than one second. For purposes of this paper the loading is applied using a pyrotechnic loading system commonly referred to as Statnamic. However, the method should apply to any lateral loading system which produces a force time history with a loading duration of 20 msec to 1 second. The test provides a measure of the dynamic and static response of the soil/foundation system and must be evaluated as a dynamic loading. Interpretation of the test includes a simple single degree of freedom (SDOF) model which can account for the inertial effects of foundation mass, system damping, and static foundation stiffness. The results of the test measurements are compared with four case histories in which comparative static load test data are available, including pile group foundations and large diameter drilled shaft foundations.

Jan 1, 2007

By D. Kolymbas

A simple formula is introduced which allows the evaluation of dynamic pile tests. The following case is considered: The pile top is dynamically loaded by an impact. The velocity v of the pile top is recorded over the time. Let v1 and v2 be the first and the second maximum of this curve. Then, the pile bearing capacity (resulting from ideally plastic resistance at the pile wall and at the tip) can be set approximately equal to Z(v1- ½ v2), where Z is the impedance of the pile cross section. Due to the assumption of ideal plastic resistances, radiation damping needs not be taken into account. Material damping may be important in rate sensitive soils (such as clay, even if it is highly overconsolidated). A simple correction procedure for material damping is proposed.

Jan 1, 1989

By SungJe Chi

Intrinsic remediation is the effect of natural attenuation mechanisms - dilution, dispersion, sorption/precipitation and biodegradation - reducing contaminant concentrations in ground water to specified levels at predetermined compliance points in the aquifer. Current monitoring and modeling for post closure was used to assess the current and long-term potential of intrinsic remediation of contaminated seepage originating from a large reactive (sulfidic) tailings impoundment near Questa, New Mexico. It is concluded that the natural attenuation mechanisms of precipitation within the tailings (as a result of buffering) and dilution/dispersion within the aquifer are currently active and likely sufficient to reduce contaminant concentrations to below state standards in the long-term. Other natural attenuation mechanisms such as sorption and biodegradation within the receiving aquife4s) were not assessed here, but are likely further reducing contaminant concentrations. Active interception and recovery of the seepage water is being maintained until monitoring demonstrates that intrinsic remediation has successfully achieved the level of water quality control required.

Jan 1, 2017

By Takefumi Takuma, Masashi Nagano, Christopher DellAringa

Multiple agencies in Southern California are retrofitting and upgrading their levees to catch up with ever-advancing urbanization affecting the requirements for existing channels and levees in this seismically active zone. Pressed-in sheet piles have been specified on some of these projects to minimize noise and vibration problems associated with sheet pile installation. This paper will study three Southern California levee and sewer pipeline retrofit projects that utilized pressed-in sheet piles in hard soil conditions with N-values higher than 50. BACKGROUND Southern California is home to numerous drainage channels fortified with earthen levees. In spite of the region’s semi-arid climate with varying annual precipitation from year to year, winter storms can bring in heavy and continuous rainfall to the area which overwhelms the levees’ capacities at times. Some levees are running through densely populated areas with homes and other sensitive structures such as underground utilities and bridge piers. Conventional sheet pile driving utilizes either percussive or vibratory pile driving methods, both of which generate high levels of noise and vibration, causing nuisance and potential damage to nearby structures. On the other hand, the press-in piling method utilizes a hydraulic force to push piles into the ground, thus practically eliminating the noise and vibration issue. Although there are types of press-in piling systems mounted on tall leaders on large crawler-base machines, they are less frequently used due to its much larger size and more limited drivability than the type discussed hereunder. The other type of press-in machine sits on top of already installed piles and is anchored with its own weight and additional counter weight when starting off as shown in Figure 1. Once the first few piles are pressed in, the equipment grips on top of the installed piles and moves forward on its own as the pile installation progresses. See Figure 2. This method does not use a vibratory or percussive force to install piles.

Jan 1, 2018

By Nien-Yin Chang

The contemporary seismic response analysis of structures using a finite element analysis code requires six elastic spring constants to address the six degrees of freedom ground/foundation contribution to the response of a structure to earthquake shaking. However, the ground response is nothing but linear. Thus, it is critical to address the effect of the nonlinear ground response to the performance of structures under strong earthquakes. This study specifically addresses the effect of pile foundation on building vibration using finite element analyses. The effect of single pile was first investigated and the load was applied at the pile head using the single-degree-of-freedom load at a time, including three translational loads in the x, y and z directions and three moment loads about the three respective axes. In this study, the coupling effects between two or more different loads were not investigated. A load is increased monotonically to investigate the nonlinear behavior of pile under various loads. The Mohr-Coulomb model was used to represent concrete. To explore the effect of soil models on the nonlinear spring functions, the following constitutive models of soils were used: linear elastic, Mohr-Coulomb model, Cap model, modified Cam-Clay model, and Duncan-Chang hyperbolic model.

Jan 1, 2007

By Rick Deschamps, Brian Barkauskas, Aled Hughes, Abigail Stein

In central Washington, six miles south of the small town of Vantage, the flow of the Columbia River is harnessed by the Wanapum Dam which is part of the Priest Rapids Hydroelectric Project owned and operated by Grant County Public Utility District (GCPUD). Extending more than 8,300-feet from bank to bank, the dam includes left and right earth embankments, left and right concrete gravity sections and a 10-unit powerhouse. Adjacent to the right embankment is a concrete gravity spillway featuring radial gates measuring 50-feet-wide and nearly 70-feet-high. In the early 1960’s when Wanapum Dam was built, these seven-story spillway gates were the highest in the world. In late February 2014, 50-years into its service life, during a routine maintenance inspection, observant workers noticed a slight misalignment in the roadway deck curbs and handrails located on top of the spillway. Further survey and inspection efforts uncovered a 65-foot-long by two- inch-wide crack that spanned the full length of Monolith 4. On discovering the extent of the damage, GCPUD initiated immediate drawdown of the reservoir to relieve pressure on the spillway monoliths. Wanapum Reservoir and the areas directly downstream of the dam were immediately closed, boat ramps and inlets were left completely dry, campsites were closed and boating activity was banned on the lake until further investigations and remedial procedures were in place and completed. An extensive root cause analysis ultimately led to the conclusion that errors in the initial design calculations and late changes to the final spillway design led to a condition that generated tensile stresses in the concrete at the upstream face, which over a period of 50-years resulted in the formation of a crack along a horizontal lift joint located about 85-feet below normal pool elevation. Further analysis showed that, although visible distress was found at Monolith 4, there was nothing preventing this issue from happening at other locations along the dam spillway. Although no visible cracking was found in the other monoliths, repair procedures for Monolith 4 would have to be replicated at the remaining monoliths.

Jan 1, 2018

By Don Deardorff, Ke Yang, Yingcai Han, Ken Sorensen, Robert Kruger, Mark Petersen, Diane Fiorelli, Larry Goldfarb, Kathryn Petek, Kwabena Ofori-Awuah

Design of deep foundations for lateral loads requires an understanding of soil-foundation-structure response during loading. Lateral loads on a deep foundation (piles) could be due to earthquakes, winds, waves, and/or machine vibrations. Over the years, analysis of response of piles due to lateral loads evolved from closed-form solutions to p-y methods to strain wedge to finite element/finite difference modeling. Although analysis of lateral response of piles and shafts is routinely performed, there is no single guidance document and/or standard for design and testing. Several different analytical methods are available for the analysis, and the resulting design can result in significantly different responses which can create confusion. This is especially true for analyzing and designing piles in potentially liquefiable soils with lateral spread issues under seismic conditions.This guidance document is intended to assist geotechnical engineers, pile designers, and contractors in analysis, design, and testing of piles and drilled shafts for lateral loads. This document discusses the background of different analytical and testing procedures and presents the recommended methods for analysis, design and testing of piles for lateral loads.Chapter 1 defines the different kinds of lateral loads to which a single pile or pile group may be subjected. This first chapter also presents different types of piles used to resist lateral loads.Chapter 2 discusses geotechnical issues related to lateral pile design such as liquefaction and lateral spreading and other non-seismic issues. Also addressed in Chapter 2 is geotechnical site characterization (as related to lateral loads) in terms of site investigation, in-situ testing, geophysical testing, laboratory testing, and estimation of soil/rock properties.Chapter 3 discusses the background and available analytical methods and tools for the analysis and design of single piles and drilled shafts. Several methods of analyses from closed-form elastic solutions to the finite element/finite difference solutions and their applicability are discussed. Available commercial computer software packages for analyzing single piles and drilled shafts are also presented.Chapter 4 expands the discussion of single piles and drilled shafts into the analysis and design of pile groups. In addition, group effects, resistance of pile caps, results of previous experimental and analytical studies, and available analysis tools and software for pile groups are discussed.Chapter 5 presents the issue of lateral resistance of piles and drilled shafts as discussed in different national and international building and non-building codes. A summary of extensive research on several codes are presented to facilitate the compliance with different codes.Chapter 6 discusses structural design issues of individual piles and drilled shafts such as depth of fixity.Chapter 7 discusses soil structure interaction issues related to kinematic and inertial effects due to seismic loading and available methods of analyses.Chapter 8 discusses and presents the typical procedures for the lateral load testing of piles. This guideline was developed as an aid to the practicing engineer in providing information, direction and commentary on the lateral design of deep foundations. Although all reasonable effort has been made to accurately compile the material and information contained herein, no warranty is made with regard to any such material or information and the Deep Foundation Institute assumes no responsibility for any possible errors or any direct or indirect result of the use of any such material or information. It is not intended that this document address every factor affecting lateral design for every situation. Therefore it is the responsibility of the person utilizing information from this document to confirm that it is appropriate and correct for their situation as well as to understand and properly apply

Jan 1, 2012

By Alexander Nikolic

The paper presents the foundation design and construction of a landmark urban redevelopment scheme in central London, UK. The scheme comprises the new Tottenham Court Road Underground station, Crossrail interchange box and associated over-site commercial development. The paper focuses on the design, procurement and construction of large diameter bored piles, up to 68m in depth, which form the foundation support system for the over-site commercial development at Denmark Place. The congestion below ground required an intricate foundation design solution which has been a catalyst for developing innovative load transfer arrangements and has resulted in the advancement of pile construction technology in the UK. The foundation system was also designed to cater for the construction of two significant elements of proposed below ground infrastructure. Selected large diameter piles have been constructed within 1.1m of live underground railway tunnels. An innovative D-shaped pile was constructed in a zone subject to particular spatial constraints. The proposed Crossrail tunnels will be bored within 1m of selected over-site development piles. In addition, a 30m deep excavation forming a new escalator box will be constructed in direct contact with the over-site development piles. The stakeholder engagement process is described together with the foundation design development and buildability assessment. The benefits from early collaboration between the designers and specialist contractors are highlighted. From an analytical design perspective, the entire foundation construction sequence was modelled in detail in order to assess the soil structure interaction and any potential adverse effects on existing elements of underground infrastructure. The results from the three dimensional numerical modelling simulation are compared with field monitoring data.

Jan 1, 2011

By W. D. Guo

With an experimental apparatus developed recently, model tests on piles were conducted in sand subjected to triangular soil movement profiles. Four instrumented piles tests are reported, which show the pile behavior predominantly determined by soil sliding depth. Axial load can create additional bending moment and pile deflection, which also make mode of pile-soil interaction change with sliding depth. Limiting resistance was found 1.5~3 times higher than currently used for laterally loaded piles in sand.

Jan 1, 2006

By Robert W. Schaut

The use of micropiles is increasing for new construction and to retrofit distressed foundations in expansive soils. Typical micropiles in expansive soils have a lower section where the micropile grout is embedded in direct contact with the soil, and an upper section that is cased with rigid PVC pipe or other material to reduce the friction between the micropile and the surrounding expansive soil. In the upper cased section, the micropile grout is in direct contact with the inside of the casing. During construction, grout can flow upward into the annular space between the soil and the outside of the casing as the grout is tremied into the micropile. Thus, various interfaces may exist in a typical micropile, including soil-to-grout, grout-to-PVC, and soil-to-PVC. As the surrounding soil heaves, shear stresses are mobilized along the interfaces. The frictional characteristics of the interfaces are design variables that must be evaluated. For this study, an experimental program was conducted to evaluate the shear strength of the three interfaces listed above. Conventional direct shear testing was performed at a commercial testing laboratory. In addition, specialized testing was performed at Colorado State University (CSU). For the CSU testing, an interface testing protocol was designed using a modified triaxial cell to allow evaluation of the interface characteristics between rigid PVC and cylindrical specimens of grout or clay soil. It is shown that the shear strength of the soil-to-PVC and grout-to-PVC interfaces are similar, both of which are significantly lower than the shear strength of the soil-to-grout interface. This indicates that the use of a PVC casing in the upper portion of a micropile has a positive effect in reducing friction and the shear stresses resulting from expansive soil.

Jan 1, 2011