Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Timber 07
Timber 07
0
MARINE APPLICATION DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
7.1 INTRODUCTION
Timber piles have been used extensively to support piers and wharfs because of their excellent
performance characteristics in both fresh and salt water and their ability to withstand lateral
loads without structural failure. This chapter will present details on the design of laterally loaded
piles.
The design of lateral loaded piles must evaluate both the structural capacity of the pile and the
soil deformation with respect to these lateral loads. The design of laterally loaded piles follows
one of two approaches 1.) lateral load tests, or 2.) analytical methods.
Lateral load tests conducted at the site will give a direct measure of the lateral capacity of timber
piles. This may be a relatively costly procedure that is not warranted on many projects.
Analytical methods are available that permit rational consideration of the site parameters. Two
common approaches are Broms hand calculation method and Reeses (1984) computer
solution (COM624P). Broms method is a simple method to determine the lateral load and pile
deflection at the ground surface, ignoring axial load in the pile. On small projects or non-critical
projects, the Broms method may be used. However, when there are definite limits on allowable
pile movements, a more detailed load-deformation analysis technique should be used (i.e.,
COM624P). This chapter will present the Broms method. For a detailed discussion of the
Reese method (COM624P) see FHWA-IP-84-11. COM624P is available from FHWA.
7.2 BROMS METHOD
The Broms method calculates the ultimate soil resistance to lateral load as well as the
maximum moment induced in the pile as a result of the lateral load. This method may be used
to evaluate lateral capacity for both fixed and free pile head conditions in either purely cohesive
or purely cohesionless soil profiles. For mixed soil profiles COM624 is recommended. For long
fixed head piles in cohesionless soil, the Broms method may over-predict lateral load capacity.
Com624 may be used for this condition.
STEP BY STEP PROCEDURE FOR BROMS METHOD FOR LATERALLY LOADED PILES
(FHWA-HI-97-013)
Step 1
Determine the general soil type (i.e., cohesive or cohesionless) within the critical
depth below the ground surface (approximately 4 to 5 pile diameters).
Step 2
Determine the coefficient of horizontal subgrade reaction, Kh, within the critical
depth for cohesive or cohesionless soils.
Cohesive soils:
(7-1)
59
Where:
qu
b
n1
n2
Table 7-1
Coefficient n1 for Cohesive Soils
Unconfined Compressive Strength (ksf)
Less than 1
1 to 4
More than 4
Cohesionless Soils:
n1
0.32
0.36
0.40
Table 7-2
Values of Kh for Cohesionless Soils
Kh (kcf)
Soil Density
Loose
Medium
Dense
Step 3
Above Groundwater
12
52
112
Below Groundwater
7
35
69
Step 4
60
Step 5
Step 6
Step 7
Step 8
Determine the other required soil parameters over the embedded length of the
pile.
a.) The Rankine passive earth pressure coefficient for cohesionless soil Kp.
Kp = tan2 (45 + /2)
b.) The average effective unit weight of the soil
c.) The undrained cohesion cu of the soil (cu=0.5 qu)
Step 9
61
c.) Short Free or Fixed Headed Pile in cohesionless soil using D/b (and ec/D
for free headed case) enter Figure 7-3 and select the corresponding value of
Qu/Kpb3and solve for Qu.
d.) Long Free or Fixed Headed Pile in cohesionless soil - using My/b4Kp (and
ec/b for free headed case) enter Figure 7-4 and select the corresponding
value of Qu/Kpb3 and solve for Qu.
e.) Intermediate Free or Fixed Headed Pile in cohesionless soil calculate Qu for
both short and long pile and use the smaller value.
Step 10
Calculate the maximum allowable working load for a single pile Qm.
Qm = Qu/2.5
Step 11
Step 12
Compare Qa to Qm.
If Qa > Qm use Qm and calculate ym.
If Qa < Qm use Qa and y.
If Qa and y are not given use Qm and ym.
Step 13
Reduce the allowable load from step 12 for pile group effects and the method of
pile installation.
a.) Group reduction factor determined by the center to center pile spacing (z) in
the direction of load.
z
Reduction Factor
8b
1.0
6b
0.8
4b
0.5
3b
0.4
b.) Method of installation reduction factor.
1.) For driven piles use no reduction
62
2.) For jetted piles use 0.75 of the value from step 13a.
Step 14
63
Figure 7-1:
64
Figure 7-2:
65
Figure 7-3:
66
Figure 7-4:
67
Figure 7-5:
68
Figure 7-6:
69