8

Part 12

Cantilever Poles1

— 1992 —
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Section/Article Description Page

12.1 General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-12-2

12.1.1 Scope (1992) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-12-2
12.1.2 Introduction (1992) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-12-2

12.2 Materials. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-12-2

12.2.1 Pole (1992) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-12-2 1
12.3 Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-12-2
12.3.1 Installation (1992) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-12-2

12.4 Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-12-3

12.4.1 General (1992) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-12-3
3
LIST OF FIGURES

Figure Description Page

12-1 Pole Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-12-4

12-2 Bearing Capacity Factors vs. Depth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-12-7
12-3 Granular Soils. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-12-8

LIST OF TABLES

Table Description Page

12-1 Recommended Value of “nh” for Sands lb/in3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-12-5

12-2 Recommended Value of “K” for Clays for qu>1 tsf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-12-6
12-3 Constants Used in Calculations and their Variances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-12-8

1
References, Vol. 71, 1970, p. 232; Vol. 93, 1992, p. 78, 98.

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Concrete Structures and Foundations

SECTION 12.1 GENERAL

12.1.1 SCOPE (1992)

a. These specifications cover the design of the required embedment for poles in cohesive and granular soils
that are subjected to vertical and horizontal forces.

b. Loading on the poles is not considered in this specification and the loads shall be determined by the
applicable sections of this Manual.

12.1.2 INTRODUCTION (1992)

a. In certain types of construction, poles are subjected to overturning forces. The most common usage of
these types of construction are transmission lines and sign poles. Under certain conditions, piles such as
soldier piles for the protection of excavations, capped pile abutments where the piling acts as a backwall,
and stabilization piles for embankment slopes can be analyzed as poles. This specification is intended to
offer a design procedure which will determine the required pole embedment.

b. Several factors which will affect the design of cantilever embedded poles and that should be taken into
account during analysis and final design are: cyclical nature of the loads which may leave a void around
the pole and allow infiltration of water, plumbness of the pole, variations in the soil strata, variation of
the soil at different locations, and the indeterminate nature of the loading conditions.

SECTION 12.2 MATERIALS

12.2.1 POLE (1992)

The type, size, shape, manufacture, and construction shall be as specified by the Engineer, and shall conform to
the following sections of the Manual:

a. Concrete – Chapter 8, Concrete Structures and Foundations, Part 2, Reinforced Concrete Design.

b. Steel – Chapter 15, Steel Structures, Part 1, Design and Part 3, Fabrication.

c. Timber – Chapter 7, Timber Structures, Part 1, Material Specifications for Lumber, Piles, Glued
Laminated Timber and Fasteners.

SECTION 12.3 CONSTRUCTION

12.3.1 INSTALLATION (1992)

12.3.1.1 Driven Poles

Poles can be installed by pile driving methods, in which case the installation requirements shall be governed by
Chapter 8, Concrete Structures and Foundations, Part 4, Pile Foundations.

12.3.1.2 Set Poles

a. After the location of the poles has been selected, an oversized hole shall be augered to the design depth,
the pole inserted to the bottom of the hole, and the annular space filled with either compacted soil or
concrete.

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8-12-2 AREMA Manual for Railway Engineering

 Cantilever Poles

b. The size of the hole and the method of backfill shall be determined by the use of the pole, and the
assumptions made for design. If the full diameter of the hole is to be used in the structural analysis,
concrete backfill shall be used to fill the annular space between the pole and the surrounding earth. The
need for reinforcement of the concrete shall be determined by analysis.

c. Soil backfill of the annular space shall completely fill the voids, and be compacted to the density of the
surrounding soil.

d. The pole shall be held plumb in such a manner that transverse and vertical loads are not restrained by
the ground around the pole until the backfilling is complete and able to withstand the imposed loads.

e. If concrete backfill is intended to enlarge the diameter of the pole embedment, then suitable bracing
shall remain in place until the concrete has attained the strength set forth on the drawings.

SECTION 12.4 DESIGN

12.4.1 GENERAL (1992)

a. The design of the particular installation will be determined by many different factors. In all cases, the
requirements can be reduced to:

(1) External Loads. The vertical loads and their eccentricity; the magnitude, direction, and location of
the horizontal loads, and the frequency and cyclical nature of the loads shall be included in the
design loads.
1

(2) Soil Characteristics. The soil type, unit weight, angle of internal friction for granular soils, cohesion
of the soil, location of the water table, and any variation in the soil. Soil strength values given here
are not for soil below the water table. Soil investigation shall be made in accordance with the
requirements of Chapter 8, Concrete Structures and Foundations, Part 22, Geotechnical Subsurface
Investigation, taking into account the value and use of the pole. 3
b. When a pole set directly into the earth is dependent upon the horizontal resistance (horizontal subgrade
reaction) of the supporting soil for its stability, and has not been permanently stayed by external
supports, the following procedure is recommended to determine the required embedment of the pole.

(1) The design of the proper pole diameter and depth of embedment is obtained by a trial and error
solution. The design is considered to be complete when the size of the pole (and/or its encasement), 4
depth of embedment, bending moments, shears, and deflection of the pole have been determined.

(2) Upon completion of the given design, the Engineer shall verify that the pole (and its structural
encasement if used) is capable of withstanding the previously determined moments and shears. The
structural design for steel poles shall conform to the requirements of Chapter 15, Steel Structures,
concrete poles according to Chapter 8, Concrete Structures and Foundations, and timber poles
should conform to Chapter 7, Timber Structures.

c. The equations found in Article 12.4.1.1, Article 12.4.1.2 and Figure 12-1 may be used to determine the
required depth of embedment and width of the pole.

© 2000, American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association

AREMA Manual for Railway Engineering 8-12-3

Concrete Structures and Foundations

Figure 12-1. Pole Design

Nomenclature
P= Vertical load on the pole acting at an eccentricity e and a distance h above grade.
Q= Resultant of all horizontal loads acting on the pole at a height H above grade.
D= Depth of embedment.
Do = Distance below the ground surface to a point where the horizontal deflection is zero.
B= Width of the pole and/or encasement resisting the horizontal load at the point under consideration.
M= Net overturning moment at the ground surface.
EI = Average flexural stiffness of the pole and/or encasement below grade.
pa = Maximum positive subgrade reaction.
pb = Maximum negative subgrade reaction.
nh = Soil modulus for granular soils.
K = Soil modulus for cohesive soils.
Pcr = Critical vertical load on the pole.
y= The lateral deflection of the pole at the groundline.
x= Distance from the ground surface, positive downward.
w= Unit weight of the soil.
c= Cohesion of the soil.

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 Cantilever Poles

12.4.1.1 Granular Soils

36P  1 + ----
M 3 a h
--------- + --- – ------
Do QD 4 12  D
------- = -------------------------------- where a = ------------------------------
- (See Table 12-1) EQ 12-1
D 3 M 3
--- --------- + 1 nh D
2 QD

Table 12-1. Recommended Value of “nh” for Sands lb/in3

Density Dry Submerged

Loose 10 5
Medium 30 20
Dense 75 45

Do 2
3Q
p a = ------------------------------- -------- EQ 12-2
3D o 2D
D ----------- – 1
2D

Do Do
p a ≤ ------------ B  ------- w N q determine N q at x = -------
1
(See Figure 12-2) EQ 12-3
 
F.S. 2 2 1
3Q Do
p b = ------------------------------- ------- – 1 EQ 12-4
3D o D
D ----------- – 1
2D

1 3
p b ≤ – ------------ BDwN q determine N q at x = D (See Figure 12-2) EQ 12-5
F.S.

D EI 1⁄5
---- ≤ 3 where T = ------- (See Table 12-1) EQ 12-6
T nh

Do 0.508
4
B.M. max = M + 0.89QD ------- – 0.667 EQ 12-7
D

P
P cr = ----
a

Do
3Q  -------
 D
y = -----------------------------------------
2 3D o
n h D ----------- – 1
2D

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Concrete Structures and Foundations

12.4.1.2 Cohesive Soils

M b
--------- + 0.683 – -----------
Do QD 6.78
------- = ------------------------------------------------- EQ 12-8
D 1.87M
----------------- + 1
QD

14.6P  1 + ----
h
 D 
where b = -----------------------------------
2
- (See Table 12-2)
KD

Table 12-2. Recommended Value of “K” for Clays for qu>1 tsf

qu tsf “K” psi

1–2 700
2–4 1400
over 4 2800
qu is the unconfined compressive
strength of the clay.

Do 1.15
1.377Q
p a = --------------------------------------- ------- EQ 12-9
Do D
D 1.87 ------- – 1
D

1
p a ≤ ---------- BcN c determine Nc at x = 0.13 Do (See Figure 12-2) EQ 12-10
F.S.

2.15Q Do
p b = --------------------------------------- ------- – 1 EQ 12-11
Do D
D 1.87 ------- – 1
D

1
p b ≤ ---------- BcN c determine Nc at x = D (See Figure 12-2) EQ 12-12
F.S.

D EI 1⁄4
---- ≤ 3 where R = ------- (See Table 12-2) EQ 12-13
R K

Do 0.823
B.M. max = M + 0.80QD ------- – 0.535 EQ 12-14
D

P
P cr = ----
b

Do
2.15Q  -------
 D
y = -------------------------------------------
-
Do
KD 1.87 ------- – 1
D

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 Cantilever Poles

Figure 12-2. Bearing Capacity Factors vs. Depth

12.4.1.3 Procedure

a. Determine all loads acting on the pole and assume a desired pole and/or encasement diameter B. 3
Estimate the depth D as the maximum allowable for the assumed pole cross section, as determined by
EQ 12-6 or EQ 12-13.

b. Figure 12-3 can be used to assist in the design for poles embedded in granular soils.

c. Use a factor of safety of three for permanent loads and two for temporary loads.

d. Carry through several trial designs until the depth chosen corresponds to the allowable soil stresses, as 4
shown in Article 12.4.1.4 and Article 12.4.1.5. (In EQ 12-2, EQ 12-4, EQ 12-9, and EQ 12-11 the fourth
significant figure is important in the denominator.)

e. Where the vertical load is large, the pole shall be investigated as a friction pile. In this investigation the
top 2 feet of the embedded portion of the pole shall be neglected unless the horizontal load is quite small
and the eccentricity of the vertical load is nominal.

f. Table 12-3 shows the constants used in the calculations and how to vary them.

© 2000, American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association

AREMA Manual for Railway Engineering 8-12-7

Concrete Structures and Foundations

NOTE:Graph will determine approximate values only.

Check EQ 12-6 for limitation on pole embedment depth.

Figure 12-3. Granular Soils

Table 12-3. Constants Used in Calculations and their Variances

Existing Variations
Constant New Constant Change
B = 18 inches B = 24 inches Reduce obtained value of “D” by 1 foot
w = 70 pcf Increase obtained value of “D” by 1 foot
w = 100 pcf
w = 120 pcf No change in value
nh = 10 lb/in 3 Increase obtained value of “D” by 1 foot
nh = 20 lb/in3
nh = 30 lb/in 3 Reduce obtained value of “D” by 1 foot

F.S. = 2 F.S. = 3 Increase obtained value of “D” by 1 foot

© 2000, American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association

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 Cantilever Poles

12.4.1.4 Example A – Granular Soils

a. Soil:

• Granular and dry with φ = 35 degrees

• Unit weight = w = 110 lb/cubic feet

75 + 30
• Medium dense: n h = ------------------- = 52.5 lb/in2
2

b. Loading:

• P = 5 kips, h = 20 feet, e = 12 inches

• Q = 2 kips, H = 25 feet

• Factor of Safety = F.S. = 3

c. Trial Design:

• It is desired to have a timber pole with a diameter of B = 18 inches

with a modulus of elasticity = E = 1.6 (10)6 psi
1
• M = 25 (2) + 1(5) = 55 kip-ft.

4
6 π ( 18 ) 9
• EI = 1.6 ( 10 ) ------------------ = 8.245 ( 10 )
64

d. Using EQ 12-6: 3
9 1⁄5
8.245 ( 10 )
T = ----------------------------- = 44.0 and Dmax ≤ 3(44.0) = 132 inches
52.5
= 11 feet
Try D = 11 feet
4
e. Using EQ 12-1:

55 3 a
--------------- + --- – ------
Do 2 ( 11 ) 4 12
------- = -------------------------------------- = 0.685 neglect “a” for all trial solutions, and check only final design.
D 3 55
--- --------------- + 1
2 2 ( 11 )

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Concrete Structures and Foundations

f. Using EQ 12-2:

3(2) 2
p a = ------------------------------ ( 0.3425 ) = 2.327 kips/ft
11 ( 0.0275 )

g. Using EQ 12-3:

Nq = 11.5 for x = 0.3425(11) = 3.77 feet

x 3.77
---- = ----------- = 2.5
B 1.50

1
p a ≤ --- ( 1.5 ) ( 3.77 ) ( 110 ) ( 11.5 ) ⁄ 1000
3

= 2.38 kips/ft

h. Using EQ 12-4:

3(2 )
p b = ------------------------------ ( 0.685 – 1.000 ) = – 6.25 kips/ft
11 ( 0.0275 )

i. Using EQ 12-5:

x
Nq = 16.5 for ---- = 7.33
B

1
p b ≤ – --- ( 1.5 ) ( 11 ) ( 110 ) ( 16.5 ) ⁄ 1000
3

= –9.88 kips/ft

NOTE: A check using the value of “a” in EQ 12-1 will give no change.

j. Using EQ 12-7:

B.M. max 0.508

= 55.00 + 0.89 (0.685 - 0.677) (2)(11)
= 56.69 kip-ft
y = 3 (2000) (0.685)/52.5 (132) (132) (0.0275)
= 0.17 inches
Pcr = 5000/0.0044 = 1130 kips

36 ( 5000 )  1 + ------
20
 11 -
for a = ------------------------------------------------------------- = 0.0044
( 52.5 ) ( 132 ) ( 132 ) ( 132 )

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 Cantilever Poles

12.4.1.5 Example B – Cohesive Soils

a. Soil:

• Cohesive and dry with φ = 0 degrees,

• qu = 2 tons/square foot

• Unit weight = 110 lb/cubic foot

• c = 1 ton/square foot and use K = 1400 psi (See Table 12-2)

b. Loading:

• Same as previous example

c. Trial Design. It is desired to use an 18-inch pole with

• E = 1.6(10)6 psi

• M = 55 kip-ft, and EI = 8.245(10)9

d. Using EQ 12-13:

9 1⁄4 1
8.245 ( 10 )
R = ----------------------------- = 49.3
1400

Dmax = 3 (49.3) = 147.9 = 12.3 feet.

After several trials it was decided to try D = 7.5 feet.

3
e. Using EQ 12-8:

55
---------------- + 0.683
Do 2 ( 7.5 )
------- = -------------------------------------- = 0.554
D 1.87 ( 3.05 ) + 1
4
f. Using EQ 12-11:

2.15 ( 2 )
p b = ------------------------------------------------------ ( – 0.446 ) = – 6.73 kips/ft
7.5 [ 1.87 ( 0.554 ) – 1 ]

g. Using EQ 12-12:

1
p b = --- ( 1.5 ) ( 2 ) ( 6.9 ) = – 6.90 kips/ft
3

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Concrete Structures and Foundations

h. Using EQ 12-9:

1.377 ( 2 ) 1.15
p a = ---------------------------- ( 0.554 ) = 4.89 kips/ft
7.5 ( 0.038 )

i. Using EQ 12-10:

1
p a ≤ --- ( 1.5 ) ( 2 ) ( 3.8 ) = 3.80 kips/ft
3

Not satisfied
for x = 0.13 (0.554) (7.5) = 0.53 feet.
Nc = 3.8 (See Figure 12-2)
Try D = 9 feet

j. Using EQ 12-8:

55
----------- + 0.683
Do 2(9 )
------- = -------------------------------------- = 0.556
D 1.87 ( 3.05 ) + 1

k. Using EQ 12-9:

1.377 ( 2 ) 1.15
p a = ---------------------------- ( 0.556 ) = 3.80 kips/ft
9.0 ( 0.041 )

l. Using EQ 12-10:

1
p a ≤ --- ( 1.5 ) ( 2 ) ( 3.9 ) = 3.90 kips/ft
3

pb will obviously be satisfactory for this increased depth.

m. Using EQ 12-14:

B.M. max 55.00 + 0.80 (9) (2) (0.021)0.823

=
= 55.60 kip-ft
y = 2.15 (2000) (0.556)/(1400) (108) (0.041)
= 0.39 inches

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8-12-12 AREMA Manual for Railway Engineering