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New Static Analysis Methods and LRFD Recommendations for Steel H-Piles in Rock-Based Intermediate Geomaterials

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Abstract

Existing static analysis methods and their resistance factors recommended in the AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications (2020) were developed for pile resistance predictions in soils. The performance of existing α- and β-methods on the LRFD design of steel H-piles in rock-based Intermediate GeoMaterials (IGMs) were evaluated in terms of both resistance and efficiency factors. Compared to AASHTO (AASHTO LRFD bridge design specifications, 9th ed, U.S. Customary Units, Washington, DC, 2020) recommendations, lower resistance factors calibrated for IGM-rocks confirmed that the prescribed reliability level cannot be attained using the existing α- and β-methods. Furthermore, lower efficiency factors were determined for the α- and β-methods on the shaft resistance and end bearing predictions. To improve the efficiency of pile designs in rock-based IGMs, calibrated α- and β-methods consisting of new equations for design coefficients were developed based on an electronic database (WyoPile) of pile load test data in IGM-rocks of Wyoming. The proposed LRFD procedure consists of probability based resistance factors determined using the First Order Reliability Model and Monte Carlo Simulation for target reliability indices of 2.33 and 3.00. Higher resistance and efficiency factors were achieved for the calibrated α- and β-methods. The uncertainties of the calibrated resistance factors described by the mean, standard deviation, and 95% confidence interval are also presented to address the effect of sample sizes used in this study.

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Acknowledgements

The authors express their sincere gratitude to the Wyoming Department of Transportation for sponsoring the research study and the members of the Bridge and Geology Programs for their guidance and advice.

Funding

The authors would like to express their gratitude to the Wyoming Department of Transportation (Grant No. RS06216) for funding this research study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geotechnical Engineer, FDH Infrastructure Services, LLC, 6521 Meridien Drive, Raleigh, NC, 27616, USA

    Pramila Adhikari

  2. Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering and Construction Management, University of Wyoming, 1000 E. University Ave, EN3050, Laramie, WY, 82071-2000, USA

    Kam W. Ng

  3. Graduate Geotechnical Engineer, Arup Group Ltd, 12777 West Jefferson Boulevard, Building D, Suite 100, Los Angeles, CA, 90066, USA

    Yrgalem Z. Gebreslasie

  4. Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Wyoming, 1000 E. University, Laramie, WY, 82071-3036, USA

    Shaun S. Wulff

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  1. Pramila Adhikari
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  2. Kam W. Ng
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  3. Yrgalem Z. Gebreslasie
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  4. Shaun S. Wulff
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All authors have reviewed and approved this manuscript.

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Correspondence to Kam W. Ng.

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Adhikari, P., Ng, K.W., Gebreslasie, Y.Z. et al. New Static Analysis Methods and LRFD Recommendations for Steel H-Piles in Rock-Based Intermediate Geomaterials. Geotech Geol Eng 40, 2553–2567 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-021-02045-x

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