Professional Documents
Culture Documents
ductile
performance
from precast,
prestressed
concrete
piles
Andrew Budek
and Gianmario Benzoni
In general, concrete piles are intended to behave as elastic
structural elements when subjected to seismic loading. Exceptions include single-pile columns, which are typically
designed to support the development of a subgrade plastic
hinge under seismic loading.1 Elastic behavior is preferred
because of the difficulty of repairing foundations and the
possibility of reinforcing steel being exposed to corrosive
materials due to the extensive cracking and spalling that is
a consequence of plastic hinging.
64
S um me r 2 0 0 9 | PCI Journal
Prestressed concrete piles were first used as foundation elements in the early 1950s. They offer a number
of advantages to the designer and contractor. Inherently
resistant to tensile stresses, prestressed concrete piles can
be economically fabricated off-site, safely transported,
and easily handled during the pile-driving process. Their
ability to resist tensile stress without cracking is advantageous because inadvertent tensile stresses applied during
construction or service will be less likely to lead to cracking of the concrete, thus reducing the risk of corrosion of
the piles steel reinforcement.
Piles carry both axial load and lateral force. Axial load is
resisted by a combination of end bearing and skin friction (the dominant load-resisting mechanism depends on
the soil characteristics). Lateral forces (for instance, those
imposed by seismic excitation of the superstructure) are
resisted by a combination of shear and bending resistance.
Ideally, a foundation would be designed to remain elastic
under seismic load (as repair of damage to piles after an
earthquake is, at best, difficult), yet this is not normally
practical for pile-column designs, and hinging of piles in a
Axial load
45
40
Lateral force
35
30
25
Ground level
Moment pattern
at maximum inelastic
capacity
Plastic
hinge
location
B
20
15
10
5
Yield
moment
0
-1500 -1250 -1000 -750
-500
Yield
moment
-250
250
500
750
Moment, kNm
Figure 1. This drawing shows the pile moment pattern resulting from axial and lateral loads. Note: 1 m = 3.28 ft; 1 kN = 0.225 kip.
4 Ah
f'
1.25Paxial
= 0.12 c 0.5 +
+ 0.13
d' s
f yt
f'A
c
0.01 (1)
where
Ah = area of the spiral steel
d'
= core diameter
= spiral pitch
fyt
= ratio of area of distributed longitudinal reinforcement to gross concrete area perpendicular to that
reinforcement
PCI Journal | S u m m e r 2009
65
10
11
170
160
150
140
130
120
110
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
40
35
K = 53,400 kN/m3
30
Lateral force, kN
K = 40,840 kN/m3
Prediction
Test 1 envelope
Predicted spalling
25
20
15
10
5
50
100
150
200
250
Head displacement, mm
Figure 2. This graph compares the results of the finite-element-model prediction with the in-place pile test. Note: The pile had a 400 mm (16 in.) diameter with 50mm
(2in.) of cover, transverse reinforcement ratio = 0.006, longitudinal reinforcement ratio = 0.021, and axial load ratio = 0.1fc' Ag. Ag = gross cross-sectional area; fc' = concrete compressive strength; K = subgrade reaction modulus. 1 m = 3.28 ft; 1 kN = 0.225 kip.
= 0.45
Ag
Ah
fc'
f yt
(2)
where
Ah = cross-sectional area of a structural member measured
out to out of transverse reinforcement
In the case of a typical 610-mm-diameter (24 in.) pile,
using twenty-four 13 mm (1/2 in.) special tendons and a
76-mm-thick (3 in.) cover, Eq. (1) would be superseded by
Eq. (2), giving a required transverse reinforcement ratio of
3.5%.
This amount of spiral steel reinforcement would lead to
congested construction; the spiral pitch in the plastic hinge
regions using D9.5 (0.348 in. [8.8 mm]) wire would be
18mm (0.71 in.) (as opposed to 63.5 mm [25 in.] in Fig.
2). This is not acceptable, as ACI 318 specifies Eq. (3).
4db s 6db
where
db = main bar diameter
66
S um me r 2 0 0 9 | PCI Journal
(3)
Analytical modeling
The analytical models of the soil-pile system used in this
study were based on the nonlinear, inelastic finite-element
modeling of a Winkler beam (a beam on a flexible foundation). The pile was represented using beam elements and
the soil using lateral springs acting at the nodes (Fig. 3).
Finite-element analysis (FEA) for inelastic soil-pile interaction has been verified through field studies.9 FEA was
chosen due to its flexibility in representing both pile and
soil properties.
Budek et al. used nonlinear, inelastic constitutive models
for both the pile and soil and described them in detail.1
Briefly, the change in flexural stiffness of the pile as
inelastic action took place was extracted from the momentcurvature data as the slope of the moment-curvature curve.
Lateral load was applied in a series of steps. The elements
flexural stiffnesses were modified as necessary after each
load step, according to the elements respective average
moment. Pile yield was defined by tendon stress reaching
85% of its ultimate value.
A bilinear soil model was used in which the lateral stiffness of the soil (that is, individual spring stiffness) was reduced to one-fourth of its original value when the displacement at a node associated with a given spring exceeded
25.4 mm (1 in.).
Soil stiffness as expressed by the subgrade reaction modulus K ranged from 3200 kN/m3 to 48,000 kN/m3
(20 kip/ft3 to 300 kip/ft3). The nondimensional system stiffness KD6/D*EIeff is used to describe the properties of the
soil-pile system. It includes cracked-section flexural stiffness EIeff of the pile shaft, and normalizes the pile diameter
D against a reference pile diameter D* of 1.83 m (6.0 ft).
Budek et al. describes its derivation.10
The FEA program used was written specifically for this
research program and was validated through comparison
with laboratory testing1012 and against results from in-place
testing.9,13
The laboratory testing program consisted of a series of 16
tests,10 which included a number of precast, prestressed
concrete pile shafts of a size and configuration similar to
those examined in this study. The purpose of the investigation was to characterize the effect of external confinement
(as may be provided by competent soil) on the flexural
ductility available in the pile shaft at the subgrade hinge
(Fig. 1). The finite-element model in this study successfully predicted pile-shaft response under the imposed loading.
The analytical model was further validated by comparison
with a series of four in-place tests of free-head reinforced
concrete pile-columns performed by Chai and Hutchin-
Kn
Node n-1
K n-1
Node n-2
K n-2
Node n-3
K n-3
Node 5
K5
Node 4
K4
Node 3
K3
Node 2
Node 1
K2
Figure 3. The prestressed pile analytical model is shown with indicated forces.
The notch in the cap of the prestressed model is for illustrative purposes, to allow
the top spring to be shown. Note: K1 = subgrade reaction modulus associated with
node 1; K2 = subgrade reaction modulus associated with node 2; K3 = subgrade
reaction modulus associated with node 3; K4 = subgrade reaction modulus associated with node 4; K5 = subgrade reaction modulus associated with node 5; Kn
= subgrade reaction modulus associated with node n; Kn-1 = subgrade reaction
modulus associated with node n 1.
67
3.00
2.50
Model prediction
2.00
1.50
H = 2D
1.00
H = 6D
0.50
0.00
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
Figure 4. This graph compares the predicted and observed plastic-hinge depths from in-place pile tests. Note: D = pile diameter; H = depth of plastic hinge.
in the pile shaft (that is, the subgrade hinge) would move
toward the surface as plasticity progressed from the original location of the point of maximum subgrade moment.
Its terminal location when the ultimate inelastic capacity
of a free-head pile is known (in which the subgrade hinge
controls response) can therefore be predicted. It is consistently at a depth of 70% of the point of maximum subgrade
elastic moment, a value that is insensitive to either soil
stiffness or above-grade height of the pile head. The actual
depth is, of course, a function of both of these variables.
Figure 4 shows curves predicting subgrade hinge depths
for the above-grade heights tested in the relevant range of
nondimensional system stiffness for the four tests conducted by Chai and Hutchinson. The depths of the centers
of the plastic hinges, determined by digging down to the
0.61 m
S um me r 2 0 0 9 | PCI Journal
correct level of prestressing force applied through the section analysis, which produced the moment-curvature data
used as input for the FEA.
Previous experimental work6,1620 has shown that similar
pile-cap connections can support ductile response up to a
displacement ductility level of six.
Modeling of the different connections was addressed
through variation of either section prestress or axial load
in calculating moment-curvature data. For the pile head
embedded in the cap, full prestress was assumed at the
bottom of the cap (that is, full transfer was assumed at the
interface) (Fig. 6). To model embedment of the tendons,
effective prestress was assumed to go from zero at the top
of the pile to its full value at the end of the transfer length
of 115db.21,22 This part of the pile was, therefore, modeled
in 10 sections, adding 10% of the effective prestress each
time. Therefore, the input data for this case consisted of 11
sets of moment-curvature data (output from the Mander
model analysis) applied to the relevant section of the pile.
lp = 0.08L + 0.022fydbl
(4)
0% prestress
115db
100% prestress
Full
prestress
0% prestress
115db
100% prestress
Figure 6. Three prestressed concrete pilepile cap connections were considered in this study and are shown without reinforcing steel dowels. Note: The nominal embedment length of a pile head embedded in cap is two pile diameters. db = main bar diameter.
PCI Journal | S u m m e r 2009
69
1.0
Elastic contraflexure
0.9
Inelastic contraflexure
0.8
0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0.0
10
11
12
Figure 7. This graph compares Eq. (1) results with nominal design values for a prestressed pile with head embedded in cap with no nonprestressed, longitudinal reinforcement. Note: Ag = gross section area; D = pile diameter; D* = reference pile diameter; EIeff = cracked-section bending stiffness of the pile; fc' = concrete compressive
strength; K = subgrade reaction modulus; Paxial = axial load.
45
K = 32,000 kN/m3
Ground level
40
35
30
Paxial = 0
25
20
K = 32,000 kN/m3
15
10
5
0
yield
-1500 -1250 -1000 -750
-500
-250
250
500
750
Moment, kN-m
Figure 8. This graph plots the moment versus height for a pile head embedded in cap with no reinforcing dowels. Note: fc' = concrete compressive strength; K = subgrade
reaction modulus; Paxial = axial load. 1 m = 3.28 ft; 1 kN = 0.225 kip.
70
S um me r 2 0 0 9 | PCI Journal
45
K = 32,000 kN/m3
Ground level
40
35
30
25
20
K = 32,000 kN/m3
15
10
5
yield
0
-1500 -1250 -1000 -750
-500
-250
250
500
750
Moment, kN-m
Figure 9. This graph plots the moment versus height for a pile head embedded in cap with no reinforcing dowels. Note: Ag = gross section area; fc' = concrete compressive strength; K = subgrade reaction modulus; Paxial = axial load. 1 m = 3.28 ft; 1 kN = 0.225 kip.
where
L = distance from the critical section to the point of contraflexure (point A in Fig. 1)
fy = yield strength
dbl = longitudinal bar diameter
The first term in Eq. (4) represents the spread of plasticity
resulting from variation in curvature with distance from the
critical section and assumes a linear variation in moment
with distance. The second term represents the increase in
effective plastic hinge length associated with strain penetration into the supporting member.
Figure 7 shows that Eq. (4) overestimates the plastic hinge
length for the hinge occurring at the pilepile cap connection. Using typical values from an elastic analysis for depth
to point of contraflexure at yield for a pile with the pile head
embedded into the cap (both with and without reinforcing
dowels), the plastic hinge length is substantially greater than
that resulting from the present inelastic analysis.
Used in this context, Eq. (4) demonstrates one of the
inaccuracies associated with elastic analyses of piles:
when yielding is reached in the piles critical section, the
structure softens and a lesser depth of soil needs to be mobilized, thus moving the point of contraflexure toward the
surface. If an appropriate correction is made, Eq. (4) gives
a reasonable prediction of lp.
Results
Flexural response
and moment patterns
The response of piles to lateral loading is best introduced
through examination of moment patterns. In the case of
a fixed-head pile, the maximum moment, which controls
overall response, is generated at the pile-cap connection,
and a secondary moment maximum forms below grade.
Modeling inelastic pile response resulted in the formation
of a plastic hinge at the pile-cap connection, after which
71
45
40
K = 32,000 kN/m3
Ground level
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
yield
0
-1500 -1250 -1000 -750
-500
-250
250
500
750
Moment, kN-m
Figure 10. This graph plots the moment versus height for a pile head embedded in cap with no reinforcing dowels. Note: Ag = gross section area; fc' = concrete compressive strength; K = subgrade reaction modulus; Paxial = axial load. 1 m = 3.28 ft; 1 kN = 0.225 kip.
45
Ground level
40
35
30
25
20
15
Plastic analysis
Elastic analysis
(design strength)
Yield
10
5
0
-1500 -1250 -1000 -750
-500
-250
250
500
750
Moment, kN-m
Figure 11. This graph plots the moment versus height in comparing plastic and elastic analyses for a pile head embedded in cap with reinforcing dowels. Note: The plastic
analysis implies the development of a subgrade hinge. Ag = gross section area; fc' = concrete compressive strength; K = subgrade reaction modulus; Paxial = axial load.
1 m = 3.28 ft; 1 kN = 0.225 kip.
72
S um me r 2 0 0 9 | PCI Journal
45
Ground level
40
35
30
25
20
Plastic analysis
Elastic analysis
(design strength)
15
10
5
0
-1500 -1250 -1000 -750
-500
-250
250
500
750
Moment, kN-m
Figure 12. This graph plots the shear versus height in comparison of elastic and inelastic analyses for pile head embedded in cap with reinforcing dowels. Note: Ag = gross
section area; fc' = concrete compressive strength; K = subgrade reaction modulus; Paxial = axial load. 1 m = 3.28 ft; 1 kN = 0.225 kip.
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
2
1
0
10
11
12
Figure 13. This graph shows the depth of maximum subgrade moment of the three pilepile cap connections tested with no dowel reinforcement. Note: Ag = gross section area; D = pile diameter; D* = reference pile diameter; EIeff = cracked-section bending stiffness of the pile; fc' = concrete compressive strength; K = subgrade reaction
modulus; Paxial = axial load.
PCI Journal | S u m m e r 2009
73
Figures 13 and 14 show the depth of the point of maximum subgrade moment for piles without and with longitudinal mild-steel reinforcement, respectively. This is an important parameter, as it shows the length of pile for which
detailing for inelastic flexural action should be provided in
the form of increased levels of transverse reinforcement.
10
9
8
7
6
5
Paxial = 0.2f 'c Ag
3
2
1
0
10
11
12
Figure 14. This graph shows the depth of maximum subgrade moment of the three pilepile cap connections tested with dowel reinforcement. Note: Ag = gross section
area; D = pile diameter; D* = reference pile diameter; EIeff = cracked-section bending stiffness of the pile; fc' = concrete compressive strength; K = subgrade reaction
modulus; Paxial = axial load.
74
S um me r 2 0 0 9 | PCI Journal
45
K = 48,000 kN/m3
40
35
30
25
20
K = 32,000 kN/m3
15
Pile head embedded in cap
Tendons embedded in cap
Tendons stressed through cap
10
5
0
-1500 -1250 -1000 -750
-500
-250
250
500
750
Moment, kN-m
Figure 15. This graph compares ultimate inelastic moment patterns for different pilepile cap connections with no reinforcing dowels. Note: Ag = gross section area; fc' =
concrete compressive strength; K = subgrade reaction modulus; Paxial = axial load. 1 m = 3.28 ft; 1 kN = 0.225 kip.
45
K = 48,000 kN/m3
40
35
30
25
20
K = 32,000 kN/m3
15
Pile head embedded in cap
Tendons & dowels embedded
Tendons stressed through cap
dowels embedded
10
5
0
-1500 -1250 -1000 -750
-250
250
500
750
Moment, kN-m
Figure 16. This graph compares ultimate inelastic moment patterns for different pilepile cap connections with reinforcing dowels. Note: Ag = gross section area; fc' =
concrete compressive strength; K = subgrade reaction modulus; Paxial = axial load. 1 m = 3.28 ft; 1 kN = 0.225 kip.
PCI Journal | S u m m e r 2009
75
2
Pile head embedded in cap
Tendons embedded in cap
Tendons stressed through cap
Paxial = 0
Paxial = 0.2f 'c Ag
Paxial = 0.4f 'c Ag
0
0
10
11
12
Figure 17. This graph shows the displacement ductility capacity versus the nondimensional system stiffness for different pilepile cap connections with no reinforcing
dowels. Note: 3200 kN/m3 < K < 48,000 kN/m3 (20 kip/ft3 < K < 300 kip/ft3). Ag = gross section area; D = pile diameter; D* = reference pile diameter; EIeff = crackedsection bending stiffness of the pile; fc' = concrete compressive strength; K = subgrade reaction modulus; Paxial = axial load.
2
Pile head (with dowels) embedded in cap
Tendons and dowels embedded in cap
Tendons stressed through cap, dowels embedded
Paxial = 0
Paxial = 0.2f 'c Ag
Paxial = 0.4f 'c Ag
10
11
12
Figure 18. This graph shows the displacement ductility capacity versus the nondimensional system stiffness for different pilepile cap connections with reinforcing dowels.
Note: Ag = gross section area; D = pile diameter; D* = reference pile diameter; EIeff = cracked-section bending stiffness of the pile; fc' = concrete compressive strength; K =
subgrade reaction modulus; Paxial = axial load.
76
S um me r 2 0 0 9 | PCI Journal
Conclusion
The results from this research program allow the formulation of several conclusions.
77
References
1. Budek, A. M., M. J. N. Priestley, and G. Benzoni.
2000. Inelastic Seismic Response of Bridge DrilledShaft RC Pile/Columns. Journal of Structural Engineering, V. 126, No. 4 (April): pp. 510517.
2. Kachedoorian, R. 1968. Effects of March 27, 1964
Earthquake on the Alaska Highway System. U.S.
Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey
professional paper 545-C, Washington, DC.
3. Kishida, H., T. Hanazato, and S. Nakai. 1980. Damage of Reinforced Precast Piles during the MiyagiKen-Oki Earthquake of June 12, 1972. In Proceedings of the Seventh World Conference on Earthquake
Engineering. Istanbul, Turkey.
4. Falconer, T. J., and R. Park. 1982. Ductility of
Prestressed Concrete Piles under Seismic Loading.
Research report no. 82-6, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Canterbury, New Zealand.
5. Sheppard, D. A. 1983. Seismic Design of Prestressed
Concrete Piling. PCI Journal, V. 28, No. 2 (April
May): pp. 2049.
6. Banerjee, S., J. F. Stanton, and N. M. Hawkins. 1987.
Seismic Performance of Precast Concrete Bridge
Piles. Journal of Structural Engineering, V. 113, No.
2 (February): pp. 381396.
7. American Concrete Institute (ACI) Committee 318.
2005. Building Code Requirements for Structural
Concrete (ACI 318-05) and Commentary (ACI 318R05). Farmington Hills, MI: ACI.
8. Priestley, M. J. N., F. Seible, and G. Calvi. 1996.
Seismic Design and Retrofit of Bridges. New York,
NY: John Wiley and Sons.
9. Priestley, M. J. N. 1974. Mangere Bridge Foundation
Cylinder Load Tests. Ministry of Works and Development Central Laboratories report no. 488. Wellington,
New Zealand: Ministry of Works and Development.
10. Budek, A. M., G. Benzoni, and M. J. N. Priestley.
1997. Experimental Investigation of Ductility of InGround Hinges in Solid and Hollow Prestressed Piles.
Report no. SSRP 97/17. Department of Structural
Engineering, University of California at San Diego,
La Jolla, CA.
78
S um me r 2 0 0 9 | PCI Journal
Notation
Ah
Ag
Ah
d'
= core diameter
db
= pile diameter
fy
= yield strength
fyt
l p
= spiral pitch
l = ratio of area of distributed longitudinal reinforcement to gross concrete area perpendicular to that
reinforcement
79
The addition of mild-steel longitudinal reinforcement did not enhance ductility, though it did increase
flexural strength. The optimum pile-cap connection to
maximize ductility is embedment of the pile head into
the cap. Rotation capacity is maximized by embedment of the prestressing tendons and any mild-steel
longitudinal reinforcement present into the pile cap.
Keywords
Ductility, footing, pile, seismic, soil structure, transverse reinforcement.
Synopsis
A parametric study of the inelastic seismic response
of precast, prestressed concrete piles was conducted
to determine whether piles with only light transverse
reinforcement could act as ductile structural elements.
A nonlinear, inelastic finite-element program written
specifically for this project was used to validate results
for both laboratory and in-place testing. The study
examined single piles using several types of pile-cap
connections, the addition of mild-steel reinforcement,
varying levels of axial load, and a range of soil stiffness.
The piles were modeled with 1% transverse reinforcement, which is less than 1/3 of that required by ACI
318. The results indicated that modest levels of transverse reinforcement will allow for ductile response.
Assuming that the pile-cap connection is detailed to
80
S um me r 2 0 0 9 | PCI Journal
Review policy
This paper was reviewed in accordance with the
Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institutes peer-review
process.
Reader comments
Please address any reader comments to PCI Journal
editor-in-chief Emily Lorenz at elorenz@pci.org or
Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute, c/o PCI Journal,
209 W. Jackson Blvd., Suite 500, Chicago, IL 60606. J