10.

A P P E N D I X 2 - S T R U C T U R A L D E S I G N O F A P I L E
10.1. Code requirements
This chapter discuss an example for Structural design o f a reinforced concrete pile.

The design o f a pile is discussed i n several codes and the proposed requirements for

the design are varies i n each code. Table 10.1 summarizes the requirements o f BS

8004, BS 5400 - P 4 and BS 8110.

A t present, specific references i n U K codes to the design o f reinforcement i n piles is

limited to two documents, BS 8004:1986 "Foundations" and B D 32/88 "Piled

Foundations". A summary o f the requirements o f these codes is given below:

i. BS 8004: 1986 "Foundations"

a) Vertical piles which are axially loaded need not be designed as structural

columns unless part o f the pile extends above ground level (C17.3.3.3). For this

latter case, only the upper portion o f the pile need be considered as a column

down to a point o f fixity.

b) A l l forces acting on the pile are to be determined and the pile reinforced

accordingly (C17.3.3.4, C I 7.3.3.6, and C17.4.4.3.2). Some or all o f the pile

length may be unreinforced (CI 7.4.4.3.2). Pre-cast concrete piles are to be

designed to BS 8110 (or CP 116).

c) Where tensile forces are to be resisted by the pile, adequate reinforcement is

required to resist the entire tension stresses. The reinforcement should be

provided for the foil length o f the pile or where tensile forces are small, to a

depth at which the tensile forces have been folly transmitted to the ground (CI

7.3.3.7 and CI 7.4.5.3.2).

d) M i n i m u m spacing o f links is given as 150mm (CI 7.4.4.4.2).

e) For raking piles, loads may be considered as axial w i t h an applied bending

force at the top (CI 7.3.3.5).

f) Durability and protection o f reinforcement against corrosion is provided by

dense impermeable concrete free from defects (CI 10.4.7). Nominal cover for

various exposure conditions should be as BS 8110.

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ii. Standard B D 32/88: 1988 "Piled Foundations"

a) This standard applies to both the design o f driven and bored piles (CI 2.1).

b) Pile caps are to be designed to BS 8004 but CI 3.1 states that the structural

design o f all concrete elements o f the pile is to be to BS 5400 Pt 4. ^

BS 8110 states that embedded piles need not be designed as columns and piles carrying

axial load only need not be reinforced. Some rules are provided regarding calculation

o f axial forces which may be accommodated without reinforcement but no guidance

is given on calculation o f shear capacity. Where reinforcement is required, BS 8110 is

mentioned for design but is not specifically invoked, except for pre-cast piles. N o

guidance is given for curtailment o f longitudinal steel. ' *

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Code/Standard Cover to Longitudinal Reinforcement Transverse Reinforcement Crack Control
(Date) Reinforcement Max Crack
Min. Min. Max. Min Max. Min. Width
No Dia. Spacing % Spacing Diameter
BS 8110 75mm 4 12mm Tension 12 times - times Only checked i f
Pt 1 (Concrete cast (Rectangular) 0.8% Smallest 4 N < 0.2fcuAc
(1985) against ground) 6 (Steel) Main bar Largest main Then max.
(Circular) 0.45% size Bar size or width
(high yield) 6mm = 0.3mm
BS 5400 45mm 4 12mm 300mm l%or 12 times - times 0.25mm
Pt 1 (Buried C30 (Rectangular) 0.15Nfy Smallest 4 (Buried
(1990) Concrete) 6 Main bar Largest main concrete)
(Circular) Or 0.74 Bar size 0.1mm i f
times groundwater
effective pH<4.5
depth
BS 8004 As BS8110 As BS 8110 AsBS 8110—- Not mentioned
But add 40mm
for concrete
cast against
ground

Table. 10-1 Summary o f Code Requirements (Page 123 and Page 124)
Code/Standard Permissible Stresses M a x i m u m Axial Load
(Date) Concrete Steel Without Reinforcement W i t h Reinforcement

Compression
BS8110 0.67^ fy/ 0.4 feu Ae + 0.75 A e
Pt 1 Ym 0.4 feu A c
(1985) Shear (Tension & Compression) fy
Ve+0.6'^-^-''

Compression
0.67=^
Ym Compression
Shear
fy 1 (Km + / y / 2 0 0 0 )
BS 5400 0.5. f^u ;•
(Triangular Stress 0.4 feu. b. de + fyc. A '
Pt4 0.4 feu . b. dc
Distribution) Tension Si + fs2. As2
(1990)

0.38 feu
(Uniform Stress Distribution)

BS 8004
A s B S 8110 A s B S 8110 A s B S 8110 A s B S 8110
(1986)
Ae - area o f concrete do - depth o f concrete i n compression M - applied design moment
A ' si - area o f compression feu - characteristic concrete cube strength N - applied designed axial load
As2 - area o f r / f i n fs2 - stress i n reinf i n other face V - applied design shear
other face fy - characteristic strength o f reinforcement Vc - design concrete shear stress
Asc - area o f vertical reinf. h - overall depth o f section Yfn - partial safety factor for strength o f
material
b - width o f section

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Global
Reinforcement BD 32/88
BS8004 BS8110
Design (BS5400 Pt 4)
Requirements

o Axial No guidance Refer to Detailed design rules Detailed design rules

Compression BS8110 for structural design for structural design
(See (See Table 3.1.1)
Table 3.1.1)

o Axial Tension General guidance given -do- -do-

on length of pile to be
reinforced

o Flexure No guidance Refer to -do- -do-

BS 8110

o Shear No guidance Refer to - do- - do-

BS 8110

o Buckling Check for Buckling i f No checks required No checks required

Co<20kN/m2

Rules for:

o Minimum No minimum -do- -do-

Reinforcement reinforcement required

o Links Minimum spacing -do- -do-

150mm

o Calculation of RefertoBSS 110. Only -do- -do-

Rebar upper part of pile above
ground level to be
designed as a column

o Cover AsBSSllOplus 40mm 75mm 45mm max +40mm

(Concrete cast against in accordance with
ground) BS8004 cl 2.4.5

o Crack Control Not mentioned Only required for 0.1mm to 0.25mm

N<0.2fou depending on
exposure conditions

o Durability Some guidance given Detailed requirements Detailed

for concrete design requirements for
and nominal cover to concrete design and
reinforcement nominal cover to
reinforcement

Table 10-2: Summary o f Current U K Design Codes

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