CHAPTER 7.

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 Step 2 Determine the general soil type (i.e., cohesive or cohesionless) within the critical depth below the ground surface (approximately 4 to 5 pile diameters). Determine the coefficient of horizontal subgrade reaction, Kh, within the critical depth for cohesive or cohesionless soils. Cohesive soils: Kh = (n1 n2 1670 qu)/b (7-1)

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Where:

qu b n1 n2

= Unconfined compressive strength in (psf) = Diameter of the pile (ft) = Empirical coefficient taken from table 7-1. = Empirical coefficient for timber = 1.30

Table 7-1 Coefficient n1 for Cohesive Soils Unconfined Compressive Strength (ksf) Less than 1 1 to 4 More than 4 Cohesionless Soils: Choose Kh from table 7-2. n1 0.32 0.36 0.40

Table 7-2 Values of Kh for Cohesionless Soils Soil Density Loose Medium Dense Step 3 Above Groundwater 12 52 112 Kh (kcf) Below Groundwater 7 35 69

Adjust Kh for loading and soil conditions. Cyclic Loading (Earthquake Loading) in Cohesionless Soil: 1. Kh = 0.50 Kh from step 2 for medium to dense soil. 2. Kh = 0.25 Kh from step 2 for loose soil. Static loads resulting in soil creep (cohesive soil): 1. Kh = (0.16 to 0.33) Kh from step 2 for soft to very soft normally consolidated clay. 2. Kh = (0.25 to 0.50) Kh from step 2 for stiff to very stiff clay.

Step 4

Determine Pile Parameters: Modulus of elasticity (E) Moment of inertia (I) Section Modulus (S) Allowable bending stress of timber pile (Fb) Diameter of pile (b) Eccentricity of applied load ec for free-headed piles (I.e., vertical distance between ground surface and lateral load) Resisting moment of the pile My = S Fb

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Step 5

Determine h for cohesive soils or for cohesionless soils. h = (Khb/4EI)1/4 for cohesive soil = (Kh/EI)1/5 for cohesionless soil

Step 6

Determine the dimensionless length factor. hD for cohesive soils D for cohesionless soils

Step 7

Determine if the pile is long or short. Cohesive soil: 1. hD > 2.25 (long pile) 2. hD < 2.25 (short pile) It is suggested that for hD values between 2.0 and 2.5 both long and short pile criteria should be considered in step 9. The smaller value should be used. Cohesionless soil: 1. D > 4.0 (long pile) 2. D < 2.0 (short pile) 3. 2.0 < D < 4.0 (intermediate pile)

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

Determine the ultimate lateral load for a single pile Qu. a.) Short Free or Fixed Headed Pile in cohesive soil using D/b (and ec/b for free headed case) enter Figure 7-1 and select the corresponding value of Qu/cub2 and solve for Qu. b.) Long Free or Fixed Headed Pile in cohesive soil using My/cub3 (and ec/b for free headed case) enter Figure 7-2 and select the corresponding value of Qu/cub2 and solve for Qu.

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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 Calculate the working load for a single pile Qa. Calculate Qa corresponding to a given design deflection at the ground surface (y) or the deflection corresponding to a given design load. If Qa and y are not given, substitute the value of Qm from step 10 for Qa in the following cases and solve. a.) Free or Fixed Headed Pile in cohesive soil using hD (and ec/D for free headed case) enter Figure 7-5 and select the corresponding value of yKhbD/Qa and solve for Qa or y. b.) Free or Fixed Headed Pile in cohesionless soil using D (and ec/D for free headed case) enter Figure 7-6 and select the corresponding value of y(EI)3/5Kh2/5/QaD and solve for Qa or y. 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

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2.) For jetted piles use 0.75 of the value from step 13a. Step 14 Determine pile group lateral capacity. The total lateral capacity of the pile group equals the adjusted allowable load per pile from step 13b times the number of piles. The deflection of the pile group is the value selected in step 12. It should be noted that no provision has been made to include the lateral resistance offered by the soil surrounding an embedded pile cap.

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Figure 7-1:

Ultimate lateral load capacity of short piles in cohesive soils (FHWA-HI-97-013)

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Figure 7-2:

Ultimate lateral load capacity of long piles in cohesive soils (FHWA-HI-97-013)

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Figure 7-3:

Ultimate lateral load capacity of short piles in cohesionless soils (FHWA-HI-97-013)

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Figure 7-4:

Ultimate lateral load capacity of long piles in cohesionless soils (FHWA-HI-97-013)

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Figure 7-5:

Lateral deflection at ground surface of piles in cohesive soils (FHWA-HI-97-013)

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Figure 7-6:

Lateral deflection at ground surface of piles in cohesionless soils (FHWA-HI-97-013)

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