The capacity of driven steel H-piles in lacustrine clay, till and karst bedrock: a Winnipeg case study

• Main Author: Belbas, Ryan Earl John
• Other Authors: Blatz, James (Civil Engineering)
• Published: 2014
• Subjects: piles; Winnipeg
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1993/23295

Driven steel H-piles are becoming an increasingly practical deep foundation alternative in Winnipeg. They are a cost-effective and versatile pile type used to support heavy structures such as bridges and high rise buildings. The application of driven steel H-piles is relatively new in Winnipeg, consequentially limiting the knowledge of their ultimate load-carrying capacity (Qult) and load-displacement behavior. As a result of limited knowledge, the conventional limit states design (LSD) criteria is unreliable, as it bases pile capacity on the structural strength of steel as opposed to the strength and condition of the surrounding strata. Also, the serviceability limit state (SLS) criterion is incomplete as it ignores settlement. The research conducted for this thesis resulted in the development of comprehensive LSD criteria for driven steel H-piles in Winnipeg. A substantial amount of Pile Driving Analyzer (PDA) test and Case Pile Wave Analysis Program (CAPWAP) data was collected and analysed to better understand the capacity and load-displacement behavior of driven steel H-piles in Winnipeg and to improve the conventional LSD criteria. Existing static and dynamic resistance analysis methods (RAMs) were refined to specifically estimate the Qult of driven steel H-piles in Winnipeg. Resistance factors (RFs) for the purpose of determining the ultimate limit state capacity (QULS) are recommended on the basis of the CAPWAP-calculated capacities and refined RAMs. The CAPWAP-based load-displacement curves were examined to assess pile settlements under service loads to develop reasonable settlement design benchmarks and corresponding values of serviceability limit state capacity (QSLS).