Laboratory Tests on Scaled Steel Fin Pile Foundations

The use of steel fin pile foundations (SFPFs) for offshore structures and their efficiency in increasing the lateral load capacity compared to unfinned piles has been extensively studied. Recently, SFPFs were introduced in the field of transportation engineering for supporting structures including signs, signals, etc. In these applications, foundations are subjected to torsional and combined torsion and lateral loads. However, the specification, construction, and application of SFPFs have been limited in these applications due to a lack of rigorous and detailed studies, especially under torsional and combined torsional and lateral loadings. In the present study, small-scale laboratory tests were carried out to evaluate the improvement in torsional and lateral load-carrying capacities of steel pipe piles by adding steel plates (fins) at grade level compared to the unfinned piles. The study also discusses the effect of arm length on the torsional and lateral load capacity during the combined torsional and lateral loading of SFPFs, as well as the zone/area of influence during the lateral pile loading for unfinned piles and SFPFs. Subsequently, combined torsional and lateral load tests were carried out on SFPFs with different moment arms to study the influence of arm length on the torsional and lateral load capacities. The laboratory studies, among other findings, showed that the introduction of fins significantly increases the torsional and lateral load capacities of monopiles, and that the torsional and lateral load capacities of both monopiles and SFPFs increase with an increase in sand density.

• Record URL:
  https://r3utc.psu.edu/files/2021/09/CIAMTIS-CIAM-UTC-REG09s.pdf
• Record URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/60308
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This document was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation, University Transportation Centers Program.
• Corporate Authors:

  Pennsylvania State University, University Park

  Thomas D. Larson Pennsylvania Transportation Institute
  Research Office Building
  University Park, PA  United States  16802-4710

  Center for Integrated Asset Management for Multimodal Transportation Infrastructure Systems (CIAMTIS)

  Pennsylvania State University
  University Park, PA  United States  16802

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Prabhu, S
  • Te, P
  • Qiu, T
  • 0000-0003-2516-6851
  • Laman, J A
  • 0000-0001-9204-5932
• Publication Date: 2021-4-9

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 71p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Load tests; Pile foundations; Signs; Steel pipe; Structural supports; Torsion
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01784925
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: CIAM-UTC-REG09, LTI 2021-12
• Contract Numbers: 69A3551847103
• Files: UTC, NTL, TRIS, ATRI, USDOT
• Created Date: Oct 18 2021 5:21PM