Evaluation of Lateral Pile Resistance Near MSE Walls at a Dedicated Wall Site – Phase 2

Print
General Information
Study Number: TPF-5(381)
Former Study Number: TPF-5(272)
Lead Organization: Utah Department of Transportation
Contract Start Date: Aug 20, 2018
Solicitation Number: 1458
Partners: CA, FL, KS, MN, NY, UT, WI
Contractor(s): Brigham Young University
Status: Contract signed
Est. Completion Date: Dec 31, 2022
Contract/Other Number: 19-8182
Last Updated: Dec 03, 2022
Contract End Date: Dec 31, 2022
Financial Summary
Contract Amount: $240,000.00
Suggested Contribution:
Total Commitments Received: $240,000.00
100% SP&R Approval: Approved
Contact Information
Lead Study Contact(s): David Stevens
davidstevens@utah.gov
Phone: 801-589-8340
FHWA Technical Liaison(s): Michael Adams
mike.adams@dot.gov
Phone: 202-493-3025
Organization Year Commitments Technical Contact Name Funding Contact Name
California Department of Transportation 2019 $10,000.00 Yue Wang Sang Le
California Department of Transportation 2020 $10,000.00 Yue Wang Sang Le
Florida Department of Transportation 2018 $20,000.00 Larry Jones Patti Brannon
Florida Department of Transportation 2019 $20,000.00 Larry Jones Patti Brannon
Kansas Department of Transportation 2018 $20,000.00 Luke Metheny David Behzadpour
Kansas Department of Transportation 2019 $20,000.00 Luke Metheny David Behzadpour
Minnesota Department of Transportation 2018 $20,000.00 Nick Haltvick Lisa Jansen
Minnesota Department of Transportation 2019 $20,000.00 Nick Haltvick Lisa Jansen
New York State Department of Transportation 2018 $20,000.00 Steve Conklin Wes Yang
New York State Department of Transportation 2019 $0.00 Steve Conklin Wes Yang
Utah Department of Transportation 2018 $60,000.00 Jon Bischoff David Stevens
Wisconsin Department of Transportation 2018 $20,000.00 Jeff Horsfall Evelyn Bromberg

Study Description

Bridge abutment piles are frequently surrounded by mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) walls rather than a soil slope. Piles near MSE walls must be designed for lateral loads from earthquakes and thermal expansion/contraction. In the TPF-5(272) Phase 1 study involving several state DOTs, a series of 31 tests on free-head piles provided p-multipliers as a function of pile spacing which can be used to account for reduced lateral soil resistance due to the presence of an MSE wall. Equations were also developed to compute the induced force developed in the reinforcements by the lateral pile loading. However, a number of questions came up when the results of the Phase 1 study were presented to engineers and those responsible for code changes. These issues involve (a) the effect of cyclic loading when previous testing was monotonic, (b) the effect of pile head fixity because previous tests were on free-head piles while most abutment piles are “fixed-head”, (c) the effect of pile group loading when previous tests were for single piles, and (d) the effect of pile diameter on the p-multiplier and induced force equations because previous tests were all for piles about 12 inches in diameter.

Objectives

The objective for this Phase 2 study is to provide closure relative to the outstanding issues from Phase 1, using a series of additional tests as a follow-up to the original test series, and to further our understanding of the interaction between laterally loaded bridge abutment piles and adjacent MSE walls.

Scope of Work

The Phase 1 study included construction of a dedicated MSE wall site in Utah with instrumented piles behind the 20-ft high wall. This wall site will be reused for the Phase 2 testing. Funded tasks for this Phase 2 study include: 1. Excavate the top 6 ft of the soil backfill behind the existing MSE wall. 2. Instrument MSE reinforcements and piles with strain gauges. 3. Re-compact the top 6 ft of the soil backfill behind the existing MSE wall. 4. Conduct cyclic lateral pile load testing. 5. Conduct fixed-head lateral pile load testing. 6. Conduct lateral pile load testing of larger-diameter piles (24-inch diameter), to be newly placed between cut-off existing piles. 7. Conduct lateral pile load testing of a pile group. 8. Develop p-multipliers for Phase 2 lateral pile load testing results, compare these with the Phase 1 results, and update the overall p-multiplier equation as necessary. 9. Develop tensile force equations for Phase 2 lateral pile load testing results, compare these with the Phase 1 results, and update the overall tensile force equations as necessary. 10. Submit a final report that documents the Phase 2 research effort. 11. Report results to TAC committee members in video conferences. 12. Make presentations at AASHTO bridge engineers’ committee meetings and TRB events to aid in national efforts to implement the study results.

Comments

The Principal Investigator for this study is Dr. Kyle Rollins of Brigham Young University. Dr. Rollins has extensive experience with lateral load tests on piles. He is the Principal Investigator on the TPF-5(272) Phase 1 study. Conducting of the Phase 2 field tests at the dedicated wall site is planned for the summer of 2018. The minimum partner commitment expected for Phase 2 is $20,000. This could consist of $20,000 for FY2018 or FY2019, or the amount may be split between the two years. We requested the 100% SP&R Approval from FHWA.

Subjects: Bridges, Other Structures, and Hydraulics and Hydrology Soils, Geology, and Foundations

Documents Attached
Title File/Link Document Category Document Type Privacy Document Date Download
2023 1st Quarter 2023 1st quarter FHWA rpt_TPF-5(381).docx Progress Report Quarterly Progress Report Public 2023-05-02
2022 4th Quarter 2022 4th quarter FHWA rpt_TPF-5(381).docx Progress Report Quarterly Progress Report Public 2023-02-07
2022 3rd Quarter 2022 3rd quarter FHWA rpt_TPF-5(381).docx Progress Report Quarterly Progress Report Public 2022-12-03
2022 2nd Quarter 2022 2nd quarter FHWA rpt_TPF-5(381).docx Progress Report Quarterly Progress Report Public 2022-08-30
2022 1st Quarter 2022 1st quarter FHWA rpt_TPF-5(381).docx Progress Report Quarterly Progress Report Public 2022-05-27
2021 4th Quarter 2021 4th quarter FHWA rpt_TPF-5(381).docx Progress Report Quarterly Progress Report Public 2022-03-07
2021-9 Task 9 Tensile Force memo 2 (draft report) Draft Report_Reinforcement Tensile Forces (Task 9 Memo 2).pdf TPF Study Documentation Research Report Public 2022-01-31
2021 3rd Quarter 2021 3rd quarter FHWA rpt_TPF-5(381).docx Progress Report Quarterly Progress Report Public 2021-10-29
2021 2nd Quarter 2021 2nd quarter FHWA rpt_TPF-5(381).docx Progress Report Quarterly Progress Report Public 2021-08-17
2021 1st Quarter 2021 1st quarter FHWA rpt_TPF-5(381).docx Progress Report Quarterly Progress Report Public 2021-05-14
2020 4th Quarter 2020 4th quarter FHWA rpt_TPF-5(381).docx Progress Report Quarterly Progress Report Public 2021-02-25
2020-11 Task 9 Tensile Force memo 1 Memo Reinforcement Tensile Forces (Task 9 Memo 1).pdf Memorandum Other Public 2020-11-23
2020-11 Task 8 P-multipliers memo Memo P-multipliers Development (Task 8).pdf Memorandum Other Public 2020-11-23
2020 3rd Quarter 2020 3rd quarter FHWA rpt_TPF-5(381).docx Progress Report Quarterly Progress Report Public 2020-11-02
2020 2nd Quarter 2020 2nd quarter FHWA rpt_TPF-5(381).docx Progress Report Quarterly Progress Report Public 2020-11-02
2020-6 Task 7 testing memo Memo Group pile load testing (Task 7).pdf Memorandum Other Public 2020-07-21
2019-10 Task 6 testing memo Memo 24 inch pile load testing (Task 6) draft.pdf Memorandum Other Public 2020-07-21
2019-10 Task 5 testing memo Memo fixed head load testing (Task 5).pdf Memorandum Other Public 2020-07-21
2019-10 Task 4 testing memo Memo cyclic load testing (Task 4) draft.pdf Memorandum Other Public 2020-07-21
2020 1st Quarter 2020 1st quarter FHWA rpt_TPF-5(381).pdf Progress Report Quarterly Progress Report Public 2020-06-12
2019 4th Quarter 2019 4th quarter FHWA rpt_TPF-5(381).docx Progress Report Quarterly Progress Report Public 2020-06-12
2019 3rd Quarter 2019 3rd quarter FHWA rpt_TPF-5(381).docx Progress Report Quarterly Progress Report Public 2019-11-04
2019 2nd Quarter 2019 2nd quarter FHWA rpt_TPF-5(381).docx Progress Report Quarterly Progress Report Public 2019-08-20
2019 1st Quarter 2019 1st quarter FHWA rpt_TPF-5(381).docx Progress Report Quarterly Progress Report Public 2019-05-28
2018 4th Quarter 2018 4th quarter FHWA rpt_TPF-5(381).docx Progress Report Quarterly Progress Report Public 2019-01-31
2018 3rd Quarter 2018 3rd quarter FHWA rpt_TPF-5(381).docx Progress Report Quarterly Progress Report Public 2018-10-31
2018 2nd Quarter 2018 2nd quarter FHWA rpt_TPF-5(381).docx Progress Report Quarterly Progress Report Public 2018-08-17
Acceptance Memo TPF-5(381) Acceptance memo TPF5381.PDF Memorandum Other Public 2018-04-18
Documents Attached
Title File/Link Document Category Document Type Privacy Document Date Download
Match Waiver Request Match Waiver Request #1458.pdf Memorandum Other Public 2018-01-26
Waiver Approval Memo #1458 SPR Waiver Approval Memo-Signed.pdf Memorandum Other Public 2018-01-22

Evaluation of Lateral Pile Resistance Near MSE Walls at a Dedicated Wall Site – Phase 2

General Information
Study Number: TPF-5(381)
Lead Organization: Utah Department of Transportation
Contract Start Date: Aug 20, 2018
Solicitation Number: 1458
Partners: CA, FL, KS, MN, NY, UT, WI
Contractor(s): Brigham Young University
Status: Contract signed
Est. Completion Date: Dec 31, 2022
Contract/Other Number: 19-8182
Last Updated: Dec 03, 2022
Contract End Date: Dec 31, 2022
Financial Summary
Contract Amount: $240,000.00
Total Commitments Received: $240,000.00
100% SP&R Approval:
Contact Information
Lead Study Contact(s): David Stevens
davidstevens@utah.gov
Phone: 801-589-8340
FHWA Technical Liaison(s): Michael Adams
mike.adams@dot.gov
Phone: 202-493-3025
Commitments by Organizations
Organization Year Commitments Technical Contact Name Funding Contact Name Contact Number Email Address
California Department of Transportation 2019 $10,000.00 Yue Wang Sang Le (916)701-3998 sang.le@dot.ca.gov
California Department of Transportation 2020 $10,000.00 Yue Wang Sang Le (916)701-3998 sang.le@dot.ca.gov
Florida Department of Transportation 2018 $20,000.00 Larry Jones Patti Brannon 850-414-4616 patti.brannon@dot.state.fl.us
Florida Department of Transportation 2019 $20,000.00 Larry Jones Patti Brannon 850-414-4616 patti.brannon@dot.state.fl.us
Kansas Department of Transportation 2018 $20,000.00 Luke Metheny David Behzadpour 785-291-3847 David.Behzadpour@ks.gov
Kansas Department of Transportation 2019 $20,000.00 Luke Metheny David Behzadpour 785-291-3847 David.Behzadpour@ks.gov
Minnesota Department of Transportation 2018 $20,000.00 Nick Haltvick Lisa Jansen 651-366-3779 lisa.jansen@state.mn.us
Minnesota Department of Transportation 2019 $20,000.00 Nick Haltvick Lisa Jansen 651-366-3779 lisa.jansen@state.mn.us
New York State Department of Transportation 2018 $20,000.00 Steve Conklin Wes Yang 518-457-4660 wes.yang@dot.ny.gov
New York State Department of Transportation 2019 $0.00 Steve Conklin Wes Yang 518-457-4660 wes.yang@dot.ny.gov
Utah Department of Transportation 2018 $60,000.00 Jon Bischoff David Stevens 801-589-8340 davidstevens@utah.gov
Wisconsin Department of Transportation 2018 $20,000.00 Jeff Horsfall Evelyn Bromberg 608-267-7360 evelyn.bromberg@dot.wi.gov

Study Description

Study Description

Bridge abutment piles are frequently surrounded by mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) walls rather than a soil slope. Piles near MSE walls must be designed for lateral loads from earthquakes and thermal expansion/contraction. In the TPF-5(272) Phase 1 study involving several state DOTs, a series of 31 tests on free-head piles provided p-multipliers as a function of pile spacing which can be used to account for reduced lateral soil resistance due to the presence of an MSE wall. Equations were also developed to compute the induced force developed in the reinforcements by the lateral pile loading. However, a number of questions came up when the results of the Phase 1 study were presented to engineers and those responsible for code changes. These issues involve (a) the effect of cyclic loading when previous testing was monotonic, (b) the effect of pile head fixity because previous tests were on free-head piles while most abutment piles are “fixed-head”, (c) the effect of pile group loading when previous tests were for single piles, and (d) the effect of pile diameter on the p-multiplier and induced force equations because previous tests were all for piles about 12 inches in diameter.

Objectives

The objective for this Phase 2 study is to provide closure relative to the outstanding issues from Phase 1, using a series of additional tests as a follow-up to the original test series, and to further our understanding of the interaction between laterally loaded bridge abutment piles and adjacent MSE walls.

Scope of Work

The Phase 1 study included construction of a dedicated MSE wall site in Utah with instrumented piles behind the 20-ft high wall. This wall site will be reused for the Phase 2 testing. Funded tasks for this Phase 2 study include: 1. Excavate the top 6 ft of the soil backfill behind the existing MSE wall. 2. Instrument MSE reinforcements and piles with strain gauges. 3. Re-compact the top 6 ft of the soil backfill behind the existing MSE wall. 4. Conduct cyclic lateral pile load testing. 5. Conduct fixed-head lateral pile load testing. 6. Conduct lateral pile load testing of larger-diameter piles (24-inch diameter), to be newly placed between cut-off existing piles. 7. Conduct lateral pile load testing of a pile group. 8. Develop p-multipliers for Phase 2 lateral pile load testing results, compare these with the Phase 1 results, and update the overall p-multiplier equation as necessary. 9. Develop tensile force equations for Phase 2 lateral pile load testing results, compare these with the Phase 1 results, and update the overall tensile force equations as necessary. 10. Submit a final report that documents the Phase 2 research effort. 11. Report results to TAC committee members in video conferences. 12. Make presentations at AASHTO bridge engineers’ committee meetings and TRB events to aid in national efforts to implement the study results.

Comments

The Principal Investigator for this study is Dr. Kyle Rollins of Brigham Young University. Dr. Rollins has extensive experience with lateral load tests on piles. He is the Principal Investigator on the TPF-5(272) Phase 1 study. Conducting of the Phase 2 field tests at the dedicated wall site is planned for the summer of 2018. The minimum partner commitment expected for Phase 2 is $20,000. This could consist of $20,000 for FY2018 or FY2019, or the amount may be split between the two years. We requested the 100% SP&R Approval from FHWA.

Subjects: Bridges, Other Structures, and Hydraulics and Hydrology Soils, Geology, and Foundations

Title File/Link Type Private
2023 1st Quarter 2023 1st quarter FHWA rpt_TPF-5(381).docx Progress Report Public
2022 4th Quarter 2022 4th quarter FHWA rpt_TPF-5(381).docx Progress Report Public
2022 3rd Quarter 2022 3rd quarter FHWA rpt_TPF-5(381).docx Progress Report Public
2022 2nd Quarter 2022 2nd quarter FHWA rpt_TPF-5(381).docx Progress Report Public
2022 1st Quarter 2022 1st quarter FHWA rpt_TPF-5(381).docx Progress Report Public
2021 4th Quarter 2021 4th quarter FHWA rpt_TPF-5(381).docx Progress Report Public
2021-9 Task 9 Tensile Force memo 2 (draft report) Draft Report_Reinforcement Tensile Forces (Task 9 Memo 2).pdf TPF Study Documentation Public
2021 3rd Quarter 2021 3rd quarter FHWA rpt_TPF-5(381).docx Progress Report Public
2021 2nd Quarter 2021 2nd quarter FHWA rpt_TPF-5(381).docx Progress Report Public
2021 1st Quarter 2021 1st quarter FHWA rpt_TPF-5(381).docx Progress Report Public
2020 4th Quarter 2020 4th quarter FHWA rpt_TPF-5(381).docx Progress Report Public
2020-11 Task 9 Tensile Force memo 1 Memo Reinforcement Tensile Forces (Task 9 Memo 1).pdf Memorandum Public
2020-11 Task 8 P-multipliers memo Memo P-multipliers Development (Task 8).pdf Memorandum Public
2020 3rd Quarter 2020 3rd quarter FHWA rpt_TPF-5(381).docx Progress Report Public
2020 2nd Quarter 2020 2nd quarter FHWA rpt_TPF-5(381).docx Progress Report Public
2020-6 Task 7 testing memo Memo Group pile load testing (Task 7).pdf Memorandum Public
2019-10 Task 6 testing memo Memo 24 inch pile load testing (Task 6) draft.pdf Memorandum Public
2019-10 Task 5 testing memo Memo fixed head load testing (Task 5).pdf Memorandum Public
2019-10 Task 4 testing memo Memo cyclic load testing (Task 4) draft.pdf Memorandum Public
2020 1st Quarter 2020 1st quarter FHWA rpt_TPF-5(381).pdf Progress Report Public
2019 4th Quarter 2019 4th quarter FHWA rpt_TPF-5(381).docx Progress Report Public
2019 3rd Quarter 2019 3rd quarter FHWA rpt_TPF-5(381).docx Progress Report Public
2019 2nd Quarter 2019 2nd quarter FHWA rpt_TPF-5(381).docx Progress Report Public
2019 1st Quarter 2019 1st quarter FHWA rpt_TPF-5(381).docx Progress Report Public
2018 4th Quarter 2018 4th quarter FHWA rpt_TPF-5(381).docx Progress Report Public
2018 3rd Quarter 2018 3rd quarter FHWA rpt_TPF-5(381).docx Progress Report Public
2018 2nd Quarter 2018 2nd quarter FHWA rpt_TPF-5(381).docx Progress Report Public
Acceptance Memo TPF-5(381) Acceptance memo TPF5381.PDF Memorandum Public
Title File/Link Type Private
Match Waiver Request Match Waiver Request #1458.pdf Memorandum Public
Waiver Approval Memo #1458 SPR Waiver Approval Memo-Signed.pdf Memorandum Public

Currently, Transportation Pooled Fund is not supported on mobile devices, please access this Web portal using a desktop or laptop computer.