Pile/Footing Connections: A Survey of State Practice

Prepared for Geotechnics Technical Oversight Committee Wisconsin Highway Research Program Prepared by CTC & Associates LLC WisDOT Research & Library Unit March 5, 2009 Transportation Synthesis Reports are brief summaries of currently available information on topics of interest to WisDOT staff throughout the department. Online and print sources for TSRs include NCHRP and other TRB programs, AASHTO, the research and practices of other transportation agencies, and related academic and industry research. Internet hyperlinks in TSRs are active at the time of publication, but changes on the host server can make them obsolete. To request a TSR, e-mail research@dot.state.wi.us or call (608) 261-8198.

Request for Report

The Wisconsin Highway Research Programs Geotechnics Technical Oversight Committee requested a synthesis report on the state of the practice with regard to pile connection to footings, specifically the minimum embedment required in a pile footing to ensure fixity.

Summary
The AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications require that the tops of piles project at least 12 inches into the pile cap, or a reduced embedment of at least 6 inches if the pile is attached to the cap with embedded bars or strands (see Section 10.7.1.2, Minimum Pile Spacing, Clearance and Embedment into Cap). We reviewed the bridge design manuals of 14 northern states to identify how state DOTs are applying the AASHTO guidance in their State Specifications with regard to minimum pile embedment in footings, with a particular interest in minimum embedment to ensure fixity. This table summarizes our findings with regard to minimum embedment in a pile footing: Pile Type Cast-in-place pile Driven pile Minimum Embedment in Footing 6 inches 1 foot 1 to 2 feet 2 feet 750 millimeters (2.5 feet) 3 feet Integral abutment pile 2 feet 3 feet State NY CT, IL, IN, MN, ND, NY, OR IA, OH WA MT NE, NJ ID ND

Most of the state DOT bridge design manuals we reviewed indicated minimum embedment in the footing or abutment but did not specify the minimum embedment required to ensure fixity. Of the manuals we reviewed, only two addressed fixity: Illinois Integral abutment piling shall extend 2 feet into the abutment to assure pile fixity. Where piles are required to resist large lateral loadings by soil/structure interaction (also known as pile flexure or pile fixity), the piles may be embedded 2 feet into the abutment or footing to ensure top of pile fixity and reduce deflection. Oregon Typical minimum embedment to develop fixity: Piles HP 10X42 and HP 12x53 HP 12X74 and HP 14X89 HP 14X117 PP 10 X 0.38 and PP 12 X 0.38 PP 16 X 0.38 and PP 16 X 0.50 Minimum Embedment 20 inches 24 inches 27 inches 15 inches 20 inches

State Specifications
Connecticut Bridge Design Manual, 2003 http://www.ct.gov/dot/lib/dot/documents/dpublications/bridge/bdm.pdf See page 79 of the PDF: 5.14.4 Driven Piles (see the third paragraph in this subsection) Pile foundations supporting abutments shall have a minimum of two rows of piles, unless the piles are incorporated into a fully integral abutment. Piles shall be anchored to and embedded in the footings a minimum of twelve inches. Idaho Bridge Design LRFD Manual, April 2008 http://itd.idaho.gov/bridge/manual/manual_April08.pdf See page 166 of the PDF: Design Limitations for the Use of Integral Abutments Foundations: Abutments shall be supported on a single row of steel H-piles, steel smooth hollow pipe pile or steel-encased concrete piles utilizing smooth steel tubes. Piles should be embedded into the abutment concrete at least 2 feet. The preferred orientation of the piles is for bending about the strong axis. On skewed bridges the pile flanges should remain parallel with the abutment. Illinois Bridge Manual, 2008 http://www.dot.il.gov/bridges/pdf/Bridge%20Manual_2008.exe (unzip file to open PDF) See page 570 of the PDF: 3.10.1.12 Pile Connection to Abutments, Piers and Footings Piles supporting footings or non-integral abutments shall extend 12 in. into the structure. Integral abutment piling shall extend 2 ft. into the abutment to assure pile fixity. Reinforcement shall be placed to maintain 3 in. clearance from the bottom of the footing and arranged in such a manner to allow the pile to project into the footing or abutment. Pile bent piers shall have their piling extend through the individual or solid wall encasement 12 in. into the pier cap. Where piles are required to resist large lateral loadings by soil/structure interaction (also known as pile flexure or pile fixity), the piles may be embedded 2 ft. into the abutment or footing to ensure top of pile fixity and reduce deflection.

Indiana Indiana Design Manual, Chapter 66, 2008 http://www.in.gov/dot/div/contracts/standards/dm/english/Part6/ECh66/ch66.htm See page 17 of the PDF: 66-3.04 Design Requirements 3. Embedment. Article 10.7.1.5 also specifies that pile tops should project not less than 1 ft into the footing after all damaged pile material has been removed. Embedment of piles into the stem of a wall pier with a single row of piles should be a minimum of 5 ft. Find links to all chapters of the Indiana Design Manual at http://www.in.gov/dot/div/contracts/standards/dm/english/. Iowa LRFD Bridge Design Manual, January 2008 ftp://165.206.203.34/dotmain/bridges/policy/LRFDBridgeDesignManual.pdf See page 179 of the PDF: Table 6.2.5. Minimum pile embedment and pile head reinforcing Substructure element Integral abutment for A or B pretensioned prestressed concrete beams (PPCBs) Integral abutment for C, D, BTB, BTC, BTD, or BTE pretensioned prestressed concrete beams (PPCBs) Integral abutment for steel plate girders Minimum embedment 2 feet (600 mm) 2 feet (600 mm) 2 feet (600 mm) Pile head reinforcing Spiral (1) Spiral (1) and bent p bars
(2)

Stub abutment on timber piles 2 feet (600 mm) Stub abutment on steel piles 2 feet (600 mm) Pier footing 1 foot (300 mm) Continuous concrete slab pile bent cap (not monolithic 1.5 feet (460 mm) with slab) Continuous concrete slab pile bent cap (monolithic with 1 foot (300 mm) Cap steel (bent dowels) (5) slab) Table notes: (1) Spiral is placed around each pile head as detailed on standard sheets [OBS SS 20782091]. The spiral should not be epoxy coated. (2) For the bent p bars see the Abutment Pile Plan on standard sheets [OBS SS 2085-2091]. (3) No standard sheet is available. (4) See standard sheets for C or D beams [OBS SS 2092-2105]. (5) Cap steel (bent dowels) is detailed on a standard sheet [OBS SS P10L]. Minnesota LRFD Bridge Design Manual, Section 10: Foundations, June 2007 http://www.dot.state.mn.us/bridge/Manuals/LRFD/LRFD-Manual.pdf See pages 519 and 520 of the PDF: Clear Spacing and Minimum Concrete Cover The minimum concrete cover for piles is 9 inches. To facilitate pile driving operations, the minimum center-tocenter pile spacing is 2'-6" with 3'-0" minimum preferred. It may be necessary to increase the plan dimensions of a footing or pile cap when using battered piles to provide the minimum concrete cover of 9 inches. The standard embedment into a pier or high parapet abutment footing for a driven pile is one foot and should be dimensioned in the plans. Assume the piles are pinned supports. The standard pile embedment for a low parapet abutment footing is 2'-4".

Spiral (1) (3) and bent p bars (2) (3) Spiral (3) None (4) None (3) None (3)

Montana Montana Structures Manual Part II, Chapter 20: Foundations, August 2002 http://www.mdt.mt.gov/other/bridge/external/structures-manual/part_II/chp-20-final.pdf See page 7 of the PDF: 20.2.1 Minimum Dimensions/Materials The following criteria shall apply: 1. Footing and Cap Thickness: a. Spread Footings: 600 mm b. Pile Caps: 750 mm Find links to all parts of the Montana Structures Manual at http://www.mdt.mt.gov/publications/manuals.shtml#design, including Parts I and II as well as Geotechnical and Hydraulic Design. Nebraska Bridge Operations, Policies & Procedures, December 2008 http://www.dor.state.ne.us/design/bridge/bopp/2008_BOPP_Manual(web).pdf See page 205 of the PDF: Pier Footings The minimum thickness of any footing supported on piles shall be 3 feet. For highway crossings, a minimum vertical distance of 3 feet shall be provided between ground elevation and the top of any pier footing. For railroad crossings, the minimum footing embedment shall conform to railroad requirements (see Section 1.2.1, Page 1.11). For water crossings, the hydraulic section shall determine pier footings elevations to provide adequate scour protection. New Jersey Bridges and Structures Design Manual, Section 16: Foundations Design Criteria, 2002 http://www.nj.gov/transportation/eng/documents/BDME/zip/BridgeDesignManualDocs.zip Select File-26-SEC 16.doc from the list of files that appears when opening the zip file above. See page 2 of the Word file: 2. Pile Foundations a. As stated above, pile foundation designs shall be based on the criteria that is stated on page 1.3-21 of this Manual. b. The minimum pile cap thickness shall be 3 feet.

New York Bridge Manual, January 2008 https://www.nysdot.gov/divisions/engineering/structures/repository/manuals/brmanusc/Complete_nysdot_US_2008_1st.pdf See the second paragraph on page 272 of the PDF: The tops of C.I.P. piles shall be embedded 6" into the footing. The tops of all other piles shall be embedded 1'0" into the footing. North Dakota LRFD Bridge Design Manual, Chapter 10: Foundations, February 2008 http://www.dot.nd.gov/manuals/bridge/lrfd-bridge-design/Section10A.pdf See page 1 of the PDF: 10.2 Piles It may be necessary to increase the plan dimensions of a footing or pile cap when using battered piles.

The standard embedment into a pier or abutment footing for a driven pile is one foot and shall be dimensioned in the plans. See page 5 of the PDF: 10.4.2 Pile Embedment Piles shall be embedded a minimum of three feet into the wall of integral type abutments. For wall piers with a single row of piling, pile embedment shall be at least height of wall/ 3, but not less than 4'-0". Maximum embedment shall be governed by punching shear. Find links to all chapters of the LRFD Bridge Design Manual at http://www.dot.nd.gov/manuals/bridge/lrfd-bridgedesign/lrfd-bridge.htm. Ohio Bridge Design Manual, 2007 http://www.dot.state.oh.us/Divisions/HighwayOps/Structures/standard/Bridges/BDM/BDM2007/BDM2007_07-1808.pdf See page 180 of the PDF: 303.4.2.3 Pile Embedment Piles supporting capped pile piers shall be embedded 1'-6" [450 mm] into the concrete cap. Other substructure units on a single row of piles should have the piles embedded 2'-0" [600 mm] into the concrete. A 1'-0" [300 mm] embedment depth into the concrete footing is required for all other cases. In every case, there shall be at least 1'-6" [450 mm] cover over top of pile. Oregon Bridge Design and Drafting Manual 2004 http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/HWY/BRIDGE/docs/BDDM/apr-2008_finals/section_1-2004_apr08.pdf See page 59 of the PDF: Steel Pile Footing Embedment to Develop Fixity. It may be necessary to develop lateral load resistance in piles or pile groups. To develop the required lateral load capacities, piles must be embedded in pile caps or footings adequately to develop the full moment capacity of the pile section. If lateral load capacity is not needed, a pile embedment length of 12 inches is sufficient. Typical minimum embedment to develop fixity for f'c = 3.3 ksi and fb = 36 ksi is: Piles HP 10X42 and HP 12x53 HP 12X74 and HP 14X89 HP 14X117 PP 10 X 0.38 and PP 12 X 0.38 PP 16 X 0.38 and PP 16 X 0.50 Minimum Embedment 20 24 27 15 20

Washington Bridge Design Manual, May 2008 http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/publications/manuals/fulltext/M23-50/BDM.pdf See page 952 of the PDF: 7.7.5 Footing Concrete Design on Pile Supports The minimum footing thickness shall be 2 feet 0 inches. The minimum plan dimension shall be 4 feet 0 inches. Footing thickness may be governed by the development length of the column dowels, or by concrete shear requirements. The use of strut and tie modeling is recommended for the design of all pile caps and pile footings Figure 7.7.5-1 identifies the modes of failure that should be investigated for general pile cap/footing design.