Lateral Resistance of Piles within Corrugated Metal Sleeves: Fid-Bau Portal

Lateral Resistance of Piles within Corrugated Metal Sleeves

Russell, Dalin N. / Rollins, Kyle M.

Pile foundations supporting bridge abutments are often driven inside corrugated metal pipe sleeves (CMS) which extend through the approach fill to reduce downdrag or for construction expediency. The annular space between the pile and the sleeve is typically filled with uncompacted pea gravel. Designers often assume that the lateral resistance of the pile within the sleeve will be minimal; however, no test results are available to confirm this assumption. To investigate the lateral resistance of piles driven within CMS, a full-scale lateral load test was performed. The test pile configuration included a 32.4 cm (12.75 in.) pipe pile within a 60 cm (24 in.) CMS with uncompacted pea gravel filling the annular space. Results indicate that after small pile displacements, the lateral pile resistance was similar to that provided by an individual pipe pile and was even greater at larger displacements. As the pile displaced laterally, the gravel within the annular space became engaged and displaced the CMS into the compacted fill. Back-analyses indicate that the ultimate lateral pile resistance for this case can be approximated by treating the pipe-gravel-CMS as a composite pile having an EI equal to the pipe pile but with a diameter equal to the CMS.