Development of partial factor design method on bending strength of piles for Japanese Specifications for Highway Bridges

ABSTRACT

This paper describes the development of a partial factor design method on the bending strength of piles for the Japanese Specifications for Highway Bridges. First, uncertainties in mobilised bending moments and yield bending moments were evaluated by Monte Carlo simulations. Second, the reliability of piles designed by the previous specifications were evaluated on the basis of reliability analysis considering uncertainties in the mobilised bending moments, yield bending moments, and other factors. Finally, a partial factor design method utilising a survey subsurface investigation method and ground type was developed to reach target reliability levels determined by the Standards.     

基桩可靠度分析的统计相关性评价方法

为了评估不同失效准则对基桩可靠度的影响,传统的方法是引入失效准则偏差系数。然而目前所定义的失效准则偏差系数使得偏差系数和基本随机变量之间具有一定的相关性,直接将偏差系数的统计参数用于基桩可靠度分析是不尽合理的。为此,基于线性回归理论提出了新的失效准则偏差系数的定义,并采用Spearman秩相关系数方法检验了偏差系数和基本随机变量之间的相关性。采用算例分析了偏差系数和基本随机变量之间的相关性对基桩可靠度的影响。结果表明,传统的失效准则偏差系数的定义使得偏差系数和基本随机变量之间具有一定的相关性,提出的通用的失效准则偏差系数能够有效地消除这种相关性。偏差系数与基本随机变量之间的相关性对偏差系数的均值具有明显的影响,但对变异系数基本没有影响。此外,偏差系数与基本随机变量间的相关性对基桩可靠指标具有明显的影响,基桩可靠度分析中应该消除这种相关性。     

A procedure for incorporating setup into load and resistance factor design of driven piles

In a recent study, the time-dependent increase in axial load resistance of steel H-piles driven into cohesive soils, due to setup, was systematically quantified using measured field data. A method to estimate the setup based on measurable soil properties was subsequently established. These studies highlighted that the uncertainties of the measurements of soil properties and thus the semi-empirical approach to estimate setup are significantly different from those of the methodology used for measuring the pile resistance during retaps at any time after the end of driving. Recognizing that the two sets of uncertainties should be addressed concurrently, this paper presents a procedure for determining the factored resistance of a pile with due consideration to setup in accordance with the load and resistance factor design that targets a specific reliability index. Using the first-order second-moment method, the suggested procedure not only provides a simplified approach to incorporate any form of setup in design, but it also produces comparable results to the computationally intensive first-order reliability method. Incorporating setup in design and construction control is further shown to reduce foundation costs and minimize retap requirements on piles, ultimately reducing the construction costs of pile foundations.     

A design method for plastic tube cast-in-place concrete pile considering cavity contraction and its validation

Bearing capacity calculation method and field static load test (SLT) program were carried out simultaneously to study the bearing characteristics of individual Plastic Tube Cast-in-Place Concrete Pile (TC pile), which are increasingly being employed for support of embankments in southeast China. The bearing capacity calculation method considering pile setup (i.e., setup calculation method) was built up according to the cylindrical cavity contraction and horizontal consolidation theories. A series of SLTs on different dates were applied to study the bearing behavior of TC pile and to verify the validity of the established setup calculation method. During TC piles installation, there is about 45% contraction in cylindrical volume due to the extraction of steel casing. Both theoretical and experimental results show that the calculated outcomes considering cylindrical cavity contraction agree well with measured ones. The difference value between them is not more than 12%. On the other hand, if the cylindrical cavity contraction is ignored, the calculated bearing capacities of TC piles are overestimated by 160–300%. The setup of TC pile is mainly due to the increment of pile shaft resistance with time elapsed. Cylindrical cavity contraction accompanied by TC pile installation causes much loss of pile shaft resistance.     

Calibration of resistance factor for design of pile foundations considering feasibility robustness

The resistance factor for pile foundations in load and resistance factor design (LRFD) is traditionally calibrated considering target reliability index (β_T) and statistics of load and resistance bias factors. However, the resistance bias factor is hard to quantify statistically. Consequently, the design obtained using the calibrated resistance factor can still miss β_T if the variation in resistance bias factor has been underestimated. In this paper, we propose a new resistance factor calibration approach to address this dilemma by considering “feasibility robustness” of design in the calibration process. Herein, the feasibility robustness is defined as a probability that the β_T requirement can still be satisfied even in the presence of uncertainty or variation in the computed bearing capacity. For illustration, LRFD approach for pile foundations commonly used in Shanghai, China is examined. Emphasis is placed on re-calibration of resistance factors at various feasibility robustness levels, with due consideration of the variation in the resistance bias factor. A case study is presented to illustrate the use of the re-calibrated resistance factors. The results show that the feasibility robustness is gained at the expense of cost efficiency; in other words, the two objectives are conflicting. To aid in the design decision-making, an optimal feasibility robustness level and corresponding resistance factors are suggested in the absence of a designer’s preference.     

Probabilistic analysis of load-settlement response from pile load tests

The evaluation of variability in ultimate pile capacity from the load-settlement data is useful in the context of code calibration and reliability based design in pile foundations. This paper examines the applicability of two non-linear analytical methods to calculate the load-settlement response of piles using actual test data in terms of percentage deviation from the measured capacity. The degree of agreement associated with each method with respect to field test data is quantified using two different failure criteria (FHWA and Eurocode) for determination of the ultimate load of pile. The analytical methods are used to quantify the variability associated with the soil-pile interface parameters and ultimate capacity using Monte Carlo simulations, which is useful in load-resistance factored/reliability design of pile foundations. Study reveals that variability depends on the method of analysis, percent deviation of prediction from measured values and failure criteria.     

基于实测动刚度的桥桩承载能力评估研究

提出了适用于批量评估分析的、基于实测动刚度的桥桩承载能力评估方法。结合某公路特大桥大批量桥墩基础评估加固工程,利用瞬态机械阻抗法对680根桥桩进行动测。通过基桩低应变完整性辅助测试及动刚度统计分析,推算了桥桩承载能力并给出加固建议。研究表明,对于桩身完整的桥桩,动刚度与承载能力在统计上具有明显的正相关关系;对于承受相近设计荷载的桥桩,测桩样本较大时动刚度值对桥桩完整性评估具有较好可信度。通过抽样取芯分析,验证了提出的桥桩承载能力评估方法具备较好的可靠性。     

考虑参数和模型不确定性的基桩正常使用极限状态可靠度分析

考虑承载力计算模型和荷载不确定性,利用可靠度分析方法和概率统计理论,推导出承载能力极限状态（ULS）和正常使用极限状态（SLS）下可靠度指标的计算公式,给出了两种极限状态下可靠度指标间的线性关系式,研究了桩顶容许沉降 随机性对正常使用极限状态可靠度分析结果的影响。研究结果表明,土体类别和桩型对正常使用极限状态模型因子影响很小;正常使用极限状态下基桩可靠度指标随承载力计算模型和荷载不确定性的增大而减小,但减小幅度逐渐降低,且可靠度指标总变化量不大,工程应用中可忽略承载力计算模型和荷载不确定性在可靠度分析中的影响; 随机性对正常使用极限状态可靠性分析结果的影响很大,随 的增加,正常使用极限状态模型因子和可靠度指标逐渐增大,而模型因子变异性逐渐减小,但桩本身性质并没有任何改变,只是所允许的沉降条件不同。研究结果可为规范修订和工程应用提供参考。     

Determination of partial factors for the verification of the bearing capacity of shallow foundations under open channels

The limit state design method has been introduced into the design criteria for geotechnical structures. The current paper attempts to apply the reliability-based design method, at Level II, to the bearing capacity of the foundations of open channels from the viewpoint of the limit state design. To examine the applicability of the proposed procedure for practical structures, the reliability index is computed for evaluating the stability of the foundations of existing open channels designed by the conventional method. The conventional design procedure makes excessively safe side design. We applied the FORM to the existing open channels designed by the conventional design procedure, and consequently, large values of reliability index, 3 and 5 were obtained for clayey and sandy soils, respectively. Finally, the partial factors for the soil parameters have been determined, corresponding to the target reliability indices β _t =1, 3 and 4.     

南京地区复合桩基设计思考

根据笔者参与设计的南京地区复合桩基工程实例,对复合桩基的设计方法和适用情况等作了进一步的探讨,重点分析了复合桩基单桩承载力的确定、桩的布置及施工、桩基优化设计、沉降预测和安全系数等方面的内容,对推广复合桩基更为广泛的工程应用,具有积极的实际意义.     

Offshore pile system model biases and reliability

ABSTRACT

Recent hurricanes between 2004 and 2008 in the Gulf of Mexico provide valuable new information about design model biases and uncertainties because multiple offshore platforms were loaded beyond the predicted capacity of their pile systems and because there was a failure of a pile system. A Bayesian calibration of model bias factors based on predicted versus observed performance of pile systems in hurricanes indicates that the conventional American Petroleum Institute design method for pile capacity is slightly conservative by about 10% for base shear (i.e. lateral) failures of pile systems in clay, unbiased for overturning (i.e. axial) failures of pile systems in clay, and conservative by more than 50% for overturning failures of piles systems in sand. The epistemic uncertainty in the updated bias factors is represented by coefficient of variation values of about 0.25 for base shear and overturning failures of pile systems in clay and 0.35 for overturning failures of pile systems in sand. A reliability assessment with the calibrated model bias factors shows that the current design practice produces lower reliability for a pile system with three piles versus one with eight piles and lower reliability for a pile system failing in overturning versus one failing in base shear. Therefore, the current design practice could potentially be improved by taking into account the mode of failure and the redundancy in the pile system to provide for a more uniform level of reliability.     

海上风电桩基础竖向承载力循环弱化简化分析

提出了一个考虑循环衰减作用的软黏土弹塑性损伤弱化模型,在此模型基础上建立了一个基于剪切位移法的单桩竖向承载力简化计算方法,并利用大型有限元软件进行了不同循环荷载水平下单桩竖向承载力的计算。为了证明简化方法的准确性与有效性,将计算结果与有限元计算结果进行对比,二者的吻合度较高。先期循环荷载能引起单桩竖向承载力弱化,并且弱化程度随先期循环荷载水平的增加而增加。最后将简化方法应用于某海上风电场桩基础承载力的计算中,结果表明,提出的简化方法可应用于实际工程问题的分析。     

Assessment of direct CPT and CPTU methods for predicting the ultimate bearing capacity of single piles

Twelve methods to determine axial pile capacity directly based on cone penetration test (CPT) and piezocone penetration test (CPTU) data are presented, compared and evaluated. Analyses and evaluation were conducted on three types of piles of different size and length. All the tested piles have failed at the end of static load test. Both the CPT methods and the CPTU methods were used to estimate the load bearing capacities of the investigated piles (Q_p). The static load test was performed to determine the measured load bearing capacities (Q_m). The pile capacities determined through different methods were compared with the measured values obtained from the static load tests. Two criteria were selected as bases of evaluation: the best fit line for Q_p versus Q_m and the arithmetic mean and standard deviation for the ratio Q_p/Q_m. Results of the analyses showed that the best methods for determining pile capacity are the two CPTU methods. Furthermore, the CPTU method is simple, easy to apply, and not influenced by the subjective judgements of operating staff. Therefore, it is quite suitable for the application in pile engineering practice.     

钻孔灌注桩单桩承载力的可靠度研究

采用无量纲随机变量的极限状态方程,结合天津市钻孔灌注桩试桩资料进行可靠度分析。采用了JC法和Monte Carlo法两种方法进行可靠指标的计算,并对影响可靠指标的各种因素进行了分析。还计算了单桩承载力的抗力分项系数。     

软土地基超高层建筑补偿桩筏基础案例再分析

坐落于上海的金茂大厦、上海环球金融中心和上海中心大厦三幢闻名世界的超高层建筑的基础均为补偿深埋桩筏基础。在补偿深埋桩筏基础设计中如何充分考虑补偿基础的优越性,如何考虑深埋基础的抗风能力,是值得研究的问题。利用高层建筑与地基基础共同作用的分析方法,结合统计-经验公式对该三幢大楼的桩筏深基础进行了再分析。通过再分析在节约相当数量的桩之后,其地基承载力和变形仍然能够满足设计要求。同时在再分析中进一步探讨优化设计的能力,论证地下连续墙可以分担相当数量的荷载。相关案例的再分析对进一步完善补偿深埋桩筏基础设计理论提出建议,可为国家节省大量投资。     

试论水泥喷射搅拌桩的单桩承载力测试

水泥喷射搅拌桩（以下简称粉喷桩）是软土地基加固的一种方法。按规范，一般测试复合地基承载力作为加固效果的评判标准。粉喷桩是复合地基的基础，很多设计单位和建设单位要求对单桩进行承载力检测，验证桩的设计参数，检查施工质量。由于粉喷桩承载力能否测试，如何取值等，没有规范依据，给检测工作带来困难。本文就此问题谈一点看法。     

Reliability analysis of seismic bearing capacity of strip footing by stochastic slip lines method

In this research, the reliability analysis of seismic ultimate bearing capacity of strip footing is assessed with implementing slip lines method coupled with random field theory. The probability density functions of seismic and static bearing capacities which are log-normal and nearly normal distribution respectively are compared to each other. The predicted Probability Density Function (PDF) of the seismic bearing capacity by slip line method is verified, with those of the Terzaghi equation and Monte Carlo simulation (MCs). For uncertainties analysis by Terzaghi equation the N_c, N_q and N_γ are assessed stochastically.     

Reliability-based design of spread footings on clays reinforced with aggregate piers

ABSTRACT

The economical and safe design of footings supported on aggregate-pier-reinforced clay could benefit from the implementation of a reliability-based approach that incorporates the different sources of uncertainty. Monte Carlo simulations are conducted to quantify the probability distribution of the ultimate bearing capacity for practical design scenarios. A reliability analysis is then conducted to propose design charts that yield the required factor of safety as a function of the major input parameters. The novelty in the proposed methodology is the incorporation of a lower bound shear strength that is based on the remoulded undrained shear strength in the reliability analysis.     

Reliability Based Assessment of Shallow Foundations Using Mathcad

A reliability based method was used to design and analyse shallow foundations using first-order Taylor series approximation. The computer program Mathcad was used to facilitate all mathematical and computional efforts. This method is an effective tool to assist the foundation designers and analyists to investigate how reliable their designs or analyses are in relation to the ultimate bearing capacity of the foundations. The approach presented in this paper provides a reliable alternative for design and analysis of shallow foundations, rather than the conventional design methods, which employs the assumptions of a specified saftey factor. Several examples were presented for design and analysis of strip footings embedded in sandy soil, and rectangular and square footings analysis embedded in clayey soils. The program input and output of each example are also presented and discussed.     

柔性桩复合地基的系统可靠性分析方法研究

运用系统可靠度理论,根据柔性桩复合地基分别按承载力设计和变形控制设计的不同计算方法,将复合地基整体系统分为复合地基承载力子系统、变形子系统、差异变形子系统,分别进行可靠性分析,并计算整体系统失效概率。提出了复合地基的系统可靠性分析方法,为复合地基的优化设计提供了一种思路。