Geomaterial classification criteria for design and construction of driven steel H-piles

Abstract

Methodologies are proposed to develop criteria for classifying geomaterials into soils, intermediate geomaterials (IGMs), and hard rocks to achieve efficient driven pile designs. IGMs were categorized into IGM-soils and IGM-rocks to reduce the uncertainties in pile resistance estimations associated with properties ranging from soils to rocks. A boundary between soils and IGM-soils was established based upon the performance of two static analysis methods measured in terms of the coefficients of variation between measured and estimated shaft resistances. A boundary between IGM-rocks and hard rocks was established by limiting the geotechnical resistance in IGM-rocks to the compressive strength of a steel pile. Finally, a geomaterial classification flowchart and sample design charts are proposed to facilitate the classification of geomaterials specifically for the design and construction of driven steel H-piles. The proposed framework can be adapted for other driven pile types.