Axial and Lateral Load Test Performance of Steel Fin Pile

Abstract

Steel fin piles may offer increased resistance to lateral and torsional loading; however, there is limited experimental data in the literature for steel fin pile performance. This study evaluates the performance of steel fin piles through field load testing and numerical analysis. Axial and lateral load tests were conducted on two fin piles with a diameter of 273 mm and a length of 3.73 m to evaluate their performance and compare with modeling in LPILE. The lateral tests were conducted with the load applied in two orientations, either in line with the fins or rotated 45 degrees to the fins to assess any difference in performance in the fin orientation to the direction of loading. The effect of the direction of loading compared to the fin orientation proved to be small but existent, with the fin pile displacing less from the lateral load when loaded in between the fins. Additionally, the modeled deflected shape of the fin piles in the lateral test closely matched the observed deflected shape recorded by the shape array instrumentation. The models in LPILE provided results consistent with field observations in the lateral testing, bolstering the viability of fin piles as a prospective replacement to conventional deep foundations when lateral loading governs design.