WTI

Steel Pile Cap/Concrete Pile Cap Bridge Support Systems

Primary Investigator Contact Information

External Project Contact(s)

Report(s)

There are no reports associated with this project.

Project Objective

The objective of this project is to conduct physical testing of MDT’s new steel pipe pile to concrete pile cap connection design method.

Project Abstract

The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) has found steel pipe piles connected at the top by a concrete pile cap to be a very cost-effective support system for short and medium span bridges. This type of system offers low initial cost, short construction time, low maintenance requirements and a long service life. From a structural engineering perspective, these systems must provide acceptable performance under gravity (self-weight and vehicle loads) and lateral loads (e.g. extreme ice, wind, and seismic events). In 2005, MDT sponsored a research project at MSU to conduct physical testing on models of the pipe pile to steel pile cap connection. The tests investigated the performance of the connection under extreme lateral loads. As a result of the initial tests, MDT developed a new design procedure to determine the reinforcing steel required in the pile cap to produce the desired system performance under extreme lateral loads. The design procedure includes some changes and refinements that were not tested in the original research. This project provides an opportunity to validate the performance of steel pipe pile to concrete pile cap designed according to the specific procedure adopted by MDT.

Task Descriptions

1. Project Management
   1. The Principal Investigator will oversee all aspects of the research, coordinate and communicate with the sponsor, and prepare progress reports.
2. Literature Review
   1. Researchers will conduct a thorough literature review of recent relevant research on bridge design and construction.
3. Experimental Design
   1. The research team will determine the specific model configurations that will be tested in this project. The preliminary plan is to construct ½ size models of three steel pipe pile to concrete pile cap connection configurations. The models will be tested to failure under an increasing static load.
4. Conduct Tests
   1. This task incorporates the primary testing activities, including fabricating the models, setting up and conducting the tests, and analyzing the results.
5. Final Report
   1. Researchers will prepare a final report documenting all aspects of the research effort, in particular suggested changes to the design methodology and any recommended additional testing.

Milestones, Dates, Schedule

Student Involvement

True

Relationship to Other Research Projects

True

Technology Transfer Activities

True

Transportation Research Board Keywords

Bridge support systems, steel reinforcement, structural engineering, seismic reinforcement

Partners

Montana Department of Transportation