Simplified Procedure for Seismic Evaluation of Piles with Partial-Moment Connection to the Deck in Marine Oil Terminals

Abstract

This paper presents development of a simplified procedure for seismic evaluation of piles with partial-moment connection typically used in marine oil terminals. The current seismic evaluation procedure of the piles in marine oil terminals includes monitoring material strains specified in the Marine Oil Terminal Engineering and Maintenance Standard (MOTEMS) during the nonlinear static pushover analysis to estimate the displacement capacity of piles. This investigation developed closed-form formulas for estimating the displacement capacity of piles by using a simple pile-deck connection system. The displacement capacity estimated from these formulas ensures that the material stain limits specified in the MOTEMS is not exceeded. These formulas are demonstrated to be “accurate” by comparing results from these formulas against those from the nonlinear finite-element analysis. The formulas developed in this investigation utilize the curvature ductility capacity of the pile section and rotation ductility capacity of the connection at the selected seismic design level, along with the parameter