Improved Design Procedures for Vertically Loaded H‐Piles in Sand

Abstract

This paper summarizes the results of a study conducted to improve design procedures for vertically loaded H‐piles in cohesionless soils. Included in the study is the examination of several procedures for estimating residual loads and assumptions concerning the plugging phenomena that may occur between the flanges of an H‐pile. Data obtained from full‐scale load tests reported in the literature are used to develop the improved design procedures. The improved procedures include a procedure for estimating ultimate bearing capacity and a procedure for developing load‐versus‐settlement relationships for H‐piles in sand. Load‐test results from two H‐piles that are not part of the data base are included to demonstrate the use of the improved design procedures. The predictions made for these two H‐piles using the improved design procedures are closer to the measured load‐settlement values than predictions made using existing design methods.