Near Shore and on Shore: Marine Concrete Piles

Interlocking Turnout

Primary Guidance Primary Guidance Test Pile Program Unless geotechnical conditions dictate otherwise: Specify test pile program for projects where the number of piles to be driven is greater than 10 Specify a static load test or a statnamic test to confirm ultimate pile capacity for driven piles where the number of piles to be driven is greater than 100 Specify supplemental embedded EDC instrumentation that provides structural monitoring capability during test pile driving when the driven pile capacity is greater than 100 tons Pile Driving Specify timely post-driving underwater pile inspection by MD registered PE diver Specify repair of piles damaged during driving at contractor’s expense Reduce allowable driving stresses for marine piles when test pile program or the underwater inspection indicates pile damage is frequently occurring

Discussion Test Pile Program PDA /EDC test pile programs shall be implemented prior to the approval of concrete pile order lengths for larger projects and as subsurface conditions warrant. Static load tests shall be undertaken on very large projects to decrease the required geotechnical factor of safety and reduce pile order lengths. Pile Driving Using EDC during driving shall be monitored by a geotechnical specialist certified to collect and analyze EDC data. EDC is warranted for driving marine concrete piles in order to prevent pile cracking and damage. Third-party underwater inspections of all concrete driven piles shall be conducted as soon as possible after driving to identify and scope the repair of driving damage. To the greatest extent possible, allowable tensile driving stresses for concrete piles shall be reduced for in-water piles where damage is detected by EDC gages, PDA instrumentation (beta<.90 for more than 10 consecutive blows) and/or underwater inspection. See Also Practical Design Implementation Guidance