28th April 2004 Alumni Lecture

Pile supported structures still collapse during earthquakes. What is missing?

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

2.0 CURRENT UNDERSTANDING OF PILE FAILURE AND CODES OF

PRACTICE
The current understanding of pile failure is based on a bending mechanism where lateral loads due to inertia
and slope movements (lateral spreading) induce bending in the pile; see Figure 2(a). Permanent lateral
deformation or lateral spreading is reported to be the main source of distress in piles, Abdoun and Dobry
(2002), Finn and Fujita (2002), Hamada (2000). In terms of soil-pile interaction, the current mechanism of
failure assumes that the soil pushes the pile. The deformation of the ground surface adjacent to piled
foundations is often suggestive of this mechanism. Figure 2(b) shows surface observations of lateral
spreading observed after the Bhuj earthquake near the Navalakhi port (Gujarat).

Figure 2: (a) Current understanding of pile failure, Finn and Thavaraj (2001); (b): Lateral spreading seen in Navalakhi
port, Madabhushi et al (2001).

Japanese Code of Practice (JRA 1996)

This unanimity has led the Japanese Code of Practice (JRA 1996) for example, to include checks on bending
moments in piles due to lateral spreading of the ground, Figure 2(c). The code advises practicing engineers to
design piles against bending failure assuming that the non-liquefied crust offers passive earth pressure to the
pile and the liquefied soil offers 30% of the total overburden pressure.

Figure 2(c): JRA (1996) code of practice; (d): NEHRP Code of Practice

Bhattacharya

Page 5 of 24

28th April 2004 Alumni Lecture

Pile supported structures still collapse during earthquakes. What is missing?

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Eurocode 8 (1998)
The Eurocode advises designers to design piles against bending due to inertia and kinematic forces arising
from the deformation of the surrounding soil. It goes on saying:
Piles shall be designed to remain elastic. When this is not feasible, the sections of the potential
plastic hinging must be designed according to the rules of Part 1-3 of Eurocode 8.
Eurocode 8 (Part 5) says
Potential plastic hingeing shall be assumed for:
a region of 2d from the pile cap
a region of 2d from any interface between two layers with markedly different shear
stiffness (ratio of shear moduli > 6)
where d denotes the pile diameter. Such region shall be ductile, using proper confining
reinforcements.

Indian Road Congress code (IRC 78, 2000) for design of bridges/ flyovers
IRC 78 code (2000) prescribes the following:
1. Clause no 709.4.2 says that the piles may be designed taking into consideration all the load effects and
their structural capacity examined as a column. The self load of pile or lateral load due to earthquake,
water current force, etc. on the portion of free pile upto scour level and upto potential liquefaction
level, if applicable, should be accounted for.
2. Clause 709.1.7 stipulates that the minimum diameter of piles shall be as follows:
Type of piles:
Driven cast-in-situ piles
Precast piles
Bored piles

Bridges on Land
0.5m
0.35m
1.0m

River bridges
1.2m
1.0m
1.2m

3. Clause 705.4.1 says that, in soil the minimum depth of foundations below the point of fixity should be
the minimum length required for developing full fixity as calculated by any rational formula.
4. Clause 709.1.4 requires that the piles in streams, rivers, creeks, permanent steel liner should be
provided at least upto maximum scour level. In case of marine clay or soft soil or soil having
aggressive material, permanent steel liner of sufficient strength shall be used for the full depth of
such strata. The minimum thickness of liner should be 5mm.
5. The reinforcements in pile should be provided for the full length of pile, as per the design
requirements. However, the minimum area of longitudinal reinforcement shall be 0.4% of the
area of the cross section in all concrete piles. Lateral reinforcement shall be provided in the form
of links or spirals with minimum 8mm diameter steel, spacing not less than 150mm. Cover to
main reinforcements shall not be less than 75mm.

Bhattacharya

Page 6 of 24