Abstract

This thesis focuses on the field performance of IsoTruss®-reinforced concrete beam columns for use in driven piles. Experimental investigation included one instrumented carbon/epoxy IsoTruss®-reinforced concrete pile (IRC pile) and one instrumented steel-reinforced concrete pile (SRC pile) which were driven into a clay profile at a test site. These two piles, each 30 ft (9 m) in length and 14 in (36 cm) in diameter, were quasi-statically loaded laterally until failure. Behavior was predicted using three different methods: 1) a commercial finite difference-based computer program called Lpile; 2) a Winkler foundation model; and, 3) a simple analysis based on fundamental mechanics of materials principles. Both Lpile and Winkler foundation model predictions concluded that the IRC pile should hold approximately twice the load of the SRC pile. Applying mechanics of materials principles found the predicted stiffness of the piles to be consistent with the laboratory results. Due to unresolveable errors, experimental field test data for the SRC pile is inconclusive. However, analysis predictions in conjunction with field test data for the IRC pile show that the IRC pile should perform similar to predictions and laboratory test results. Therefore, IsoTruss® grid-structures are a suitable alternative to steel as reinforcement in driven piles.

Degree

College and Department

Ira A. Fulton College of Engineering and Technology; Civil and Environmental Engineering

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