A modern approach to the design of driven precastprestressed concrete piles in Winnipeg

ABSTRACT: In the 1960’s, allowable loads were tabulated in a Winnipeg by-law for driven precast-prestressed concrete hexagonal piles. These historical values were used successfully for decades and it is common in current local practice to consider these tabulated loads as the basis for limit states design. Therefore, there is a need to reconsider the methodology for the design of this pile type in Winnipeg by separately analyzing pile capacity and settlement. Static load test results from 1969 were analyzed with a modern, limit states design approach. A load-transfer model was calibrated and pile capacity and settlement were then calculated for the test site. The current practice based on tabulated working loads was found to be conservative. It is recommended that site specific analyses be performed to design this pile type and that the historical tabulated working loads are considered carefully for application in the limit states design approach.