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Design Procedure and Examples

To ensure contract compliance, the designer must conform to several standards when creating
the Pile Data Table:
1. The modified Gates formula (Standard Specifications, 49-1.08) used for pile acceptance
criteria, provides nominal driving resistance of the piles.
2. The required nominal resistance must be shown for all piles, regardless of pile type or
acceptance criteria. The Standard Specifications allow the contractor to revise specified
tip elevations as long as the required nominal resistance is provided and verified through
a static load test and other design criteria such as tension, lateral and settlement are
met. The nominal resistance is also needed for acceptance by Wave Equation Analysis.
3. The nominal resistance shall be rounded up to the nearest 10 Kips.
4. When using WSD, the nominal resistance is equal to two (2) times the Service-I limit
state loading.
5. The cut-off elevation is required in the Pile Data Table whenever it cannot be calculated
from the bottom of footing elevation and pile head embedment shown on the plans.
Pier columns and pile shaft extensions, which have no footings, require a cut-off
elevation in the Pile Data Table.
6. The design tip elevations for compression, tension, lateral, and settlement are required
on the plans. These elevations express the “intent” of the design and help the field
engineer to resolve constructibility and quality issues.
7. The specified tip elevation is the controlling (deepest) value of the design tip elevations.
8. The specified tip elevation shall not be raised above the design tip elevations for
tension, lateral, and in some cases for tolerable settlement. The static load test to
verify nominal resistance cannot duplicate these conditions.

When requesting Specified Tip Elevations, the Bridge Designer will provide the Geotechnical
Designer with the following loads:
• For foundations designed by WSD, provide the Service-I Limit State loading.
• For foundations designed by LRFD, provide the maximum loads (tension and
compression) for Service, Strength and Extreme Event limit states.

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At early stages of design, SD will provide preliminary foundation information to GS as shown in

Table 1. Tables 2, 3, and 4 show scour data, general foundation information, and governing loads
for different load cases to be provided to GS subsequent to structural analysis and when requesting
the Foundation Report (FR).
The information to be provided to SD to complete substructure design, as well as information to
be shown in pile data tables of the plans will be explained through the following examples. The
Geotechnical Engineer provides design and specified pile tip elevations as well as “Factored
Nominal Resistance” of the piles and corresponding “Resistance Factors”. The Structure Design
Engineer will calculate the “Nominal Resistance” of the piles and will develop the pile data table
to be shown in the plans.
• Example #1 – Standard Plan Piles, CIDH Piles, and CISS Piles
• Example #2 – Steel HP Piles and CIDH Piles w/ Permanent Steel Casing
• Example #3 – Large CIDH Piles w/ Driven Steel Shells

Table 1. Example of Preliminary Information to be sent from SD to GS

Preliminary Foundation Design Data Sheet

Estimate of Maximum Factored

Support Foundation Type(s) Considered
Compression Loads (kips)

Abut 1 Class 140 140 per pile

Class 200 Pile Group 280 per pile

Bent 2
60 inch Diameter CIDH Pile Shaft 1850 per column
30 inch CIDH Pile Group
Bent 3 1950 per column
60 inch Diameter CIDH Pile Shaft

Abut 4 24 inch CIDH 170 per pile

Notes:
1. Estimate of maximum factored loads is not required for standard piles.
2. Maximum factored loads will be estimated based on: Strength Limit State for bents
and Service-I Limit State for abutments.

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Table 2. Scour Data

Long Term (Degradation and

Short Term (Local)
Support No. Contraction) Scour Elevation
Scour Depth (ft)
(ft)

Abut 1

Bent 2

Bent 3

Abut 4

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Table 3. General Foundation Information to be sent from SD to GS
Foundation Design Data Sheet
Finished Pile Cap
Cut-off Permissible
Support Design Pile Grade Size (ft) Number of Piles
Elevation Settlement under
No. Method Type Elevation per Support
(ft) B L Service Load (in)*
(ft)
Abut 1 WSD 1" or 2"

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Bent 2 LRFD 1" or 2"
Bent 3 LRFD 1" or 2"
Abut 4 WSD 1" or 2"

Based on CALTRANS’ current practice, the total permissible settlement is one inch for multi-span structures with continuous
spans or multi-column bents, one inch for single span structures with diaphragm abutments, and two inches for single span
structures with seat abutments. Different permissible settlement under service loads may be allowed if a structureal analysis
verifies that required level of serviceability is met.
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MEMO TO DESIGNERS 3-1 • JULY 2008
 Table 4. Design Loads to be sent from SD to GS
Foundation Design Loads

Strength Limit State Extreme Event Limit State

Service-I Limit State (kips)
(Controlling Group, kips) (Controlling Group, kips)

Support Permanent
Total Load Compression Tension Compression Tension
No. Loads

Per Max. Per Per Per Max. Per Per Max. Per Per Max. Per Per Max. Per
Support Pile Support Support Pile Support Pile Support Pile Support Pile

Abut 1 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

Bent 2 N/A

Bent 3 N/A

Abut 4 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

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Example #1
Standard Plan Piles, CIDH Piles, and CISS Piles
A three span over-crossing with single column bents and seat abutments uses Standard Plan
piles. Standard Plan Class 140 piles will be utilized at the abutments, 24” CISS piles at Bent 2,
and 42” CIDH at Bent 3.
Tables 5, 6, and 7 show information to be provided by the Geotechnical Designer for abutments
and bents. However, design tip elevations for lateral loads are commonly determined by Structure
Designer and will be added to Table 7. Strength Reduction Factors (φ) for Strength and Extreme
Event load cases are also given in Table 6. Abutments are designed based on Working Stress
Design (WSD), therefore nominal resistance will be at least twice of the maximum total Service-
I load on one pile. Typical footnotes shown under the tables are project specific and will be
included in the Foundation Report (FR) and Pile Data Table for clarification.
Table 5. Foundation Recommendations for Abutments

Abutment Foundations Design Recommendations

LRFD Service-I
Limit State Load LRFD Service-I Nominal
Specified
Cut-off (kips) per Limit State Total Nominal Design Tip Driving
Tip
Support Pile Elevation Support Load (kips) per Reistance Elevations Resistance
Elevation
(ft) Pile (kips) (ft) Required
Perma- (ft)
Total (Compression) (kips)
nent

30 (a)
Abut 1 Class 140 72 1340 1040 138 280 31 (c) 30 280
34 (d)

32 (a)
Abut 4 Class 140 78 1260 870 129 260 31 (c) 31 280
34 (d)

Notes:
1. Design tip elevations are controlled by: (a) Compression, (c) Settlement, (d) Lateral
Load, respectively.
2. The specified tip elevation shall not be raised above the design tip elevations for
tension, lateral, and tolerable settlement.
3. The nominal driving resistance required is equal to the nominal reisistance needed to
support the factored load plus driving resistance from the unsuitable penetrated soil
layers (very soft, liquefiable, scourable, etc.), if any, which do not contribute to the
design resistance. Unsuitable soil layers at Abutment 4 extend to elevation of 65 ft.
4. Design tip elevation for Lateral Load is typically provided by SD.

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Table 6. Foundation Recommendations for Bents

Bent Foundations Design Recommendations

Nominal
Specified
Design Tip Driving
Tip
Required Factored Nominal Resistance (kips) Elevations Resistance
Service-I Total Elevation
(ft) Required
Limit State Permissible (ft)
Cut-off (kips)
Support Pile Load (kips) Support
Elevation
Location Type per Settlement
(ft) Strength Limit Extreme Event
Support (inches)

Comp. Tension Comp. Tension

( φ = 0.7) ( φ = 0.7) ( φ = 1) ( φ = 1)
6 (a-I)
12 (b-I)
CISS
9 (a-II)
Bent 2 NPS 59 1750 1 268 126 365 165 6 420
18 (b-II)
24x0.5
15 (c)
9 (d)
6 (a-I)
12 (b-I)
42" 9 (a-II)
Bent 3 64 2250 1 285 121 380 186 3 N/A
CIDH 12 (b-II)
3 (c)
15 (d)

Notes:
1. Design tip elevations are controlled by: (a-I) Compression (Strength Limit), (b-I) Tension
(Strength Limit), (a-II) Compression (Extreme Event), (b-II) Tension (Extreme Event),
(c) Settlement, (d) Lateral Load.
2. The specified tip elevation shall not be raised above the design tip elevations for
tension, lateral, and tolerable settlement.
3. The nominal driving resistance required is equal to the nominal reisistance needed to
support the factored load plus driving resistance from the unsuitable penetrated soil
layers (very soft, liquefiable, scourable, etc.), if any, which do not contribute to the
design resistance. Unsuitable soil layers at Bent 2 extend to elevation of 48 ft.
4. Design tip elevation for Lateral Load is typically provided by SD.

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Table 7 shows the foundation information that the structure designer puts on the contract plans.
Resistance factors of 1.0 are applied to Service Limit States, so there is no adjustment based on
load group. WSD is used for abutments, therefore compression nominal resistance for Abut. 1
piles shall be at least twice of LRFD Service-I load (2x138 = 276 kips) to be rounded up to 280
kips. When Extreme Event limit states (such as seismic) control the factored load, resistance
factors for both compression and tension will be f = 1.0, so that the nominal resistance equals the
pile’s factored load demand. The factored loads under tension and compression for both Strength
and Extreme Event Limit States shall be considered when calculating Nominal Resistance for
bent piles. As an example, the Compression Nominal Resistance for Bent 3 piles will be greater
of 285/0.7 and 380/1.0, that is 407 kips, rounded up to 410 kips, as shown in the table. Bent design
tip elevations for compression and tension under Strength and Extreme Event limit states are
compared and only the lower elevations for each load will be shown in Pile Data Table.
Table 7. Pile Data Table

Pile Data Table

Nominal Resistance (kips) Nominal

Design Tip
Specified Tip Driving
Location Pile Type Elevations
Elevation (ft) Resistance
(ft)
Compression Tension (kips)

30 (a)
Abut 1 Class 140 280 0 31 (c) 30 280
34 (d)
6 (a)
CISS
12 (b)
Bent 2 NPS 390 180 6 420
15 (c)
24x0.5
9 (d)
6 (a)
12 (b)
Bent 3 42" CIDH 410 190 3 N/A
3 (c)
15 (d)
32 (a)
Abut 4 Class 140 260 0 31 (c) 31 280
34 (d)
Notes:
1. Design tip elevations for Abutments are controlled by: (a) Compression, (c) Settlement,
(d) Lateral Load.
2. Design tip elevations for Bents are controlled by: (a) Compression, (b) Tension, (c)
Settlement, (d) Lateral Load

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3. The specified tip elevation shall not be raised above the design tip elevations for
tension load, lateral load, and tolerable settlement.
4. Unsuitable soil layers (very soft, liquefiable, scourable, etc.), that do not contribute
to the design nominal resistance exist at Abutment 4 and Bent 2 extending to elevations
65 ft and 48 ft, respectively.

Example #2
CIDH Piles with Permanent Casing
The following example shows Foundation Recommendations and Pile Data Table for a typical
multi-column under-crossing bent (pinned footings). CIDH piles with permanent steel casing will
be used at the bent. The purpose of permanent steel casing is to facilitate construction. The steel
casing does not contribute to the geotechnical resistance. In addition to information given in
Table 6, Geotechnical Designer will also provide steel casing specified tip elevation as shown in
Table 8. Steel casing specified tip elevation will be also shown in Pile Data Table (Table 9).
Tables 5, 8, and 9 will be provided by the Geotechnical Designer.
Table 8. Foundation Recommendations for Bent
Bent Foundations Design Recommendations

Required Factored Nominal Resistance

Service-I Total (kips) Steel
Limit State Permissibl- Specified Casing
Cut-off Design Tip
Support Load (kips) e Support Tip Specified
Pile Type Elevation Strength Limit Extreme Event Elevations
Location per Settlement Elevation T ip
(ft) (ft)
Support (inches) (ft) Elevation
Comp. Tension Comp. Tension (ft)
( φ = 0.7) ( φ = 0.7) ( φ = 1) ( φ = 1)
25 (a-I)
48" CIDH 29 (b-I)
piles with 30 (a-II)
Bent 2 85 2670 1 321 76 389 118 24 40
permanent 27 (b-II)
steel casing 24 (c)
26 (d)

Notes:
1. Design tip elevations are controlled by: (a-I) Compression (Strength Limit), (b-I) Tension
(Strength Limit), (a-II) Compression (Extreme Event), (b-II) Tension (Extreme Event),
(c) Settlement, (d) Lateral Load.
2. The CIDH specified tip elevation shall not be raised.
3. Design tip elevation for Lateral Load is typically provided by SD.

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Table 9. Pile Data Table

Pile Data Table

Nominal Resistance (kips) Steel Casing

Design Tip
Specified Tip Specified Tip
Location Pile Type Elevation
Elevation Elevation (ft)
(ft)
Compression Tension (ft)

25 (a)
48" CIDH piles
27 (b)
Bent 2 with permanent 460 120 40 24
24 (c)
steel casing
26 (d)

Notes:
1. Design tip elevations are controlled by: (a) Compression, (b) Tension, (c) Settlement,
(d) Lateral Load.
2. The CIDH specified tip elevation shall not be raised.

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Example # 3
Large Diameter CIDH Piles with Driven Steel Shell
The following example is of seismic retrofit of a major river crossing bridge where large diameter
CIDH piles are recommended with permanent driven steel shell. The shells is required to facilitate
construction and will be required to develop a portion of the required nominal resistance. The
shell is to be installed by impact driving and “Wave Analysis” will be used for pile acceptance.
Shown in Table 10 is the foundation design reommendations provided by Geotechnical Designer.
Table 11 shows pile data table to be shown on the plans.
Table 10. Foundation Recommendations for Bents
Bent Foundations Design Recommendations

Required Factored Nominal Resistance for

Extreme Event Limit State (kips) Driven Steel Shell
CIDH
Steel Shell CIDH Nominal
Cut-off Specified
Support Specified Design Tip Driving
Pile Type Elevation CIDH Pile Driven Steel Shell Tip
Location Tip Elevations Resistance
(ft) Elevation
Elevation (ft) Required
(ft)
(ft) (kips)
Comp. Tension Comp. Tension
( φ = 1.0) ( φ = 1.0) ( φ = 1.0) ( φ = 1.0)

60" CIDH
piles with
-51 (a-II)
NPS
Bent 2 16 1112 472 586 249 -42 -46 (b-II) -51 700
72x0.75"
-48 (d)
Driven
Steel Shell

Notes:
1. Design tip elevations are controlled by: (a-I) Compression (Strength Limit), (b-I) Tension
(Strength Limit), (a-II) Compression (Extreme Event), (b-II) Tension (Extreme Event),
(c) Settlement, (d) Lateral Load.
2. The CIDH specified tip elevation shall not be raised.
3. The nominal driving resistance required is equal to the nominal resistance needed to
support the factored load plus driving resistance from the unsuitable penetrated soil
layers (very soft, liquefiable, scourable, etc.), if any, which do not contribute to the
design resistance. Unsuitable soil layers at Bent 2 extend to elevation of -11 ft.
4. Design tip elevation for Lateral Load is typically provided by SD.

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Table 11. Pile Data Table

Pile Data Table

Nominal Resistance Driven Steel Shell

Nominal Resistance CIDH
(Driven Steel Shell) Steel Shell CIDH Nominal
(kips) Specified
(kips) Specified Design Tip Driving
Location Pile Type Tip
Tip Elevation Resistance
Elevation
Compression Tension Compression Tension Elevation (ft) Required
(ft)
(ft) (kips)
60" CIDH
piles with
-51 (a)
NPS
Bent 2 1120 480 590 250 -42 -46 (b) -51 700
72x0.75"
-48 (d)
Driven
Steel Shell

Notes:
1. Design tip elevations are controlled by: (a) Compression, (b) Tension, (c) Settlement,
(d) Lateral Load.
2. The CIDH specified tip elevation shall not be raised.
3. Unsuitable soil layers (very soft, liquefiable, scourable, etc.), that do not contribute
to the design nominal resistance exist at Bent 2 extending to elevation of -11 ft.

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