Analysis of Pier Structures Supported
on Battered Piles Using MOTEMS
By
Robert Harn, PE, SE
BERGER/ABAM Engineers Inc.
Prevention First 2008 Conference
September 10, 2008
Purpose of Presentation
Review MOTEMS batter pile evaluation
procedure
Review effects of deck stiffness on
performance
Present case study
Show not all batter pile systems perform
poorly
MOTEMS Evaluation Procedure
Identify the failure mechanism of the
batter pile-deck connection
Release the lateral load between the
batter pile and the deck when the lateral
failure displacement is reached.
Push on the structure until subsequent
failure(s) have been identified.
Batter Pile Rules
Rule No. 1 - Tension piles almost always fail
first at the connection
– Geotechnical compression capacity is
almost always greater than tension
capacity.
– Tension capacity of pile is almost always
greater than connection
Rule No. 2 – Rule No. 1 is not always true!!
MOTEMS Example
80’
Deck
Mud line
First Failure
Batter pile
connection fails in
tension X
First Failure Issues
Is tension failure ductile or brittle?
Will tension pile act in compression in later
cycles or is it lost to the system?
– Model as compression only if appropriate
– Need to fully understand connection failure mode
Connection detailing is important!!
Second Failure
Plumb pile
connection
fails in
tension X X
Third Failure
Pile pole vaults and fails
deck or pile in shear
X X
Pushover Plot
(From MOTEMS)
Batter Piles
Plumb Piles
Pole Vaulting
Batter piles will “pole vault” i.e. displace vertically in
the inelastic range when tension pile fails
A deck structure that allows vertical displacement will
minimize pile and deck forces from pole vaulting
Dx Dx
Dy
Horizontal
Direction of
line
motion
Elastic Behavior Inelastic Pole Vaulting
Types of Deck Restraint
Effect of Deck Restraint
Deck
Batter
piles Stiff
Plumb
piles
Flexible
Unrestrained Decks Unrestrained Decks
Inelastic Displaced Shapes
Effectwith
of Pole
DeckVaulting
Restraint
Deck
X
Batter
piles Stiff
Plumb X
piles
Flexible
Unrestrained Decks Restrained Decks
Battered vs. Plumb Pile Frame
Pushover
4:12 batter
2:12 batter
V
Battered Frame
Plumb
D
Pushover Plot
Plumb Pile Frame
Battered vs. Plumb Pile Frame
Displacement
4:12 batter
2:12 batter
Performance
Point
Plumb
Conclusion – Unrestrained Battered
Frames
Batter piles in unrestrained frames are
stiffer and stronger than plumb pile frames
with the same members yet they can have
significant ductility
W
Key Factors
– Connection strength and ductility 1
– Batter – B H
B
– Width between piles – W
– Height – H
Example Pier Retrofit Concept Study
Concrete Pier
Not a M.O.T.
Thin concrete deck
Plumb piles at close spacing
Transverse direction discussed
Example Pier Transverse Section
120’
20” sq. concrete
piles Conc.
deck
55’
Batter
piles
Bearing layer Soft clay
Tension Pile Capacity
Outer tension piles had minimal dead load
Soil pullout values were low
Connections were found to be strong enough to
develop soil tension capacity
Piles likely to slip and walk out of soil
Pushover Plot for Pier
2600k
2400k Plumb piles - upper
bound (UB) stiffness
2000k
Plumb piles – lower
V bound (LB) stiffness
1100k x
Batter piles alone
0.4” 3.6” 5” 14”
D
Site Specific Response Spectra
Estimate Displacement Demand Using
ADRS
D = 6” U.B.
stiffness
Batters
D = 8” L.B.
stiffness
Plumb U.B.
Plumb L.B.
Transverse CLE Performance
Deck hinges plastically
here and bends up to
V accommodate pole vaulting
Tension Batter pile
pile slips Batter pile slips in
“pole vaults” tension
about tip
Transverse CLE Performance
For this structure tension piles appear to slip
due to minimal embedment. (i.e. Rule 1 does not
apply)
Hinge forms in deck – damage acceptable
Tension piles (batter and plumb) likely to walk
out of soil on subsequent cycles
Post CLE Earthquake Condition
Deck tilted up about
3 to 4 inches Pile hinge
Deck hinge
Summary
MOTEMS provides on general guidance with
respect to batter pile analysis and design
Batter piles induce inelastic vertical
displacements into the deck due to pole vaulting
after failure of tension pile
Therefore seismic performance is very
dependant on the deck configuration.
– Unrestrained decks do better
– Restrained decks do worse
– Tension connection ductility also important
Credits
BERGER / ABAM Engineers Inc.
