Steel Pile Capacity for Lateral Loads & boundary conditions

[Cosmos88]

For a steel driven pile, I would like to check the bending strength when subjected to lateral loads. I've seen that the pile is considered a cantilever beam and the effective length factor is taken as K=2.1 which complies with the assumption. The point of fixity is assumed to be 1 ft from ground level, and Lpile is being used to determine moments and deflections. I don't like the idea of just considering the pile to be fixed 1 ft below ground level and I was wondering if other boundary condition besides "fixed" is being used out there for steel pile capacity or if other methodology altogether is a better approach to describe the pile condition. The pile main function is to hold light weight electrical equipment.

 

[driftLimiter]

Lpile can determine the point of no moment. 1ft below grade sounds pretty low for typical piles. If you are using Lpile why not just determine the pile moment from that program?

 

[Cosmos88]

Lpile can determine the point of no moment. 1ft below grade sounds pretty low for typical piles. If you are using Lpile why not just determine the pile moment from that program?

Thank you for answering, I can get the pile moment from Lpile but what about the pile moment capacity? which restrained consideration is appropriate to determine the max bending capactiy of the pile, fixed? is the cero moment region the region where I can consider the pile fixed? Or if someone could point me out to some references explaining the design criteria.

Thanks again, I am not knowledgeable in this area.

 

[HTURKAK]

The point of fixity is assumed to be 1 ft from ground level, and Lpile is being used to determine moments and deflections. I don't like the idea of just considering the pile to be fixed 1 ft below ground level

The point of fixity ( virtual fixity where max. moment would develop ) depends on the size and rigidity of pile and soil conditions . Typical should be around 5D not 1 foot below. You can perform FEM analysis assigning lateral soil springs or software Lpile ..