Overview of Structural Design and Detailing

of Large Diameter Drilled Shafts

(Caltrans Practice)
Amir M. Malek, PE, PhD
Senior Bridge Engineer (Technical Specialist)
Office of Bridge Design Services
California Department of Transportation

ADSC/CALTRANS CIDH

Outline
Types of Large Diameter Shafts and Comparison
Design Highlights and Review of LRFD
Requirements
Communications of Structural and Geotechnical
Designers for LRFD of Shafts
Highlights of Seismic Design and Detailing
Requirements per Caltrans Seismic Design
Criteria (SDC)
Case Study
ADSC/CALTRANS CIDH

Applications and Types

Used for high seismic loads also where small footprint is
desirable
Most effective where hard layer (rock) is reachable
Used with/without casing
Types I & II per SDC classification
Type-I : More ductile performance, advantageous for short columns
Type-II : Easier post-event repair, shaft enlargement of at least 18
(24 under study) to contain inelastic action to the column
(SDC 7.7.3.5)

ADSC/CALTRANS CIDH

Test of 6 diameter Type-I Shaft at UCLA

ADSC/CALTRANS CIDH

Test of 6 diameter Type-I Shaft at UCLA

ADSC/CALTRANS CIDH

Types of Large Diameter Drilled Shafts

(Caltrans SDC)

ADSC/CALTRANS CIDH

LRFD & Seismic Design Highlights

Structural Designer provides Factored Loads for applicable
Limit States
Geotechnical Designer will provide tip elevations based on
Compression, Tension, and Settlement also Factored Nominal
Resistance for Service, Strength and Extreme Event Limit
States (LRFD)
Structural Designer performs Stability Analysis and provides
tip elevation for Lateral Loads
Structural Designer analyzes, designs and details the shaft for
Seismic Demands according to Caltrans SDC
Scour, Liquefaction and Lateral Spreading are considered in
design (if applicable)

ADSC/CALTRANS CIDH

Review of LRFD Requirements

Consider Service, Strength and Extreme Event
Limit States for Geotechnical and Structural
Design of the Shaft
Follow MTD3-1 for Communications and
Transfer of Information between SD and GS as
summarized in the following Tables

ADSC/CALTRANS CIDH

Preliminary Design Data Sheet

(to be provided by SD)

ADSC/CALTRANS CIDH

General Foundation Information

(to be provided by SD)

ADSC/CALTRANS CIDH

10

Foundation Design Loads

(to be provided by SD)

ADSC/CALTRANS CIDH

11

Lateral Stability (BDA Chapter 12)

Available Software: LPILE, W-FRAME, or SAP

ADSC/CALTRANS CIDH

12

General Seismic Design Highlights

(Requirements that may be affected by size/type of the shaft)

Geometrical/Structural Irregularities
Demand and Capacity
P- Effect
Displacement Ductility Limitation
Minimum Local Displacement Ductility
Capacity

ADSC/CALTRANS CIDH

13

 Geometrical/Structural Irregularities:
Balanced Stiffness of Bents (SDC 7.1.1)
Balanced Frame Geometry (SDC 7.1.2)

Demand vs. Capacity (SDC 4.1.1)

P- Effect (SDC 4.2)
Displacement Ductility Demand Limits (1.5-3/5
for bents supported by the shafts, per SDC 2.2.3)
Minimum Local Displacement Ductility Capacity
Limits (SDC 3.1.4.1)

ADSC/CALTRANS CIDH

14

Structural Analysis for Demand Assessment

Use Expected Material Properties
Determine Column/Shaft Plastic Moments from Section
Analysis
Use Mo=1.2Mp
Use Push-over Analysis and Find Shear and Moment
Demands at Collapse

ADSC/CALTRANS CIDH

15

Demand Calculation (Single Column Bent)

Mo
Vo
Mo

ADSC/CALTRANS CIDH

16

Seismic Demand Calculation

(Multi-Column Bent)

Mo

Type-I

ADSC/CALTRANS CIDH

17

Seismic Demand Calculation

(Multi-Column Bent)

Mo

Type-II

ADSC/CALTRANS CIDH

18

Structural Design of the Shafts

MneType II >= 1.25 MDemand (SDC 7.7.3.2)
VnType II >= VDemand

(SDC 3.6.7)

Shear capacity is calculated as a ductile member using

SDC 3.6 requirements (for Type-II assume d=1)

ADSC/CALTRANS CIDH

19

Detailing Requirements
No Splice Zones (SDC 8.1.1)
Plastic hinge region and areas of MD>My
Ultimate Splices (SDC 8.1.2)
Ductile members outside No Splice Zone
Service Splice (MTD20-9)
Capacity Protected Members like Bent Cap
For Hoops and Spirals in Ductile Members Use Ultimate
Splices, Except:
No splices in spirals used in No Splice Zones (end
anchorage has been used to improve constructability)
ADSC/CALTRANS CIDH

20

Case Study (Type-II)

Top of the Pile Boundary Conditions:

V & M (V=150 kips, M=3,750 k-ft)

ADSC/CALTRANS CIDH

21

Liquefied Layer

ADSC/CALTRANS CIDH

22

ADSC/CALTRANS CIDH

23

ADSC/CALTRANS CIDH

24

ADSC/CALTRANS CIDH

25

ADSC/CALTRANS CIDH

26

Scour Included
Competent

Not
Liquefied

Liquefied
(I)

Liquefied
(II)

Top Deflection
(in.)

0.92

3.4

9.8
12.2

14.4
18.2

Mmax (kip-in.)
(x10-4)

5.3

6.5

7.6
9.2

9.4
11.5

Location of
Mmax (ft)

14

32
37

42
42

Vmax (kips)

320

268

420
517

420
519

Location of
Vmax (ft)

17

32

50
50

55
57

Stable Length
(ft)

34

54

65

75

Case-I Results

ADSC/CALTRANS CIDH

27

Summary (Method-I)

ADSC/CALTRANS CIDH

28

ADSC/CALTRANS CIDH

29

Thank You

ADSC/CALTRANS CIDH

30