Performance Of Steel Pipe Pile To Concrete Cap Connections Subject To Seismic Of High Transverse Loading Phase Iii Confirmation Of Connection Performance

The efficacy of a new procedure developed by the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) to design concrete filled steel tube (CFT) pile to concrete pile cap connections was investigated in this project. A series of CFT piles embedded in a concrete pile cap is a desirable system to support small to mid-span bridges. Traditional methods for designing the connection between the CFT piles and pile cap often lead to congested and complex reinforcing schemes, and this complexity can limit the use of this support system. MDT has developed a simple design method for this connection utilizing a new reinforcing scheme that greatly simplifies the design and construction of this connection. The new reinforcing scheme includes U shaped reinforcing bars that encircle the embedded CFT piles within the cap that counteract the moment related demands introduced by the embedded pile under lateral load events. The efficacy of the MDT design method implementing the new reinforcing scheme, which was developed from previous research and testing completed by Montana State University, is evaluated in this research.