DFI Magazine September/October 2020 - 97

Pile head lateral displacement with load

Ongoing Research
These experimental test results represent
the tip of the iceberg of what will hopefully
prove to be a rich experimental database
that provides opportunities for insights
into many aspects of laterally loaded deep
foundation behavior. The research team is
continuing its efforts to interpret and learn
from the test results, with the eventual
objective of providing more realistic
design guidelines for transverse reinforcement of drilled shafts. Specifically,
interpretation of the dense networks of
instrumentation data recorded in each
pile is ongoing to better understand
distributions of shear and bending
demands to complete "Part 1" of the study.
A parametric numerical study is also
underway to evaluate the influence of pile
diameter and other variables that describe
the structural and geomaterial geometry,
relative strength between the rock socket
and pile, stiffness contrast between the
overburden and rock socket, and other
factors. The test results will also be
published in an open-access database for
unrestricted access by other researchers
and industry members. This "Part 2" effort

Pile deformation profiles for selected lateral load levels using
inclinometer data

has been made possible with additional
support from the DFI Committee Project
Fund and its Drilled Shaft Committee.

Acknowledgments
The experimental work was funded
through DFI's Committee Project Fund, as
well as through Lemnitzer's NSF funding
(CMMI 1752303), along with generous
industry support from our colleagues at
DFI and ADSC. We would like to gratefully
acknowledge the members of the DFI
Drilled Shaft Committee, many of whom
provided continuous feedback and guidance during the design and construction
process, specifically, Peter Faust (Malcolm
D r i l l i n g ) , E r i k L o e h r, P h . D . , P. E .
(University of Missouri - Columbia) and
Armin Stuedlein, Ph.D., P.E. (Oregon State
University). We are furthermore extremely
grateful for the material and equipment
donations, as well as the engineering
support, from PJ's Rebar (Nathan King),
Atlas Molded Products (Chris Franks),
Williams Form Engineering (Pete Speier

and Jeff Ohlsen), Foundation Technologies
(Nick Milligan) and Gregg Drilling and
Testing (Brian Savela). Without the support
and insights of these colleagues, this
research program would not have been
possible in the scope described.
Anne Lemnitzer, Ph.D., P.E., is an associate
professor at the University of California, Irvine,
with research interests in experimental soilstructure interaction, bridge foundation systems,
underground structures, deep foundations and
sensor instrumentation.
Rabie Farrag is a doctoral candidate at the
University of California, Irvine, and the lead
student researcher on the rock-socket project. His
research and engineering interests are in geostructural earthquake engineering.
Benjamin Turner, Ph.D., P.E., G.E., is a senior
engineer for Dan Brown and Associates. Based in
California, he specializes in seismic design aspects for
geostructural systems, including foundations, excavations and slopes, as well as advanced modeling.

DEEP FOUNDATIONS * SEPT/OCT 2020 * 97

DFI Magazine September/October 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of DFI Magazine September/October 2020