Resistance Factors at Serviceability Limit State Using the Texas Cone Penetrometer as the Predictive Model

Abstract

This study presents the development and calibration of resistance factors for the serviceability limit state (SLS) condition (φSLS) used in the load and resistance factor design (LRFD) of deep foundations. The performance function was established based on load corresponding to tolerable displacement (Qδtol) and design load (Qd). A dataset of published full-scale load tests including projects from Texas, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, and New Mexico was compiled and consisted of 60 load test cases comprising 33 driven piles and 27 drilled shafts. Resistance factors for SLS conditions were calibrated for tolerable displacements using both the Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) and the First Order Second Moment (FOSM) approaches. From the calibration study, resistance factors at SLS conditions were obtained ranging from 0.33 to 0.62 using FOSM method and 0.37 to 0.67 using the MCS for driven piles. In the case of drilled shafts, SLS resistance factors ranged from 0.37 to 0.77 following the FOSM method and 0.41 to 0.86 based on MCS.