Seismic performance of improved pile-to-wharf deck connections

Abstract

Ports, a vital link in the transportation of goods worldwide, are often located in high seismic regions and are susceptible to strong ground motions and potentially devastating physical and economic damage. It is important that ports are designed to withstand strong ground motions with minimal damage. Moment-resisting prestressed concrete pile-to-wharf connections are commonly used in the seismic design of marginal wharves. These connections can sustain significant damage and deterioration of resistance starting at small seismic deformations. This study developed and tested an improved connection for prestressed concrete piles. Findings indicated that the use of a bearing pad over the head of the pile significantly delays pile and connection damage without reducing maximum resistance or inelastic deformation capacity. Additional findings suggested that flexible joint sealant wrapped around the perimeter of the embedded pile segment effectively eliminates spalling of the wharf deck. The authors developed and presented a design procedure for the improved moment resisting connection.