PILES FOR FIXED FRAME TYPE STRUCTURES

Fixed frame (lattice) type offshore structures rely mainly on steel pipe piles driven
through the columns of the structure into the seafloor to provide support for deck loading
and resistance to movement during storm conditions.
The size of the piles and the depth to which they are driven vary, of course, from
one structure to another and depend on the number employed, the loading anticipated and
the subsoil conditions. Typical pile diameters vary in the range 0.5 m to 1.5 m with wall
thickness in the range 1.5 cm to 2.5 cm. The depth of piles can extend 60 metres or
more. In certain cases where very soft solid conditions exist, additional skirt piles may
also be employed.

Under design loading conditions, such as illustrated in the following figure, the
piles are subjected to large compressive loads, in order of 5000 kw or more. Because of
high overturning moments exerted on the structure by wind and wave action, the piles
may also be subjected to large tensile loads of the same order.
The wind and wave forces can also endure large horizontal forces and moments
on the pile at the groundline.

PILES FOR FIXED FRAME TYPE STRUCTURES Dr. Hany Elosta

In view of the loading conditions summarised above, the forces acting on piles
can be predicted under the three major headings:
1. The prediction of the axial capacity of piles driven to a certain depth.
2. The prediction of the elastic axial response of piles loaded to levels less than
ultimate capacity.
3. The prediction of the lateral response of piles to applied horizontal loading and
moments at the groundline.
Prediction of Axial Pile Capacity
The resistance of a solid cylindrical pile to large-scale vertical movement under
axial compressive loading is assumed to result from the combined effects of a shear yield
force acting on the lateral surface of the pile and a normal yield force acting over the
entire base and of the pile. For an open-ended pipe pile this same assumption is also
generally valid since, on driving, soil is forced-up into the interior of the pile, forming a
soil plug whose resistance to movement under static loading is usually much greater than
that of the soil at the base of the pile. Thus, for open-ended pipe piles such as, commonly
used, in offshore work, the ultimate axial capacity Q, like that of a solid pipe, is
expressible as:
Q = QS + Q p

PILES FOR FIXED FRAME TYPE STRUCTURES Dr. Hany Elosta

QS = Do f dy
o

where,
Do:

Outside diameter of the pile

f:

Shield yield force per unit of lateral surface area of the pile.
Qp = q

where q:

D 2
4

normal cost and yield force per unit of pile-end area.

If FC denotes critical axial load on the pile at the groundline, and Wp denotes the
combined submerged weight per unit length of the pile and soil plug, the axial capacity Q
can be expressed as,
Q = FC + W p L
L

FC = Q W p L = Do fdy + q

Do 2
4

Wp L

The tensile capacity FT of the pile is similarly calculated by the formula:

L

FT = Do fdy + W p L
o

PILES FOR FIXED FRAME TYPE STRUCTURES Dr. Hany Elosta

The condition that the soil plug in the pile does not move, as assumed in the
above equation, can be expressed with the following relation:

Di 2

<

Di fdy + WS L

4
o
Resistance of soil to
Resistance of soil
movement at the base of a pile plug to vertical movement
In using the above equations one has to specify q and f.
For the clay soils
f=C
(Cohesion of the soil)
q = NCC
(Dimensionless coefficients)
For the sand soils
f = K s y tan
q = N q s L
where

s :

K and Nq:
:

Submerged specific weight of the sand

Dimensionless coefficients
Friction angle between the pile and sand particles

Typical Design Parameters

Clay:
= 1.0, for 0 < C < 24 KN/m2
= 1.25 0.01C for 24 < C < 72 KN/m2
= 0.5, for C > 72 KN/m2
All Clays NC = Defined in the Table given with the notes on Design of
Foundation for Offshore Platforms
Sand:

= 30, s = 0.64 1.12 Tm/m3

K = 0.7, f(max) = 96 KN/m2
Nq = 40, q(max) = 9600 KN/m2

PILES FOR FIXED FRAME TYPE STRUCTURES Dr. Hany Elosta

Example:
For clay soil having undrained shear strengths negligible at the mudline and
increasing linearly to about 172 KN/m2 at 122 m penetration. Determine the depth to
which a 1.2 m diameter steel pile of 2.5 cm wall thickness must be driven to provide an
ultimate compressive load capacity of 9000 KN. The specific weight (in air) of steel is
76 KN/m3, and that of the soil is 15.5 KN/m3.

C = by when b = 1.4 KN/m3

Shear force f = C and from the design parameter given above.
f1 = by
f2 = 1.25 by 0.01 (by)2
f3 = 0.5 by for

0 < y < 17 m
17 < y < 51.5
y > 51.5 m

and the normal force q at y = L is:

q = 9C = 9bL
The total submerged weight, per unit of length, of the pile and soil plugs is
calculated from the equation:
W p = ST AST + S AS

where ST and S are the submerged specific weights of the steel and soil and AST and AS
are the cross-sectional areas of the steel and soil plug. The submerged specific weights
are calculated from the corresponding specific weights in air by subtracting the specific
weight of water ( = 10.05 KN/m3) from these.

and

ST = 76 10.05 = 65.95 KN/m3

S = 15.5 10.05 = 5.45 KN/m3

W p = 65.95 (1.22 1.152 ) + 5.45 1.152 = 11.74 KN / m

4
4

PILES FOR FIXED FRAME TYPE STRUCTURES Dr. Hany Elosta

Assuming that L > 51.5 m

L

17

51.5

51.5

17

17

fdy = 1.4 y dy + 1.25 1.4 y dy 0.5 1.4

o

y 2 dy

0.5 1.4 y dy

51.5

202
.3
2068

860.29

2
0.5
17
1
2
2
= 1.4
+ 1.25 1.4 (51.5 17 )
1.4 2 (51.5 3 17 3 )
3
2
2
0.5 1.4 2
( L 51.5 2 )
+
2
= 0.35 2 L2 481.7
q = 9C = 9bL + 9 x 1.4 x L = 12.6L
FC = 9000 = 1.2(0.35L2 + 443.6) + 12.6 L

1.22
4

11.74 L

1.32 L2 + 2.51L 7327 = 0

L=

2.51 2.512 + 4 1.32 7328

= 73.5 m
2 1.32

Example:
For the offshore structure and loading conditions shown in the figure below,
determine the depth that the piles should be driven to provide adequate support. Assume
the same soil properties as in the previous example. Note that a worst-case condition is
considered where the wind and wave loading act at 45 to the faces of the structure. The
pile loadings are also idealised as indicated.

FH = 12900 KN

PILES FOR FIXED FRAME TYPE STRUCTURES Dr. Hany Elosta

FV = 8900 KN
b = 45m
d = 22m
From the balance of forces in the vertical:
4W = FV

(1)

and from the balance of moments about the left-hand pile, the following equation can be
written:
d (2W ) + 2d (W + F ) = bFH + dFV
or

(2)

4d + 2dF = bFH + dv
F=

b
FH
2d

From equation (1)

W=

FV 8900
=
= 2225 KN
4
4

From equation (2)

F=

b
45
12900 = 13193 KN
FH =
2d
2 22

FC = W + F = 2225 KN + 13193 = 15418 KN

FT = W F = 2225 13193 = 10968 KN

The previous pile length can be obtained following the procedure used in the
previous example with a safety factor of 1.5 as about 100 m.