Post tensioned splice system for precast, prestressed concrete piles: Part 2, field implementation and driving spliced pile

Splicing precast, prestressed concrete piles has historically been difficult because the attachment detail either requires preplanned considerations and cast-in connection details or requires onsite coring and doweling when unplanned pile extensions are needed. When the pile must he driven after splicing, the splice connection is prone to tensile failures due to the inability to transfer driving stresses through the connection into the other pile segment. Focusing on preplanned splices. the Florida Department of Transportation limits tension stresses during driving to 250 and 500 psi (1700 and 3400 kPa) for epoxy dowel splices and mechanical splices, respectively. This can limit the ability to efficiently drive the pile to the point that it may even be impossible. In response, an alternative pile splicing approach incorporating post-tensioning was developed. The concept eliminates the limitations on tension stresses during driving. This is the second of three papers that detail the development and implementation of this alternative approach. Specifically, it covers the full-scale field implementation and driving of a spliced pile and its comparison to a one-piece, unspliced pile.