Pile Types

The Define Pile Types option is available through Piles > Pile Types .

Pile Types are made up of Pile Sections whose properties are defined in the Pile Section Properties dialog.

The properties and options available for a pile type are dependent on the analysis option selected, as is explained in the table below.

RSPile	Pile Section Properties			Pile Type
Analysis	Cross-Section	Material Type	Material Properties	Multiple Sections	Bell Section*	Tapered Section	Helix Section
Driven	Pile Pipe Closed End	Not Applicable	Not Required	YES	NO	YES	NO
	Pile Pipe Open End			YES	NO	YES	NO
	Timber			YES	NO	YES	NO
	Concrete Pile			YES	NO	YES	NO
	H Pile			YES	NO	NO	NO
Bored	Circular	Concrete	Concrete strength	YES	YES	NO	NO
	Square			YES	NO	NO	NO
	Rectangular			YES	NO	NO	NO
Helical	Square Solid	Not Applicable	Not Required	YES	NO	NO	YES
	Square Hollow			YES	NO	NO	YES
	Circular Solid			YES	NO	NO	YES
	Circular Hollow			YES	NO	NO	YES
Axial/ Lateral	Circular	Elastic	Modulus	YES	YES	YES	NO
	Rectangular			YES	NO	YES	NO
	Pipe			YES	NO	YES	NO
	Typical Section			YES	NO	NO	NO
	User Defined			YES	NO	NO	NO
	Circular	Plastic	Modulus Mxy Mxz	YES	YES	YES	NO
	Rectangular			YES	NO	YES	NO
	Pipe			YES	NO	YES	NO
	Circular	Reinforced Concrete	Concrete strength	YES	YES	NO	NO
	Rectangular			YES	NO	NO	NO
	Circular	Prestressed Concrete	Concrete strength	YES	NO	NO	NO
	Rectangular			YES	NO	NO	NO

Notes:

• Group analysis has the same Pile Type features as Lateral/Axial analysis
• *Bell Section cannot exist by itself and can only be added as the bottom-most section
• Skin friction is ignored along a Bell Section
• P-Y and Q-Z curves of a bell section are obtained using the actual bell dimensions
  
• The structural stiffness of a bell section is calculated using the stem diameter
  
• The bell obtains its properties from the section immediately above it including any reinforcement design
  

The Edit Pile Types dialog is separated into two sections which are explained below:

• Sections
• Orientation

Pile Sections

The Section tab allows users to construct a Pile Type using Pile Sections. In this tab users can define the:

• Pile Head Elevation
• Cross Section Type
• Number of Sections
• Length of each Section
• Bell geometry and tapering
• Helices geometry
  

BELLS

Depending on the type of analysis being done, a bell can be added and defined using the Design Bell option.

In this dialog users can define:

• Length Above Bell
• Bell Angle
• Bell Base Thickness
• Base Diameter

When adding a bell it should be noted:

• Bell Sections cannot exist by themselves and can only be added as the bottom-most section of the pile type
• Skin friction is ignored along a Bell Section
• P-Y and Q-Z curves of a bell section are obtained using the actual bell dimensions
• The structural stiffness of a bell section is calculated using the stem diameter
• The bell obtains its properties from the section immediately above it including any reinforcement design

Assumptions for different analysis options

Certain assumptions are made for each type of analysis when a bell is added to a pile type:

Lateral

• Skin friction is ignored along a bell section
• P-Y curves along a bell section are obtained using the interpolated bell diameter

Axial

• T-Z is ignored along a bell section
• Q-Z is obtained using the bell base diameter
• The structural stiffness of a bell section is computed using the stem diameter

Bored Analysis

• Skin friction is ignored along a bell section
• Pile capacity along a bell section is obtained using the interpolated bell diameter

HELICES

If a Helical analysis is being performed, users can define helices along the shaft using the Define Helices option.

The depth of the first helix is controlled by the Depth of First Helix from Pile Head input box at the top of the dialog.

For subsequent helices, the user has the option to define the helix position by spacing from the helix above or depth from pile head.

If the user defines by:

• Spacing: The depths and elevations of the helices will be automatically calculated based on the specified spacing from the helix above
• Depth: The spacing will be calculated based on the difference between the current helix depth and the helix above

The height reduction factor is used to determine the length above the first helix which is ignored in uplift. For more information, please see the Helical Pile Theory Manual.

Orientation

The orientation inputs are used to specify the pile batter and orientation in 3D space. Two options are available:

• Alpha/Beta
  • Alpha - Rotation of pile around z-axis, clockwise from the y-axis
  • Beta - Batter angle of pile, clockwise from y-axis
  • Theta - Rotation of pile around the central axis of the pile

From left: alpha, beta, theta

• Vector
  • XYZ - Direction vector coordinates. The normalized unit vector of the input vector is calculated.
  • Rotation Angle - the angle of rotation (clockwise, in degrees) of the pile section about the z-axis. (0 degrees if no rotation).

Notes on Ground Slope and Pile Batter

• Ground Slope and Pile Batter are only one of the options for defining a battered pile / sloping ground. T-z and Q-z multipliers can be used to analyze axially loaded (battered) piles in sloping ground. Similarly, p-y multipliers are more commonly used to analyze laterally loaded (battered) piles in sloping ground.