D4.1 Design Requirements
Design of H-piles shall comply with the requirements of the Specification regarding design of members subjected to combined loads. H-piles located in site classes E or F as defined by ASCE/SEI 7 shall satisfy the requirements for moderately ductile members of Section D1.1.
D4.2 Battered H-Piles
If battered (sloped) and vertical piles are used in a pile group, the vertical piles shall be designed to support the combined effects of the dead and live loads without the participation of the battered piles.
D4.3 Tension
Tension in each pile shall be transferred to the pile cap by mechanical means, such as shear keys, reinforcing bars, or studs welded to the embedded portion of the pile.
For H-piles, the connection between the pile cap and piles shall be designed for a tensile force not less than 10% of the pile compression capacity.
Exception: Connection tensile capacity need not exceed the strength required to resist seismic load effects including overstrength. Connections need not be designed for tension where the foundation or supported structure does not rely on the tensile capacity of the piles for stability under design seismic forces including the effects of overstrength.
D4.4 Protected Zone
At each pile, the length equal to the depth of the pile cross section located directly below the bottom of the pile cap shall be designated as a protected zone meeting the requirements of Sections D1.3 and I2.1.