Evaluation of flexural behavior of steel pile connected with clamp-type mechanical connector

Typically, multi-segment steel piles that support loads are connected with mechanical connections or via the welding of segmented sections to ensure support capacity. Because steel piles are often used in the foundations of structures for which the flexural resistance performance requirements are relatively higher than those of pretensioned spun high strength concrete piles, the flexural resistant behavior and capacities of mechanically connected steel piles must be examined. In this study, to confirm the horizontal flexural resistance behavior of the steel piles connected via mechanical connections, a flexural load test of a steel pile connected with the clamp-type connectors was performed, and the flexural resistance behavior and failure characteristics generated in the flexural load state were evaluated. In addition, the mechanical pile connection and steel pile were modeled by finite element (FE) analysis, and the experimental and structural analysis results were compared. The variation in the flexural resistance performance with the changes in the material properties of the steel pile and mechanical connection was analyzed based on the FE analysis results. Taking into account the change in the material properties of the steel pile and clamp-type connectors, it was found that the maximum load and displacement increased with increasing yield and tensile strengths of the clamp-type connector. •Flexural loading tests to validate the application and behaviors of the clamp-type connector.•Flexural behaviors of the steel pile connected with the clamp-type connectors.•Failure mode of clamp-type connector for the steel pile connection under flexural loading condition.