DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION GUIDELINES FOR DOWNDRAG ON UNCOATED AND BITUMEN-COATED PILES

Abstract

These guidelines are the result of a study using bitumen-coated piles to reduce downdrag. The study included a literature review, field tests, laboratory tests, environmental studies, and an economic analysis. The guidelines provide a comprehensive description of the downdrag problem, an analysis of the behavior of piles subjected to downdrag, a selection of the bitumen coating, and a step-by-step design procedure. The PILENEG software developed as part of this project and described in these guidelines allows users to analyze a pile subjected to downdrag. The PILENEG software is available on the Internet World Wide Web at http://civilgrads.tamu.edu/briaud. The research agency's final report and a video on the design and construction of bitumen-coated piles are available from the NCHRP upon request.