ASCE/COPRI 61-14 Analysis and Detailing Next Steps

ASCE/COPRI 61-14 “Seismic Design of Piers and Wharves” (ASCE 61-14) was developed specifically for piers and wharves not occupied by the public, as these and other similar transportation related structures such as bridges are specifically excluded in ASCE 7-10. The seismic behavior of piers and wharves is similar to bridges and many of the seismic provisions in ASCE 61-14 have their roots in bridge design. One of the goals of the ASCE 61-14 committee was to develop design and detailing provisions for the most commonly used pile-to-deck connections based on available research. However, as the document evolved, it became apparent that much of the recent research and testing was performed on prestressed concrete pile dowelled connections while only limited testing has been performed on other types of piles and connections, and that testing was dated and not always appropriate for application to the displacement-based design approach used in ASCE 61-14. As a result, the analysis and detailing and provisions in the document were not as comprehensive as originally envisioned, and improvements are needed for the next edition, ASCE 61-19. As ASCE 61-14 was being finalized, a significant amount of research related to bridge columns and connections funded by the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP), Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) was published that appears to be useful for piers and wharves. This paper will summarize the findings of some of the recent bridge research and suggest revisions to ASCE 61-19 related to analysis and detailing of pile-to-deck connections and in ground hinges.