Full-scale field tests on directly embedded steel pole foundations

The results of eight full-scale tests on directly embedded steel pole foundations are presented. Fully instrumented poles were tested to measure the various design parameters. Different types of backfills such as sand, in situ gravelly sand, crushed stone, and flowable material were used. Various parameters were measured, including applied moment, ground line deflection-rotation, rotation of the pole below the ground level, soil pressures, and bending moments in the poles. The behaviour of these foundations was explained through ultimate capacity and moment-rotation characteristics. Based on these test results, it was found that the capacity of the directly embedded pole foundation depends primarily on the compaction levels of backfill and the embedment length of the pole. Flowable backfill material, which does not require any compaction, was found to be most effective and promising. Even when the backfill was loose, the lateral capacity significantly increased by the addition of a baseplate or by installing the pole with an additional embedment depth. Various theories developed for laterally loaded rigid piles were used to predict the moment-rotation behaviour and the ultimate capacity of the directly embedded pole foundation with different types of backfill material. Results from the analytical investigations were compared with those obtained from the full-scale load tests. Comparisons show that the ultimate capacities predicted by the models ranged from 0.30 to 2.20 times the measured capacities.