Continuously Prestressed Concrete Pile Splice

Abstract

A pile splice section for a spliced prestressed concrete pile includes a prestressed concrete element including a first end and a second end and a plurality of tendons that extend from the first end to the second end. A first end assembly at the first end of the prestressed concrete element includes a first plate coupled to the plurality of tendons. The first end assembly further includes a plurality of internally threaded fasteners embedded in the first end of the prestressed concrete element that are engagable via apertures extending through the first plate. A second end assembly at the second end of the prestressed concrete element includes a second metal plate coupled to the plurality of tendons. The second end assembly further includes a plurality of apertures extending through the second plate and accessible via pockets proximate the second end of the prestressed concrete element.

The following is claimed: 
     
         1 . A pile splice section for a spliced prestressed concrete pile, the pile splice section comprising:
 a prestressed concrete element including a first end and a second end, the prestressed concrete element including a plurality of tendons that extend from the first end to the second end;   a first end assembly at the first end of the prestressed concrete element including a first plate having a plurality of chucks on a side opposite the prestressed concrete element, wherein each chuck is coupled to one of the plurality of tendons before the concrete is poured, the first end assembly further including a plurality of internally threaded fasteners embedded in the first end of the prestressed concrete element, the plurality of internally threaded fasteners engagable via apertures extending through the first plate; and   a second end assembly at the second end of the prestressed concrete element including a second metal plate having a plurality of chucks on a side opposite the prestressed concrete element, wherein each chuck is coupled to one of the plurality of tendons before the concrete is poured, the second end assembly further including a plurality of apertures extending through the second plate and accessible via pockets proximate the second end of the prestressed concrete element,   wherein the apertures are configured to receive a plurality of externally threaded fasteners that each engages one of the internally threaded fasteners in the first end assembly of an adjacent pile splice section such that actuation of the externally threaded fasteners via the pockets in the prestressed concrete element couples the second end assembly to the first end assembly of the adjacent pile splice section.   
     
     
         2 . The pile section of  claim 1 , wherein the first end assembly further comprises a first wall extending perpendicularly from the first plate, the first plate and first wall defining an open-ended first enclosure that is filled with concrete, and wherein the second end assembly further comprises a second wall extending perpendicularly from the second plate, the second plate and second wall defining an open-ended second enclosure that is filled with concrete. 
     
     
         3 . The pile splice section of  claim 2 , wherein the concrete of the first end assembly defines a first coupling structure at the open end of the open-ended first enclosure and the concrete of the second end assembly defines a second coupling structure at the open end of the open-ended second enclosure, and wherein the second coupling structure is configured to mate with the first coupling structure of the adjacent pile splice section. 
     
     
         4 . The pile splice section of  claim 1 , wherein, when the externally threaded fasteners engage the internally threaded fasteners of the adjacent pile splice section, the externally threaded fasteners are tensioned to a torque of at least about 1,000 ft-lbs. 
     
     
         5 . The pile splice section of  claim 1 , wherein the first plate and second plate each include wedges seated in each of the plurality of chucks on a side opposite the prestressed concrete element, wherein each chuck is coupled to one of the plurality of tendons by way of the wedges, prior to concrete being poured. 
     
     
         6 . The pile splice section of  claim 1 , wherein the externally threaded fasteners comprise all-thread bars, and wherein the internally threaded fasteners comprise nuts.