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 method for forming pile splice sections for a spliced prestressed concrete pile, the method comprising:
 providing a first pile section form including a first end assembly, a second end assembly, and concrete element form between the first and second end assemblies, the first end assembly comprising a first plate at a first end of the concrete element form and the second end assembly comprising a second plate at a second end of the concrete element form, the first end assembly further comprising a plurality of internally threaded fasteners coupled to the first plate and extending into the concrete element form, the second end assembly further comprising a plurality of bent plates that each defines a pocket extending into the concrete element form;   securing a first plurality of prestress tendons to the first plate and the second plate such that the first plurality of prestress tendons extend through the concrete element form;   tensioning the first plurality of prestress tendons;   filling the first end assembly, second end assembly, and concrete element form with concrete such that the internally threaded fasteners are embedded in the concrete and the concrete does not enter the pockets;   releasing the tension from the first plurality of prestress tendons after allowing the concrete to cure; and   removing the cured concrete from the first pile section form.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first end assembly further comprises a first wall extending perpendicularly from the first plate and a first key plate on the first wall parallel to the first plate, the first plate, first wall, and first key plate defining a first enclosure, and wherein the second end assembly further comprises a second wall extending perpendicularly from the second plate and a second key plate on the second wall parallel to the second plate, the second plate, second wall, and second key plate defining a second enclosure. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein filling the first end assembly comprises filing the first enclosure and filling the second end assembly comprises filing the second enclosure. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the first key plate defines a first coupling structure form that generates a first coupling structure in the cured concrete, and wherein the second key plate defines a second coupling structure form that generates a second coupling structure in the cured concrete. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the securing step comprises securing each of the plurality of tendons in a first chuck on the first plate and a second chuck on the second plate, each chuck disposed on a side of the first and second plates opposite the concrete element form. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein, prior to the securing step, the method further comprises forming a second pile section form substantially similar to the first pile section form adjacent to the first pile section form. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the securing step further comprises securing a second plurality of prestress tendons to the first plate and the second plate of the section pile section form such that the second plurality of prestress tendons extend through the concrete element form of the second pile section. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the first plurality of prestress tendons is continuous with the second plurality of prestress tendons. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein, prior to the tensioning step, the method further comprises coupling the first pile section to the second pile section form to maintain a spacing between the first and second pile section forms