Test Results

The SEAPILE and SEATIMBER composite marine products have undergone a series of process and product improvements since they were initially introduced. To more fully understand the cumulative effects of these changes, Seaward has recently undertaken a series of tests that supplement, and in some cases expand upon, previous test results for these products.

The original testing modeled performance of the SEAPILE composite marine piling in bending, with span lengths typical of a fender pile installation. A few axial load tests were also conducted, but only for one pile diameter and one size of reinforcing bar. These tests were incorporated in the SEAPILE composite marine piling Technical Manual, published in 1994.

In the period since 1994, a number of additional tests have been conducted, including tests of both the SEATIMBER composite marine timber and larger sizes of SEAPILE composite marine piling. Also during this time, industry standards for testing these types of materials have been under development. Finally, customer applications for these materials have continued to develop, resulting in the need for new test data and structural performance parameters.

During 2001 a significant effort was made to integrate all these requirements and to conduct meaningful tests that would predict structural performance under a wide range of conditions. This article provides a brief overview of these tests. We plan to incorporate these results into an enlarged and expanded SEAPILE/SEATIMBER Technical Manual. To obtain a copy of this publication, please submit a literature request form, or contact Seaward.