Mechanical splice for RD320 pile size

Threaded mechanical splice has now been tested also for pile size RD320. Splice may be used with wall thicknesses 10 mm and 12.5 mm. It covers material strengths up to S460MH.
Since steel piles aren’t covered by hEN (Harmonized European Standard), the approval process is done according to ETA (European Technical Assessment) process. In ETA process the requirements for products are given in other harmonized technical specifications such as European Assessment Documents (EADs) or European Technical Approval Guidelines (ETAGs used as EAD). For steel piles EAD 200005-00-0103 is used.

According to this EAD the testing of threaded splice for RD320 consists of:

• robustness test by tightening
• bending test to define the bending resistance and bending stiffness
• compression test
• tension test.

Figure 1. Bending test at Tampere University of Technology

Figure 2. Tension test at RISE Research Institute of Sweden

Above tests were accomplished at RISE Research Institute of Sweden in Borås and at Tampere University of Technology in Tampere.

Test results fulfilled the requirements of EAD and all the test reports have been sent to VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland. VTT is working as a TAB (Technical Assessment Body) in Finland and will check through all the test reports before granting an ETA for the product.

After ETA has been granted, RD320 will be added to ETA 12/0526 which covers all the SSAB’s pile products and it may be CE marked.