Probabilistic procedure for design of untreated timber piles under marine borer attack

This paper presents a probabilistic design procedure for untreated timber piles under attack of marine borers, in which a new probabilistic-based durability factor is derived and introduced into the current Australian engineering design procedure. In evaluating this durability factor, a prediction model of marine borer attack on timber piles, which was developed in a national project in Australia is used for modeling the attack progress. Examples of the durability factor computed for untreated timber piles with different diameters or located at different coastal zones are provided.