Modeling clay–pile interface during multi-directional loading (original) (raw)

Advanced numerical modelling of the nonlinear mechanical behaviour of a laterally loaded pile embedded in stiff unsaturated clay

Journal of the South African Institution of Civil Engineering

Capturing and understanding the ultimate limit state behaviour of reinforced concrete piles embedded in soil requires the use of advanced tools or the performance of expensive tests. An experiment was performed where reinforced concrete piles embedded in a stiff unsaturated clay profile were load-tested on-site. However, even though in-situ experiments can provide engineers with valuable insight, their cost and time limitations come with restrictions, especially when dealing with a parametric investigation on the soil's material properties, the size of the piles, or the piles' material properties. The objective of this research work was to numerically model the nonlinear mechanical behaviour of laterally loaded full-scale piles through detailed 3D modelling, and perform an in-depth parametric investigation to provide answers to unknown factors that the actual physical experiment could not answer. Furthermore, this work serves as a pilot project that will be used to pave the ...

Dynamic behaviour of laterally loaded model piles in clay

Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Geotechnical Engineering, 2005

Dynamic experiments in lateral mode were carried out on model aluminium single piles in a simulated elastic half-space filled with clay soil to determine dynamic constants of the soil–pile system and to study the bending behaviour of piles. Model piles with various lengths were subjected to steady-state harmonic vibrations with different magnitudes of force of 7–30 N applied over a wide range of frequencies from 2 Hz to 50 Hz. The load transferred to the pile, pile head displacement and strain gauge readings at different locations on the pile were measured. It is observed consistently that the magnitude of the applied force and the pile length significantly affect the natural frequency of the soil–pile system. It is found that rigid piles behave linearly even at the higher magnitudes of applied force, but that flexible piles behave non-linearly as the magnitude of the applied force increases, which leads to a substantial reduction of the lateral stiffness of the soil–pile system. Da...

Dynamic response of laterally loaded piles in clay

Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Geotechnical Engineering, 2006

The behaviour of single piles under lateral dynamic loading is critical, and has been an important field of research since the 1950s. Many analytical or semi-analytical linear and non-linear models are available to estimate the dynamic lateral stiffness, but it is essential to determine the dynamic characteristics of the soil–pile system through full-scale lateral dynamic pile load tests for important structures and for validation of existing models. This paper presents the results of field lateral dynamic load tests conducted on 33 piles of varying types–driven precast concrete, driven cast-in-situ concrete and bored cast-in-situ concrete–at different petrochemical complexes in India. The results indicate that driven precast concrete piles have stiffnesses that are four to five times higher than those of driven cast in situ piles. The lateral stiffness was also estimated using the computer program PILAY for all piles and compared with the stiffness determined from the field tests. ...

Considering Soil Nonlinearity in 1D Simulation of Laterally Loaded Long Pile

Pile is often simulated using Winkler type one-dimensional (1D) model using beam elements supported by a series of soil springs. Strain field in the soil around a pile subjected to lateral loads needs due consideration in defining the spring properties representing soil. It becomes a little more complex if one wants to incorporate soil nonlinearity. There are several relationships available in literature that correlate spring constant with secant modulus of soil. Some knowledge of Stiffness degradation with strain magnitude is also well documented in literature. This study explores various possibilities of combining these two sets of information to perform 1D analysis. The associated difficulties and required design assumptions are further discussed. A concept of equivalent lateral strain is proposed to determine applicable spring properties for equivalent-linear or nonlinear-1D analysis at different loads. These thoughts may help in developing simple tools for analysis and design o...