Dynamic analysis of laterally loaded pile groups in sand and clay

2002 ◽  
Vol 39 (6) ◽  
pp. 1358-1383 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yasser E Mostafa ◽  
M Hesham El Naggar

Pile foundations supporting bridge piers, offshore platforms, and marine structures are required to resist not only static loading but also lateral dynamic loading. The static p–y curves are widely used to relate pile deflections to nonlinear soil reactions. The p-multiplier concept is used to account for the group effect by relating the load transfer curves of a pile in a group to the load transfer curves of a single pile. Some studies have examined the validity of the p-multiplier concept for the static and cyclic loading cases. However, the concept of the p-multiplier has not yet been considered for the dynamic loading case, and hence it is undertaken in the current study. An analysis of the dynamic lateral response of pile groups is described. The proposed analysis incorporates the static p–y curve approach and the plane strain assumptions to represent the soil reactions within the framework of a Winkler model. The model accounts for the nonlinear behaviour of the soil, the energy dissipation through the soil, and the pile group effect. The model was validated by analyzing the response of pile groups subjected to lateral Statnamic loading and comparing the results with field measured values. An intensive parametric study was performed employing the proposed analysis, and the results were used to establish dynamic soil reactions for single piles and pile groups for different types of sand and clay under harmonic loading with varying frequencies applied at the pile head. "Dynamic" p-multipliers were established to relate the dynamic load transfer curves of a pile in a group to the dynamic load transfer curves for a single pile. The dynamic p-multipliers were found to vary with the spacing between piles, soil type, peak amplitude of loading, and the angle between the line connecting any two piles and the direction of loading. The study indicated the effect of pile material and geometry, pile installation method, and pile head conditions on the p-multipliers. The calculated p-multipliers compared well with p-multipliers back-calculated from full scale field tests.Key words: lateral, transient loading, nonlinear, pile–soil–pile interaction, p–y curves, Statnamic.

Author(s):  
Aligi Foglia ◽  
Khalid Abdel-Rahman ◽  
Elmar Wisotzki ◽  
Tulio Quiroz ◽  
Martin Achmus

Estimating pile group efficiency for open-ended steel piles in small group arrangements is a challenging task for designers. This paper reports on the large-scale experimental campaign performed for the BorWin gamma offshore converter platform, which involved single piles and two-pile group systems on a scale of 1:10. The experimental works included installation, dynamic end-of-driving tests, dynamic restrike tests, and static load tests of a single pile and a pair of two-pile groups in densely compacted, artificially prepared homogeneous sand. The CPT profiles and the blow counts confirmed that the foundation systems are comparable to each other. The experimental results of the single pile system were compared with conventional design methods. Such comparison indicated that CPT-based methods and load-transfer methods are applicable at the considered model scale. The bearing capacity prediction obtained via the CAPWAP method is conservative with respect to the static capacity. A consistent setup effect can be detected by analyzing the complete dynamic loading session. The pile group efficiency for the given foundation system was found to be less than 1.0 at both very small and very large soil strains, while it equaled 1.0 at failure.


Author(s):  
Le Thiet Trung ◽  
Duong Diep Thuy ◽  
Pham Viet Anh

Results of in-situ tests showed that the performance of single isolated piles and individual piles within a group is largely different. When piles are arranged in a group, the interaction between piles and the foundation depends on the pile arrangement and the pile group effect. To date, studies on the pile group effect in Vietnam have been limited to reduced-scale laboratory testing or static load testing where piles are installed into homogeneous sandy or clayey foundation. This paper presents in situ tests which were performed on both single piles and pile groups, loaded to failure, with the aim of studying the pile group effect of piles embedded in multi-layered foundation. Strain gauges were installed along the shaft of 10 m long steel pipe piles, with a diameter of 143 mm. The influence of loose sand layers on the group effect in case of friction piles was evaluated. The experimental results indicated that the influence of sand layers was evident, and the group factor was calculated to be 1.237. Keywords: group efficiency; pile groups; axial capacity; load transfer.


2018 ◽  
Vol 55 (5) ◽  
pp. 749-757 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yaru Lv ◽  
Dongdong Zhang

This paper investigates geometrical effects on the load transfer mechanism of off-ground capped pile groups subjected to vertical load by four three-dimensional numerical simulations, including a circular single pile, an X-shaped cross-sectional concrete (XCC) single pile, a 4 × 4 circular pile group, and a 4 × 4 XCC pile group. The ultimate bearing capacities of the XCC and circular piles within pile groups are approximately 0.86 and 0.74 times that of the XCC and circular single piles, respectively. The group efficiency of the XCC pile group is mainly improved by its side resistance. Comparing the XCC pile group to the circular pile group, the increment in side resistance is almost larger than the increment in pile perimeter, indicating that the pile geometry alters the load transfer mechanism via stress concentration and lateral stress arching. A nonuniform load distribution on piles within a capped pile group causes a bending moment along the pile shafts. The bending moment of XCC piles is smaller than that of circular piles because the raft stiffness of an XCC pile group is increased by its larger circumscribing pile diameter.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 207-217
Author(s):  
Yongjin Choi ◽  
Jaehun Ahn

The <i>p-y</i> curve method and </i>p</i>-multiplier (<i>P<sub>m</sub></i>), which implies a group effect, are widely used to analyze the nonlinear behaviors of laterally loaded pile groups. Factors affecting <i>P<sub>m</sub></i> includes soil properties as well as group pile geometry and configuration. However, research on the change in <i>P<sub>m</sub></i> corresponding to soil properties has not been conducted well. In this study, in order to evaluate the effect of soil properties on the group effect in a laterally-loaded pile group installed in sandy soil, numerical analysis for a single pile and 3×3 pile group installed in loose, medium, and dense sand, was performed using the 3D numerical analysis program, Plaxis 3D. Among the factors considered in this study, the column location of the pile was the most dominant factor for <i>P<sub>m</sub></i>. The effect of the sand property change on <i>P<sub>m</sub></i> was not as significant as that of the column location of the pile. However, as the sand became denser and the friction angle increased, the group effect increased, leading to a decrease in <i>P<sub>m</sub></i> of approximately 0.1. This trend was similar to the result reported in a previous laboratory-scale experimental study.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. 800
Author(s):  
Miloš Marjanović ◽  
Mirjana Vukićević ◽  
Diethard König

Marine and harbor structures, wind turbines, bridges, offshore platforms, industrial chimneys, retaining structures etc. can be subjected to significant lateral loads from various sources. Appropriate assessment of the foundations capacity of these structures is thus necessary, especially when these structures are supported by pile groups. The pile group interaction effects under lateral loading have been investigated intensively in past decades, and the most of the conducted studies have considered lateral loading that acts along one of the two orthogonal directions, parallel to the edge of pile group. However, because of the stochastic nature of its source, the horizontal loading on the pile group may have arbitrary direction. The number of studies dealing with the pile groups under arbitrary loading is very limited. The aim of this paper is to investigate the influence of the arbitrary lateral loading on the pile group response, in order to improve (extend) the current design approach for laterally loaded pile groups. Free head, flexible bored piles in sand were analyzed through the extensive numerical study. The main hypothesis of the research is that some critical pile group configurations, loading directions, and soil conditions exist, which can lead to the unsafe structural design. Critical pile positions inside the commonly used pile group configurations are identified with respect to loading directions. The influence of different soil conditions was discussed.


2006 ◽  
Vol 43 (8) ◽  
pp. 788-801 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberto Cairo ◽  
Enrico Conte

This paper presents a method to perform a nonlinear analysis of pile groups subject to vertical loading. The method makes use of the dynamic stiffness matrices to simulate the response of layered soils. These matrices are incorporated in a calculation procedure that is computationally very efficient because the response of a pile group can be achieved using essentially the solution for a single pile. The method is first used to perform a linear elastic analysis of pile groups and is then extended to include the nonlinearity effects. In this context, the widely accepted approach is adopted in which nonlinearity is considered to be confined in a narrow zone close to each pile, whereas outside this zone the soil is assumed to behave as a linear elastic medium. Moreover, a global interaction factor is introduced to account for the interaction among the piles in the group. The theoretical predictions from the proposed method are compared with experimental measurements from several published full-scale and model tests on pile groups loaded up to failure. The agreement between predicted and observed behaviour is found to be very satisfactory, even approaching the ultimate load, when the results of loading tests on single piles are available and the group efficiency with respect to the failure load is close to unity.Key words: pile groups, settlement analysis, nonlinear behaviour, layered soils.


2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 2577-2584
Author(s):  
M. A. Soomro ◽  
A. S. Brohi ◽  
M. A. Soomro ◽  
D. K. Bangwar ◽  
S. A. Bhatti

Development of underground transportation systems consists of tunnels, basement construction excavations and cut and cover tunnels which may encounter existing pile groups during their construction. Since many previous studies mainly focus on the effects of excavations on single piles, settlement and load transfer mechanism of a pile group subjected to excavation-induced stress release are not well investigated and understood. To address these two issues, three-dimensional coupled-consolidation numerical analysis is conducted by using a hypoplastic model which takes small-strain stiffness into account. A non-linear pile group settlement was induced. This may be attributed to reduction of shaft resistance due to excavation induced stress release, the pile had to settle substantially to further mobilise end-bearing. Compared to the Sp of the pile group, induced settlement of the single pile is larger with similar settlement characteristics. Due to the additional settlement of the pile group, factor of safety for the pile group can be regarded as decreasing from 3.0 to 1.4, based on a displacement-based failure load criterion. Owing to non-uniform stress release, pile group tilted towards the excavation with value of 0.14%. Due to excavation-induced stress release and dragload, head load of rear piles was reduced and transferred to rear piles. This load transfer can increase the axial force in front piles by 94%.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (04) ◽  
pp. 2050050
Author(s):  
Lubao Luan ◽  
Xin Deng ◽  
Weiting Deng ◽  
Chenglong Wang ◽  
Xuanming Ding

An analytical solution is presented for evaluating the dynamic responses of pile groups subjected to vertical harmonic loads. The solution allows us to consider the effects of pile geometry on the pile head impedance of the vertically loaded pile groups by the use of a new dynamic interaction factor. To this end, the stress distributions of the soil surrounding the vertically vibrating pile is first determined for calculating the pile–pile interaction factor, instead of the classical interaction factor based on two-pile displacements in past studies. Accordingly, the impedances of the pile group are derived using the proposed pile–pile interaction factor and the superposition principle. Some selected examples are presented to demonstrate the proposed refined technique for evaluating the dynamic characteristics of the pile group.


2000 ◽  
Vol 37 (5) ◽  
pp. 951-962 ◽  
Author(s):  
António GF de Sousa Coutinho

This paper presents the prediction of horizontal load-displacement curves of pile groups based on the results of single pile tests. Although the same basic model is employed, two different approaches are taken: one assumes soil to be linear elastic-plastic, and the other assumes it to be elastic nonlinear. The model is calibrated on the basis of the results of a full-scale single pile test. Special emphasis is placed on model calibrations, since the success of any prediction method depends on a careful characterization of the soil. Some new approaches for determining the soil parameters are presented. Two methods for predicting load-displacement curves, one from each model approach, are then proposed and discussed. Special emphasis is placed on group efficiency in the elastic-plastic method and on the boundary conditions of the single pile and the pile group in the elastic nonlinear method. Using the soil characteristics from the model calibrations, the load-displacement curves for a given pile group are then predicted. These predictions are compared with the results of a full-scale pile group test carried out at the same site as that of the single pile test. Agreement between the predictions and the test results tends to validate the methods proposed.Key words: displacement predictions, pile groups, model calibration, pile tests.


1982 ◽  
Vol 22 (05) ◽  
pp. 775-783
Author(s):  
Glenn A. Kriger

Abstract A comprehensive set of guidelines for constructing linear models of single piles and pile groups for foundations of offshore structures is presented. These models are used as boundary conditions at the base of the superstructure, thus permitting independent analysis of the superstructure from its supporting foundation.This paper is a "how-to" text for piled foundation modeling. It is also of value to those in related disciplines, such as geotechnical specialists, who will gain insight into how their data is applied in analyzing structures supported by piled foundations. Discussions include the behavior and modeling of single piles and pile groups. Construction methods are presented for pile groups. Construction methods are presented for three types of pile models-matrix, springs, and equivalent pile. The advantages and disadvantages of each model type are described. Linear and nonlinear foundation behavior characteristics are treated in depth. Factors that influence the approach to a modeling problem are outlined. Emphasis is placed on providing the problem are outlined. Emphasis is placed on providing the reader with an understanding of the physical behavior of piled foundations and model construction. A step-by-step piled foundations and model construction. A step-by-step procedure for model synthesis is provided in an example. procedure for model synthesis is provided in an example. Introduction In a fixed offshore platform, the steel jacket superstructure and its supporting piled foundation are more conveniently analyzed if treated separately. There are major structural and behavior-al differences between the jacket and foundation, and the two do not lend themselves to similar analytical methods. This paper presents basic techniques for constructing linear models that simulate the foundation behavior at the superstructure/foundation boundary. Use of these models permits independent superstructure analyses. Selection of the model type and its degree of refinement are described from a global overview of the structure, available data, and ramification of analytical results. Construction of the foundation simulation model follows routine procedures using results of an independent foundation analysis. Single Pile Behavior The load-deflection behavior of a single pile crown is of key importance in model construction. Analysis of a pile embedded in soil is extremely difficult because of pile embedded in soil is extremely difficult because of the infinite dimensions, nonhomogeneity, and nonlinearity of the soil. As a practical necessity, the problem usually is simplified by treating the pile as a beam-column supported by nonlinear axial and lateral soil springs. Details of these analytical procedures are beyond the scope of this work, although application of the techniques presented here will require the availability of such an analytical tool. Although this material pertains to single piles, it forms the basis for understanding pertains to single piles, it forms the basis for understanding pile group behavior discussed later. pile group behavior discussed later. Fig. 1 depicts a right-hand orthogonal coordinate system, which is used throughout this paper. Displacements, s, and forces, F, are shown in each of the six degrees of freedom (DOF). The pile behavior is studied by observation of the force(s) required to produce displacement in each of the six DOF while all other displacements are held at zero. Of utmost importance is the effect of coupling-the interaction of forces (and displacements) in different DOF.First consider linear pile behavior, which is characteristic of small-magnitude loadings. Force and displacement are directly proportional; therefore, stiffness (force divided by displacement) remains constant for all values of displacement (Fig. 2).Fig. 3a shows that an axial displacement is produced by an axial force. This axial displacement requires no other forces in each of the remaining five DOF. Therefore, linear axial pile behavior is uncoupled. Similarly, a torsional displacement (Fig. 3b) requires only a torque along the same DOF and therefore is also lineally uncoupled. SPEJ p. 775


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