Experimental and Numerical Study on the Winged Pile-Soil Interaction under Lateral Loads

Increasing the cross-sectional area of piles leads to an increase in the lateral bearing resistance and reduces displacements near ground level. This increase compensates for the reduction in soil stiffness at the seabed level. Installing wings near the mudline level is one approach for increasing the area of the pile in mudline level. This research paper discusses a number of small-scale laboratory models and FEM models to study the benefit of adding wings on the variation of bearing capacity of laterally pile loaded embedded in sandy soil. To determine the advantages of adding wings to the pile, four embedded ratios (4, 6, 8, 10) were used to model both flexible and rigid pile types with various wing numbers and dimensions. The results revealed that adding wings to the pile improves lateral load resistance and greatly reduces lateral deflection. So, to achieve better resistance, wings must be linked with the pile shaft perpendicular to the lateral load applied nearer the top of the pile head. Increasing the number of wings results in a large increase in lateral pile capacity. The ultimate lateral applied load is proportional to the rise in relative density at the same (L/D) ratio.

Scaling of RC Chimney for the Experimental Investigation under Lateral Load

Reinforced concrete chimneys are tall industrial structures specially used in power plants to expel waste gases at high enough elevation. Based on the study of various literature available for the subject, various geometrical, material, and loading parameters to be followed to prepare the test specimens are presented in this paper so that the test specimen represents the behaviour of the actual RC chimney. The special construction process required to be followed is described in this paper along with the various analytical checks to be performed before the actual application of lateral loads on test specimens. Different design standards give different design recommendations mainly in terms of the stress-strain curve of concrete and steel. So, various experimental tests performed by applying the lateral load on specially designed and casted test specimens which represents the actual chimney in the field helps the researchers to compare the various design standards and helps the industry to opt for the same.

STRENGTH OF SHIPS’ GRILLAGES UNDER LATERAL LOAD AND IN-PLANE COMPRESSION

The paper deals with strength of a grillage loaded by lateral load and in-plane compression load (in one direction). It consists of a system of prismatic girders crossing under 90°. The compression load is taken by the longitudinal girders that are elastically fixed on rigid supports. The system of aggregated differential equations is derived for solution of the problem using the Lagrange method. It allows for replacement of the system of aggregated differential equations by a system of independent differential equations. These equations for the case of simultaneous action of lateral and longitudinal compression load have the form of differential equations for bending of prismatic girders laying on elastic foundation and loaded with lateral and longitudinal compression forces. When only lateral load exists, the form of these equations coincides with the form of differential equations for bending of girders laying on elastic foundation and loaded with lateral load alone. When only longitudinal compression load exists, the form of these equations coincides with the form of differential equations for buckling of girders laying on elastic foundation. Solutions are given for bending of a grillage (the first two problems). Formulas are derived for calculation of the parameters of longitudinal girders’ bending when girders’ end sections are elastically fixed. Also, formulas are derived for calculation of the reaction forces at cross-points of transverse and longitudinal girders. When only longitudinal compression load exists (third problem), a solution is given for the connection between the coefficient of elastic foundation’s rigidity and the Euler force. Results obtained by using the proposed method are compared with FEA simulations.

Evaluation of Seismic Response Modification Factor (R) for Moderate-Rise RC Buildings with Vertical Irregular Configurations

Most international design codes consider the nonlinear seismic performance of a structure by the concept of reduction/modification factor (R). Then, an elastic static force-based method can be normally used for seismic design to create earthquake resistant RC buildings. The response modification factor (R) is sensitive to many aspects such as overall ductility, over-strength, damping, and redundancy levels. Indeed, these factors are severely affected by geometric irregularity of the structural system. So, R-value does not become a constant number for the all types of structures with the same lateral load resisting system, as many standard codes noted. It depends on types, combination, and degrees of geometric vertical irregularity. This research assesses the actual values of R for regular and familiar vertical irregularity cases in RC buildings with moment-resisting frames (MRF) systems. Also, it takes into account the reduction percent that may occurs in R-value due to these studied vertical irregularities. The vertical irregularity cases, such as set-back and soft story, are essentially needed to be studied greater than ever due to the wide propagation of these types of buildings in Egypt, recently. In addition, the potential analytical methods that may be used to calculate R-value in comparison with Egyptian code’s value. Nonlinear static pushover analysis is carried out using ETABS via three-dimensional numerical models. The findings prove that vertical irregular models have poor seismic capacities, in comparison with regular one, due to their sudden change in lateral stiffness than that with regular aspect. So, the response modification factor (R) must be re-calculated or even scaled-down before design stage with 15% and 25% for single and combined vertical irregularity, respectively. In addition, this investigation derives a vital equation between R values with vertical irregularity ratios in each studied model. This equation shall be a guide for seismic design codes, structural design engineers, and researchers. Accordingly, the response modification factor R does not become a fixed value regardless vertical irregularity aspects of the buildings, but it has a variable value that depend on their inelastic seismic performance of the lateral load resisting systems.