Centrifuge Modeling of End-Restraint Effects in Energy Foundations

Abstract

AbstractThis study presents the results from physical modeling experiments on centrifuge-scale energy foundations in dry sand and unsaturated silt layers. These experiments were performed to characterize end restraint effects on soil-structure interaction for energy foundations in different soils and include tests on foundations with semifloating and end-bearing toe boundary conditions and free-expansion and restrained-expansion head boundary conditions. Two scale-model energy foundations having different lengths were constructed from reinforced concrete to simulate end-bearing and semifloating conditions in soil layers having the same thickness. The foundations include embedded thermocouples and strain gauges, which were calibrated under applied mechanical loads and nonisothermal conditions before testing. The variables measured during the experiments include axial strain and temperature distributions in the foundation, temperature, and volumetric water content measurements in the soil, vertical displace...