Effect of single and dual voids on vertical capacity of large-diameter monopiles in marine clay

Abstract

This study utilizes the finite element limit analysis (FELA) method to numerically investigate the effect of single and dual voids on the vertical bearing capacity of nearshore large-diameter monopiles in marine clay. After validating the numerical model, numerous numerical analyses in predicting the behavior of the pile-void system were conducted under different geometric parameters of pile and void, different pile-void distances, and different undrained shear strengths. These numerical results can be expressed in the form of design charts for vertical capacity reduction coefficients, which can facilitate a quick and straightforward assessment of pile capacity considering single and dual voids by multiplying the capacity without voids by respective coefficients. In addition, the numerical results can further give the contours of the plastic multiplier of the pile-void system which can be used to graphically conclude several representative failure modes. In short, this study intuitively illustrates the void effect on the pile vertical bearing capacity (including failure mode) and shows the significant differences between the cases with single and dual voids.