Lateral response of single piles in cement-improved soil: numerical and theoretical investigation

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the lateral response of a single precast concrete pile reinforced with cement-improved soil through a series of theoretical studies and 3D finite element analyses using a concrete damage-plasticity model. Application of cement-improved soil around a pile can obviously reduce both lateral deflections and bending moments in the pile and can significantly increase the lateral capacity of the pile. Increasing soil resistance to limit pile deflection and preventing or delaying the development of tension-induced damage in the pile are reinforcement mechanisms. A modified p–y curve model is proposed to predict the lateral response of single piles in cement-improved soil.