Load transfer analysis of vertically loaded bored piles in sea reclamation areas considering the effect of the pile-gravel interface roughness

Abstract

A load transfer model for vertically loaded bored piles in sea reclamation areas with gravel is proposed in this paper. The focus is on quantifying the mobilization of pile-side friction, which is closely related to the shear behaviors of the pile-gravel interface. The surface profile of the gravel particles and the concrete piles are assumed to be circle and wave curves, respectively. The shear displacement and dilatancy calculation are based on the macro and micro geometry relationship between gravel particles and pile surface. The shear stress calculation of the pile-gravel interface is dealt with by empirical elastoplastic equations. A simple slip-line field is also built to identify the critical shear displacement. The finite difference equations are used to derive the load-displacement curves for vertically loaded bored piles in sea reclamation areas with gravel. The model predictions are compared with field observations and particle flow numerical simulation to validate the performance of the proposed method, and the results prove to be reasonable. Moreover, parameter studies are conducted and the results prove that the pile can bear more load when the particle diameter is similar to the pile's rough surface, and both the increases of wave angle and the relative friction coefficient can promote the bearing capacity.