Numerical modeling of progressive failure of rigid piles under embankment load

Abstract

Rigid piles (e.g., concrete piles) have been widely used to improve soft clay for the rapid construction of embankments. In this study, a damage plasticity model that considers the brittle failure behavior of concrete and the frictional properties along cracks is proposed to study the progressive failure of rigid piles under an embankment load. The mechanical characteristics of piles in different locations have been analyzed. The results show that the essential failure mode for rigid piles is tensile failure, which is primarily governed by the distribution of the bending moment and the axial force within the piles. Pile rupture releases stress and causes a significant increase in the tensile stress within neighboring piles, possibly leading to the progressive failure of adjacent piles. Failure in the upper section of piles ultimately leads to the propagation of a slip surface and the global failure of the embankment. The parametric analysis indicates that increases in the pile stiffness and the embankment load result in a higher tensile stress within the piles and a change in the failure mechanism from shear failure to bending failure. In addition, a failure envelope is proposed to determine the failure mode of the piles.