Pile-soil-pile interaction considering weakened zone of soil around piles

Abstract

Under working conditions, the effect of high shear strains in the soil due to loads acting on the piles is simulated by a numerical model which considers a weakened zone of soil around each pile in a linear elastic pile group settlement analysis. Two reported case histories of field tests on pile groups in clay are analysed and the results show that the consideration of this weakened zone better models the behaviour of pile groups under vertical working loads.