Ultimate end bearing capacity of rock-socketed pile based on generalized nonlinear unified strength criterion

Abstract

In order to study the mechanism of bearing behavior at the tip of a pile embedded in rock, the generalized nonlinear unified strength criterion and slip line principle for resolving the differential equation systems which govern the stress field were applied to derive the ultimate end bearing capacity based on some reasonable hypothesis and failure plane model. Both numerical simulation and test results were compared with the theoretic solution. The results show good consistency with each other and verify the validity of the present approach. The depth effect with respective to embedment ratio and other influence factors like geological strength index, intermediate principal stress, overburden factor, and damage on end bearing capacity were discussed in the analytical solution. The results show that the proposed yield criterion can be much better for investigating the ultimate end bearing performance of rock-socketed pile. The end bearing capacity increases with embedment ratio and the increasing degree is influenced intensely by the above parameters. Furthermore, ignoring intermediate stress effect would underestimate the strength properties of the rock material and lead to a very conservative estimation value.