Validation of a Numerical Model to Analyze Pile-Supported T-Walls

Abstract

T-walls are floodwalls that consist of reinforced concrete in an inverted “T” shape. These structures are supported on batter piles, and they are commonly used in New Orleans and the surrounding area to protect low-lying regions against hurricaneinduced flooding. Since the soils in southern Louisiana often include very soft and compressible clays, T-walls need to be designed to resist the stresses and bending moments that can develop in the batter piles due to settlements. However, the current Twall design procedure for estimating settlement-induced bending moments is largely based on numerical models that have only been validated to a limited extent. Therefore, a series of centrifuge tests is currently being performed to investigate and physically model the effects of settlement-induced bending moments on pile-supported T-walls. This paper describes one of these centrifuge tests as well as the development and validation of a corresponding numerical model. The results from the numerical model are in good agreement with the centrifuge test results, which is an indication that numerical modeling can be used to realistically estimate the magnitude and distribution of settlement-induced bending moments.