Vertical performance of rock-socketed pile group in layered saturated rock-soil mass

Abstract

This paper studies the vertical performance of rock-socketed pile group embedded in layered saturated rock-soil mass. The three-node bar element is utilized to discretize the pile, and the global stiffness matrix equation of rock-socketed pile group is assembled by the finite element method. Based on the solution for the interaction between a rock-socketed single pile and rock-soil mass, the flexibility matrix equation of rock-soil mass for the pile group is derived by the boundary element method. Combination of the force balance and displacement compatibility conditions for the rigid pile cap leads to the solution of rock-socketed pile group embedded in saturated rock-soil mass. The correctness of the proposed method is examined by comparing the solutions predicted by the present paper with the solutions from existing literature and ABAQUS results. The relevant factors affecting the vertical performance of rock-socketed pile group, such as the socketed length, pile spacing, pile-rock mass modulus ratio, length-diameter ratio and the rock mass stratification, are further discussed