Pile Load Distribution Research Articles

Variation in axial load distribution of piles in liquefiable slope by centrifuge test

During seismic loading, the axial pile response is significantly affected, due to the development and dissipation of excess pore pressure in the foundation soil. Positive skin friction is reduced by liquefaction during shaking, while negative skin friction is caused by reconsolidation after the end of the shaking. In particular, the negative skin friction causes a large drag load, resulting in pile compression and settlement. Thus, this study investigated the axial pile response under seismic loading by performing dynamic centrifuge tests on liquefied sand with the slopes of 15° and 27°. The centrifuge tests were conducted to simulate the end-bearing single and 2 × 2 group piles embedded in a liquefied slope. During the centrifuge spinning, the obtained drag load due to the negative skin friction agreed with the value calculated with the beta method for shaft resistance. The model was shaken with sinusoidal base motion with peak amplitudes of 0.1 and 0.2 g, and it was found that the liquefaction caused a loss of spin-induced drag load. The dissipation of excess pore pressure resulted in reconsolidation settlement, leading to large drag loads acting on the pile. In addition, the negative skin friction was found to be larger than the liquefied residual strength recommended in the current practice codes. As a result, it is seen that the consideration of the strength reduction is not necessary for the calculation of negative skin friction induced by reconsolidation, since the liquefied ground regains skin friction after the dissipation.

Experimental and Numerical Behavior of Horizontally Loaded Piled Rafts with a Defective Pile

The present paper aims to investigate the effects of defective piles in horizontally loaded piled raft foundations. Close to real scale foundation models of defective and intact three-piled systems were submitted to horizontal load tests. The models used bored type piles drilled with 5 m in length and 0.25 m in diameter, connected to a concrete raft founded on a tropical soil profile at the University of Campinas research site. Based on the experimental data, a three-dimensional finite element analysis was initially calibrated and consequently used to study the effects of the defective element at the pile load distribution and the horizontal subgrade forces at the pile shaft. The results show that the presence of a defective pile increases the raft tilting, which affects both vertical and horizontal load distributions among the raft and the piles, and among trailing and leading piles.

Settlement Profile and Pile Load Distribution Under Vertical Load of Piled Raft Foundation in Clay

In the rigorous analysis using FEM, the load sharing of the piles between the shaft and base resistance increased with increase in limited number of piles i.e. limited to decrease in pile spacing. The load sharing depends upon their location and spacing. The load carried by the center pile reduces with the increase in the number of piles and piled area. For the edge piles, it increased with the increase in the number of piles, whereas decreased for the corner piles. The total load carrying capacity of the piles increased with the pile sizes and spacing. The piled raft settlement decreases with the increase in the number of piles. By rearranging the same number of piles, more settlement of piled raft is observed for less pile spacing, which concentrated at the center, and the settlement is decreased with increase in pile spacing, which scattered outwards. Increased in number of piles is not always advisable and expensive. Based on limitation in settlement as specified by the code, limited number of piles and pile spacing are recommended. The settlement profile along the centre line of the piled raft decreased with the increase in the number of piles and more flexible at larger pile spacing.

Full-Scale Well Instrumented Large Diameter Bored Pile Load Test in Multi Layered Soil: A Case Study of Damietta Port New Grain Silos Project

A Large diameter bored pile with diameter of 1.00 m and length of 34.00 m has been implemented in multi layered soil. The pile was tested under three axially loading and unloading cycles, in order to determine the load settlement curve and assess the ultimate pile capacity. Extensive investigation was carried out to obtain reliable soil properties at the examined pile location, through in situ and laboratory soil tests. Twelve strain gauges were fixed on pile steel reinforcement bars at top of each soil layer level. Moreover, four dial gauges were set up at pile head. Also, three telltales were extended to three different levels inside the pile. The pile load test field measurements are presented in the form of load settlement and load distribution curves for different loading steps. In addition, the pile ultimate capacity is calculated using different codes criterions and compared with the loading test results. Large diameter bored pile, Settlement, Pile load distribution, Pile installation, Instrumentation, Full scale pile load test, Pile behavior.

실내모형시험을 통한 사질토 지반에서 군말뚝과 터널의 수직 이격거리에 따른 하중분포 및 지반거동 분석

도심지에서의 터널굴착은 상부구조물과의 상호거동에 대한 이해가 필수적이다. 도심지에 사용중인 대부분의 구조물은 말뚝기초로 상부의 하중을 지지하고 있어, 터널 굴착 시 반드시 영향을 받는다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 실내모형시험을 통해 기존의 군말뚝 기초 하부 터널굴착에 따른 축력 분포와 지반의 거동을 분석하였다. 말뚝 기초는 2, 3 열 말뚝으로 가정되었으며, 말뚝 선단부와 터널 천단부의 이격거리는 터널직경에 대한 일반화를 위해 터널 직경(D) 대비 0.5D, 1.0D 그리고 1.5D로 고려되었다. 지반은 약 30%의 상대밀도(Dr)를 가지는 느슨한 사질토로 형성되었으며, 말뚝의 축력 분포를 측정하기 위해 말뚝에 변형률게이지(strain gauge)를 부착하였다. 또한, 이격거리에 따른 군말뚝의 침하와 인접지반의 침하를 변위센서(linear variable differential transformer; LVDT)와 다이얼게이지(dial gauge)를 통해 측정였으며, 터널굴착에 따른 지중의 변형을 근거리사진계측기법(close range photogrammetric technique)을 통해 측정하였다. 수치 해석을 통해 실내모형시험 및 근거리사진계측 결과와 비교 분석하였다. 본 연구에서는 체적손실율(volume loss; <TEX>$V_L$</TEX>) 개념을 이용하여 터널굴착을 모사하였으며, 1.5%로 적용되었다. 연구결과, 이격거리가 멀어질수록 말뚝의 축력감소는 작게 나타났으며, 침하량은 모두 유사한 경향을 나타내었다. 특히, 말뚝 선단부와 터널 천단부의 이격거리가 0.5D에서 1.0D로 증가할 때 축력과 침하량의 가장 큰 감소율이 가장 큰 것으로 나타났다. Tunnelling in urban areas, it is essential to understand existing structure-tunnel interactive behavior. Serviced structures in the city are supported by pile foundation, since they are certainly effected due to tunnelling. In this research, thus, pile load distribution and ground behavior due to tunnelling below grouped pile were investigated using laboratory model test. Grouped pile foundations were considered as 2, 3 row pile and offsets (between pile tip and tunnel crown: 0.5D, 1.0D and 1.5D for generalization to tunnel diameter, D means tunnel diameter). Soil in the tank for laboratory model test was formed by loose sand (relative density: Dr = 30%) and strain gauges were attached to the pile inner shaft to estimate distribution of axial force. Also, settlements of grouped pile and adjacent ground surface depending on the offsets were measured by LVDT and dial gauge, respectively. Tunnelling-induced deformation of underground was measured by close range photogrammetric technique. Numerical analysis was conducted to analyze and compare with results from laboratory model test and close range photogrammetry. For expression of tunnel excavation, the concept of volume loss was applied in this study, it was 1.5%. As a result from this study, far offset, the smaller reduction of pile axial load and was appeared trend of settlement was similar among them. Particulary, ratio of pile load and settlement reduction were larger when the offset is from 0.5D to 1.0D than from 1.0D to 1.5D.

Numerical investigations of pile load distribution in pile group foundation subjected to vertical load and large moment

This paper presents a numerical study of pile force distribution in a pile group foundation subjected to vertical load and large moment. The physical modeling of a pile foundation for a wind turbine is analyzed using 3D finite element software, PLAXIS 3D. The soil profile consists of several clay layers, which are modeled as Mohr-Coulomb material in an undrained condition. The piles in the pile group foundation are modeled as special elements called embedded pile elements. To model the problem of a pile group foundation, a small gap is created between the pile cap and underlying soil. The pile cap is modeled as a rigid plate element connected to each pile by a hinge. As a result, applied vertical load and large moment are transferred only to piles without any load sharing to underlying soil. Results of the study focus on pile load distribution for the square shape of a pile group foundation. Mathematical expression is proposed to describe pile force distribution for the cases of vertical load and large moment and purely vertical load.

An approximate numerical analysis of pile–raft interaction

AbstractThis paper presents an approximate method of numerical analysis of piled–raft foundations in which the raft is modelled as a thin plate and the piles as interacting springs of appropriate stiffness. Allowance is made for the development of limiting pressures below the raft and of the ultimate axial load capacity of the piles.Comparisons between this analysis and existing solutions verify that, despite the approximations involved, the analysis can provide solutions of adequate accuracy for the settlement and pile load distribution within a piled raft.Comparisons are also made with the results of a series of centrifuge tests and with measurements of the performance of a full‐scale piled raft. In both cases, the analysis predicts very well the settlement and proportion of load carried by the piles.

Piles in Sand: A Method Including Residual Stresses

A method is presented for the analysis of load distribution of piles driven in sand and subjected to static vertical loads. This method is unique in that it considers the existence of residual stresses due to driving. It uses the results of standard penetration tests to obtain the load transfer curves for friction and point resistance. These curves are modeled by hyperbolas which start at the residual friction and residual point pressure for zero displacement. The design method is based on a simple theory and a 33‐pile data base. Since each pile had sufficient instrumentation and a sufficiently complete load test program, the residual stresses and transfer curves could be determined with reasonable accuracy from the data base.