Pile Settlement Research Articles

Experimental investigation on bearing capacity of rock-socketed bored piles in silty clay stratum in beach areas

In this study, six rock-socketed bored piles were tested in the field to investigate the bearing characteristics of rock-socketed bored piles in silty clay formations in coastal areas, and the model piles were simulated and optimized using the finite element (FE) method. The results showed that the lateral resistance of the piles in the clay layer is less than 50 kPa, and the lateral resistance of the rock-embedded portion is within 136.2−166.4 kPa. Compared with increasing the rock-embedded depth, increasing the diameter of the test piles can improve their vertical bearing capacity more effectively. The average horizontal critical load (Hcr) increased by 84.54 %, and the average horizontal ultimate load (Hu) increased by 50.3 % for the 800 mm diameter piles compared to the 600 mm diameter piles. Also, at the end of the test, the 600 mm diameter test piles showed severe damage at 6−9.5 D below the mud surface and were more susceptible to instability damage than the 800 mm diameter test piles. In soft clay strata, the 'm' values converged rapidly with increasing horizontal displacement and stabilized when the displacement exceeded 10 mm. The FE simulations confirmed that the horizontal displacement of the pile mainly occurs at 4 m depth below the mud surface, and the displacement of the test pile can be effectively reduced by reinforcing the soil around the pile. The silt at the bottom of the pile is one of the critical factors causing the uneven settlement of the test pile, severely affecting the vertical bearing capacity of the pile foundation.

Piled-supported embankment responses to tunnelling in soft ground: An investigation of settlement and load transfer mechanisms

The escalation in infrastructure such as highways and high-speed railways has necessitated construction on soft and compressible ground, prompting the adoption of innovative solutions like piled-supported embankments. With the surge in tunnelling for transportations projects, the necessity of constructing tunnels in close proximity to piled embankments has become apparent. This study examines into settlement and load transfer mechanisms in piled-embankments affected by tunnel excavation at varying depths relative to pile lengths, employing a hypoplastic model to capture the nonlinear behaviour of soft soil. The findings indicate that the deepest tunnel caused the largest settlement, while the shallowest tunnel in led to the smallest settlement in the embankment due to pile settlements playing a significant role. The pile-soil stress ratio near the tunnel increased significantly when excavated close to pile shaft, contrasting substantially with decreased ratio in the tunnelling beneath the piled-embankment case. The bending moments in the piles exhibited differing behaviours in each case, with distinct trends observed in lateral movement and stress-induced responses. The axial load changes were influenced by factors such as negative skin friction, positive shaft resistance, and embankment weight transfer through arching, leading to unique load patterns along the pile length caused by the shallowest tunnel.

Influence of Soil Plugging on Dynamic Soil Response During Simulated Pipe Pile Driving Model Test in Sands

The squeezing effect and strike-induced vibration generated by pile driving pose a threat to adjacent structures. To mitigate the squeezing effect, open-ended pipe piles were implemented. However, this type of pile brings a degree of soil-plugging effect, particularly in sandy soil, which complicates the squeezing effect and the dynamic responses of the pile during pile driving. In this study, model experiments were conducted using both open-ended piles and open-ended piles with different fixed-length soil plugs to investigate the squeezing effect and dynamic responses of the piles. Moreover, spectrum analysis was performed to explore the patterns of vibration waves in the open-ended pipe pile during the striking process. For open-ended pipe piles, acceleration fluctuations were detectable solely when the pile reached the sensor depth and at the end of the pile driving process, which revealed that the hammering energy was mainly consumed by pile settlement and the formation of the soil plug. When the formation of the soil plug was completed, the majority of the energy was converted into propagating vibration, resulting in the emergence of another crest of acceleration. The spectrum analysis revealed that the maximum amplitude occurred when the penetration depth was equal to half of the pile length.

Study on the Ratio and Model Test of Similar Materials of Heavily Weathered Granite.

To study the bearing characteristics of rock-socketed single piles on the southeast coast of Fujian Province, we conducted similar material ratio tests and single pile model tests. Initially, based on the mechanical parameters of strongly weathered granite, 10 groups of similar material samples were prepared using iron concentrate powder, barite powder, and quartz sand as aggregates, with rosin and alcohol as the cementing agents and gypsum as the modulating agent. Through triaxial testing and range and variance analysis, it was determined that the binder concentration has the most significant impact on the material properties. Consequently, Specimen 1 was selected as the simulation material. In the model test, the strongly weathered granite stratum was simulated using the ratio of Specimen 1. A horizontal load was applied using a pulley weight system, and the displacement at the top of the pile was measured with a laser displacement meter, resulting in a horizontal load-displacement curve. The results indicated that the pile foundation remained in an elastic state until a displacement of 2.5 mm. Measurements of the horizontal displacement and bending moment of the pile revealed that the model pile behaves as a flexible pile; the bending moment initially increases along the pile length and then decreases, approaching zero at the pile's bottom. The vertical load test analyzed the relationship between vertical load and settlement of the single pile, as well as its variation patterns. This study provides an experimental basis for the design of single pile foundations in weathered granite formations on the southeast coast of Fujian Province and aids in optimizing offshore wind power engineering practices.

Bearing Characteristics of Deep Cement Mixing Integrated Drilling, Mixing and Jetting Piles Based on Numerical Simulation

The Deep Cement Mixing Integrated Drilling, Mixing and Jetting (DMJ) technique has been developed through the installation of high-pressure spray holes at the mixing blades, with the objective of enhancing the bearing capacity of deep-mixed piles in the Yellow River floodplain. In order to enhance the bearing capacity of the foundation, variable-modulus piles and capped piles were incorporated within the DMJ piles. Engineering applications have demonstrated that DMJ piles can effectively address the issue of foundation reinforcement in the Yellow River floodplain region, minimize the wastage of cement, and reduce the environmental pollution associated with waste slurry. Nevertheless, a comprehensive study of the relevant factors is still lacking in the available literature. This study addresses this gap by conducting a numerical simulation of these two types of DMJ piles based on the preliminary field test data, with the objective of analyzing both the single-pile-bearing characteristics and the composite foundation-bearing characteristics. Furthermore, the study seeks to optimize the DMJ pile’s structure based on the simulation results. The findings demonstrate that the premature failure of a single pile during the bearing process can be averted if the modulus of the pile core reaches a minimum of 0.3 GPa or if the pile cap thickness exceeds 1 m. The utilization of large-diameter drilling, stirring and spraying piles can markedly enhance the bearing capacity of the composite foundation and mitigate the differential settlement of pile and soil. The spacing of the pile has been identified as a significant factor influencing the differential settlement of pile and soil. Consequently, this study also examines the impact of pile spacing on the differential settlement of piles and soil.

Insights from the numerical analysis of axially loaded piles in liquefiable soils

Axially loaded piles in liquefiable soils can undergo severe settlement due to an earthquake event. During shaking, the settlement is caused by the decreased shaft and tip capacity from excess pore pressures (ue) generated around the pile. Post shaking, soil settlement from the reconsolidation of liquefied soil surrounding the pile results in the development of additional load (known as drag load), causing downdrag settlement of the pile. Estimating the axial load distribution and pile settlement is essential for designing and evaluating the performance of axially loaded piles in liquefiable soils. In practice, a simplified neutral plane solution method is used, where the liquefied soils are modeled as a consolidating layer without considering the effect of ue generation/dissipation. A TzQzLiq analysis models the load and settlement response of axially loaded piles in liquefiable soils by accounting for the effect of excess pore pressure (ue) generation/dissipation on the shaft and tip capacity. This paper presents the deficiencies of the simplified neutral plane method in predicting the drag load as well as the downdrag settlement by comparing it with the TzQzLiq analysis validated with hypergravity model tests. The results show that the drag load and the downdrag settlement predicted by the neutral plane method might be over- or under-estimated depending on the pile load, the rate of ue dissipation, and the soil settlement. For the cases studied, it was found that most of the pile settlement occurs during shaking due to the decrease in the pile's tip resistance from the development of ue in the soil surrounding it. While large drag loads develop during reconsolidation, the resulting downdrag settlement is small. While the neutral plane method generally predicted a downdrag settlement comparable to that of the TzQzLiq analysis, it overpredicted drag load and could not predict co-seismic settlement. Finally, the study advocates for the development and use of a displacement-based procedure (accounting for all the mechanisms occurring during and after an earthquake event) such as based on TzQzLiq analysis in accurately evaluating the performance of the pile (i.e., the pile settlement and the maximum load), thus providing an overall safe, efficient, and optimized design.

Stability and failure probability analysis of super-large irregularly shaped deep excavation in coastal area considering spatial variability in soil properties

ABSTRACT The objective of this paper is to investigate the effects of spatial variability in coastal silty soil properties on the stability and failure probability of deep excavation. A super-large irregularly shaped deep excavation in the coastal area in Wenzhou, China, is considered. A numerical model is established based on the random field theory, finite difference method and Monte-Carlo simulation method. Focusing on the friction angle and cohesion, the effects of horizontal and vertical correlation distances and variation coefficients on excavation stability are systematically studied. Meanwhile, the reliability evaluation approach is also applied to systematically examine the impact of the correlation distance on the surface settlement and horizontal displacement of pile. The results show that the greater correlation distance leads to a larger dispersion degree of the ground settlement curve and the displacement curve of the diaphragm wall around. The influence of the horizontal correlation distance on land settlement is more significant. The horizontal and vertical displacements of the pile top are less affected by the correlation distance. Compared with the deterministic analysis, the random analysis results considering the soil spatial variability produce larger displacement.

Analysis of the possibility of description the pile load-settlement curve based on the CPTu results

One of the field soil tests commonly used for pile design is CPTu static sounding. The load-bearing capacity of pile foundations is commonly verified in field experiments through static load tests. The result of this test is the load-settlement relationship of the pile which can be approximated by a curve named M-K. The main aim of the work is to check the possibility of determining the parameters of the M-K curve based on the results of field tests with the CPTu sounding. Experimental research leads to relationships between the parameters of the M-K curve and geotechnical parameters, including CPTu static sounding. The paper presents the possibilities of using the CPTu sounding to estimate the pile settlement curve. Knowledge of this relationship at the foundation design stage allows you to confirm whether the pile meets the load-bearing conditions and to determine the safety margin, which gives designers greater opportunities to correctly design the foundation

Graph-Analytical Method for Calculating Settlement of a Single Pile Taking into Account Soil Slippage

Most of the existing methods of pile settlement calculation, including normative methods, do not fully take into account the processes occurring in the soil when loads are transferred to them and the changes in the properties of the contact zone soils. This leads to underutilisation of the bearing capacity of the soil, and the calculated settlement value may differ several times from the real values. In this paper, a graph-analytical solution to the problem of interaction of a single pile with a three-layer soil foundation is proposed to determine the settlement, taking into account the complex nature of the pile operation and the processes occurring in the soil when loads are transferred to them. The proposed method allows to use the non-linear behaviour of the soil on the lateral surface and under the tip of the pile, the possibility of its detachment and slippage after reaching the ultimate strength of the soil, changes in the properties of the contact zone soils, and the load distribution on the pile between its lateral surface and the tip. To verify the proposed graph-analytical solution, a comparative analysis was performed with the numerical method in the Plaxis 2d software (version 21.00.01.7) and with the results of static tests of piles at the construction site. To determine the strength reduction factor at the contact of soils with concrete, laboratory tests were carried out on a direct shear apparatus. Based on the results of the performed calculations, graphs of the dependence of settlements on loads were plotted, conclusions were drawn about the possibility of using the graph-analytical method, and prospects for further development and improvement of the graph-analytical method were proposed.

Numerical Analysis of Creep Effects on the Settlement of PHC Pipe Pile in Soft Clay Treated by Deep Mixing Method

Numerical Analysis of Creep Effects on the Settlement of PHC Pipe Pile in Soft Clay Treated by Deep Mixing Method

Granular Pile Settlement Prediction on Varying Soil Strata: FEM Approach

Granular Pile Settlement Prediction on Varying Soil Strata: FEM Approach

Experimental study of the effects of the void located at the pile tip on the load capacity of rock-socketed piles

To address the design challenge of the rock-socketed piles posed by the void located below the pile tip, the physical laboratory model tests were designed and performed to simulate rock socketed piles using similar materials. The study investigates the behavior of the single pile under axial loading with the void located at varying distances from the pile tip. Through multi-level load tests, the variations of unit pile side friction, pile tip resistance, pile axial force and pile settlement are obtained for different positions of the void from the pile tip, as well as after grouting. Its comparison to the rock-socketed pile without void is performed as a reference to quantify the reduction in its bearing capacity. The results are presented in the form of graphs for different void positions and its grouting shows the influence on pile bearing capacity and emphasizes the importance of its detailed cautious investigation and introduction in the analysis. The 2D finite element modeling of the model pile-the void based on ABAQUS is performed to further investigate the influence of the void below pile tip on the bearing capacity of model pile, applying the Mohr Coulomb model as the constitutive model of rock mass behavior. The critical distance of the void below the pile tip is determined.

Estimation of the settlement of pile head using ANN and multivariate linear regression based on the results of load transfer method

Abstract Artificial neural networks, machine learning, and data preparation are normally implemented in a wide range of real-world problems, especially in geotechnical applications with optimistic prospects of accurate procedure outcomes. This technique has been utilized to precisely predict the top settlement of piles with various piles and soil parameters. Generally, the pile settlement is an essential requirement to produce a secure structure and has high-performance services. The current article presents the fitting of the artificial neural network (ANN) outcomes by calculating the coefficient of correlation R 2 between the predicted and the measured or calculated value of pile settlement. The ANN algorithm is developed using Python 3.9 IDLE and open-source libraries such as Keras, sklearn, Numpy, matplotlib, pandas, and Tensorflow. Because of random training and test performance, the model has been run at least ten times. The ANN model score and R 2 are compared for all runs in the testing phase. The higher score and R 2 values are chosen. Moreover, the Multivariate Linear Regression with the sklearn library is also offered in this article and utilized to produce a pile settlement formula by applying the same dataset used in ANN. The score and R 2 for choosing the first run of the ANN are 99.95% and 0.9631, respectively, while the correlation coefficient for the Multivariate Linear Regression in the training and testing phases is 0.972 and 0.919, respectively. Both techniques illustrate considerable results.

Single Bored Pile Settlement Prediction Taking into Account the Elastic-Plastic Behavior of the Soil

Single Bored Pile Settlement Prediction Taking into Account the Elastic-Plastic Behavior of the Soil

Comparative evaluations of building impact assessment due to adjacent tunneling

In dense urban areas, tunneling can potentially lead to structural damage or compromise the integrity of nearby buildings, thus necessitating a thorough evaluation of its impact during the design phase. Various engineering methods exist to estimate building responses to adjacent tunneling, each varying in complexity. These methods yield different outcomes, such as settlement magnitude and behavior. This study examines pile settlements, differential pile settlement, and angular distortion of a building through three distinct analysis methods. These involve two-step methods of soil-structure interaction of a building and tunneling from (1) the corresponding greenfield ground, (2) piles embedded in the ground, and (3) piles under loading. The results were then compared and discussed. Based on the obtained results, the method for considering piles under loading can be regarded an effective method for providing a conservative evaluation.

Analysis on the mechanics and deformation of side pile structure in metro station with the PBA method

There are few researches on the interaction mechanism between the buckling load of the side pile top and the soil pressure behind pile (SPP) and the side pile structure. While the side pile structure is the key component of the lining structure of the metro with pile-beam-arch (PBA) method, which plays a very important role in the mechanical stability and deformation control of the lining system of station. Therefore, relying on the metro project about Guangzhou Metro Line 11, this paper investigates the influence law of mechanical characteristics and deformation of the side pile structure of the station with PBA method, taking into account the factors such as different buckling loads (including horizontal load of arch (HLA) and vertical load of arch (VLA)) and SPP, and puts forward corresponding construction suggestions. It is found that the lateral displacement and deformation of side pile structure are controlled by the HLA, and the optimal HLA is 1200kN. The influence of HLA on the bending moments about side pile are greater than that of the axial force. The VLA has more significant effect on vertical settlement of side pile, but little effect on lateral deformation about pile body. The SPP has significant impact on the stability of side pile structure, so it is recommended to take appropriate lining measures to ensure the stability of side pile structure when the SPP is too large.

Experimental and theoretical analysis of single-jet column and concrete column using double-jet grouting technique applied at Al-Rashdia site

Abstract Progress in jet grouting technology has been focused on the cutting-edge observer of jets, which aims to generate large columns of jet grouting and increase the activity of construction sites. Since jet grouting techniques vary from conventional grouting methods to modern techniques, they can be used in a variety of soil types and their application areas are expanding quickly. So, grouting methods have become very popular methods for subsoil strengthening. This article includes finding the physical and mechanical properties of the soil of the AL-Rashdia site, using a single-jet grouting machine and a steel model to test concrete piles and jet piles, and a double-jet grouting machine to compare the results obtained from laboratory model of one-dimensional jet grouting column pile with those of a one-dimensional concrete pile. The comparison showed that the settlement of the jet pile was smaller than that of the concrete pile and the bearing load was higher with jet columns giving a high bearing capacity comparable with the concrete pile. Shen’s method is more adequate to find the ultimate bearing load and the settlement for this load. Also, the ultimate pile ratio was 115.63% for the jet column, and the ultimate pile ratio for the concrete column was 123.49%. The compressive strength of the core sample of jet columns was large which improved the bearing capacity of the foundation.

Nonlinear Analysis of Bearing Characteristics of Stiffened Deep Cement Mixing Piles under Vertical Loading

Stiffened deep cement mixing (SDCM) piles are composite piles that combine the advantages of single large-diameter deep cement mixing (DCM) and precast concrete piles. They comprise precast concrete piles as the core and cast-in-place DCM piles as the outer layer. This study evaluates the bearing characteristics of SDCM piles under vertical loading. The composite modulus of elasticity of SDCM piles is first introduced and determined using the area-weighted average method. Then, the reliability of the proposed method is described by comparing the calculated results with the findings of the existing literature. Furthermore, a nonlinear simplified analysis method based on the load transfer method is proposed for vertical bearing characteristics of equal- and short-core SDCM piles under vertical loading. This method is developed by the finite difference method. The accuracy of the simplified method is validated by comparing its results with those from existing tests, theoretical analysis, and finite element simulations. The results of their study indicated that the area-weighted average method calculates the composite modulus of elasticity of the composite pile section of the SDCM piles with an error below 0.5% compared to the analytical method. This finding represents sufficient accuracy. The simplified calculation method established in this study is computationally stable. When the iteration factor is set to 10−6, as the number of discrete nodes n on the pile increases, the calculation results are stable with a good convergence when n > 30. The vertical bearing capacity and pile top stiffness of SDCM piles increased with the length of the core piles. There was a reasonable core-to-length ratio for SDCM piles in specific scenarios. An excessively long DCM pile section made its lower part force-free for a given length of core piles. The appropriate length of core piles should be determined in actual projects to avoid unnecessary material waste. An optimum ratio of core piles for SDCM piles was determined. Beyond this optimal value, an increase in the ratio of core piles controlled the pile settlement in a limited manner.

Influence of Soil Excavation on Bearing Behavior of Pile Group Foundation Composed of Underpinning Piles and Existing Piles

Abstract The behavior of underpinning piles during the soil excavation is critical for constructing new basements under the existing structures in urban areas; however, none of the existing studies has systematically evaluated their performance and interaction with existing piles under loading. This study aims to experimentally evaluate the impact of soil excavation on the bearing capacity of pile group foundation composed of underpinning piles and existing piles under loading. A model pile foundation with four model piles, one pile cap, and retaining structures was first constructed in our laboratory. Different soil excavation depths at 10 cm, 20 cm, and 30 cm (soil type: clayey silt) were used to explore their influence on the pile side friction, the axial force of the pile shaft, and pile settlement. The results were compared with the bearing behavior of the pile group foundation composed of four model piles and five underpinning piles at different pile lengths (500, 600, and 700 mm) and diameters (5, 10, and 15 mm). The results showed that soil excavation activity could immediately activate the different interaction responses between piles and soils and cause foundation settlements. The underpinning piles with sufficient length (more than 67 % of the existing model pile length) and diameter (more than 25 % of the existing model pile diameter) as well as proper pile’s embedded depth significantly reduced the foundation settlement, particularly at high soil exaction depth. The pile-soil interaction mechanism caused by soil excavation is revealed. The work could bring insights to the underpinning pile design for basement excavation beneath existing buildings.

Effect of Pile Thread Spacing on the Friction Resistance of Minipile

This study aims to determine the most effective type of pile foundation between threaded sleeve piles with a 10 cm spacing and threaded pile piles with a 20 cm spacing, focusing on their frictional bearing capacity. Test specimens were prepared using reinforced concrete with a compressive strength of K-350 kg/cm2, reinforced with 4D10 mm longitudinal bars and Ø8-150 mm stirrups. Measurements of pile settlements were taken over several days to assess their behavior under load. Results indicated that piles with a 10 cm thread spacing exhibited a settlement of 3.7 mm on the first day, while those with a 20 cm spacing settled by 4.2 mm, with a percentage difference of 29.6%. The study concludes that rougher surfaces (tighter threads) yield greater frictional forces, thereby enhancing pile bearing capacity. Additionally, settlements tended to stabilize over time, with piles at 20 cm spacing experiencing a quicker cessation of settlement compared to those at 10 cm spacing. This research provides valuable insights for foundation engineering, material technology, and concrete construction practices. It also offers practical implications for the pile manufacturing industry.