Short Piles Research Articles

Bearing capacity of eco-friendly RC short piles exposed to groundwater salts

AbstractTwenty-eight piles were divided into four groups. Two groups were made of natural aggregate, while the other two were made of full replacement of recycled aggregate. In each group, the cement was replaced with 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30% of silica fume. Two groups were stored for 270 days under normal water conditions, while the other two were stored underground water conditions. Tests results have shown that it’s possible to improve the strength and the structural behavior of piles under sulfate attack considerably by using 20% of silica fume, while 15% is sufficient when the piles are under normal conditions. However, high levels of silica fume 25–30% in recycled aggregate concretes piles and 20–30% in normal aggregate concretes piles gave a clear decrease in ultimate load capacity.

Study on bearing characteristics of single pile in heterogeneous layered foundation

Based on a project in Lanzhou City, Gansu Province, China, the bearing and internal force characteristics of 2 piles of different lengths under vertical load were tested and analyzed by using BOFDA technology and anchor pile method static load test. The results show that long pile has higher vertical bearing capacity and greater elastic working range, but the axial force of long pile and short pile has the same trend. The lateral friction resistance of the soil layer around the pile plays a role earlier than the pile tip resistance, and the lateral friction resistance of the upper soil layer plays a role earlier than the lower soil layer. The increasing amplitude of lateral friction resistance in different soil layers is also different. The settlement of short pile top is mostly caused by the displacement of pile bottom, and the pile tip resistance is more affected by the pile tip sediments. The relationship between pile end resistance and displacement under the influence of sediments can be analyzed by three-fold line model.

Seismic performance assessment of pile supported wharves with seismic isolation system considering pile-soil interaction

Pile-Supported Wharves (PSW) are critical for maritime operations but are highly vulnerable to seismic events, which can disrupt port activities. Previous seismic events have highlighted that short free length piles in wharf structures are particularly prone to earthquake damage. This paper aims to mitigate damage between the wharf deck and piles connections by adopting the seismic isolation systems. Conventional Wharf (CW) and Isolated Wharf (IW) structures were comprehensively assessed, focusing on Pile-Soil Interaction (PSI), using the finite element software OpenSees for advanced numerical simulations. Non-Linear Time History Analysis (NLTHA) of CW and IW has been conducted to verify the design under Contingency Level Earthquake (CLE) and Maximum Considered Earthquake (MCE) scenarios. The analysis aims to enhance the performance of short free length piles within the IW structure. Comparative analysis of fragility curves between CW and IW structures shows that isolation systems significantly reduce seismic fragility by 49%, 60%, and 67% at the MCE level for minimal damage, control & repairable damage and life safety protection across three performance levels, respectively. These findings indicate that the implementation of isolation measures has significantly enhanced the seismic performance and safety of PSW structures.

The vertical loading tests of single and group piles by centrifuge modelling

ABSTRACT Pile foundations are widely used for tall buildings, but determining their capacity and behavior under load often involves expensive and lengthy field tests or imprecise numerical models. This research employed a centrifuge to perform vertical loading tests on single and grouped piles in dry sand, subjected to 100 times gravitational acceleration, to investigate pile capacity and load transfer mechanisms. The results from centrifuge modeling, numerical simulations, and field tests were consistent. The total pile capacity for a single pile was 5800 kN/m², while short and long pile groups had capacities of 6800 kN/m² and 9200 kN/m², respectively. End-bearing accounted for 40% of the capacity in single and short pile groups, and 13% in long pile groups. Surface friction was 95 kN/m² for single piles and 140 kN/m² for grouped piles. A method for estimating total pile capacity based on soil properties showed good agreement with empirical results.

1g Modelling of Lateral Deformation of 2×2 Short Pile Group Foundations in Liquefied Sand

1g Modelling of Lateral Deformation of 2×2 Short Pile Group Foundations in Liquefied Sand

Analysis of the effectiveness of the use of short piles as part of a columnar pile foundation

The realization of the operation of the grid and piles as a part of the columnar pile foundation, depending on the length of the piles, the method of arranging the piles, the distance between the piles and the type of soil with a constant number of piles, has been studied. The degree of implementation of the load-bearing capacity of the piles and the degree of implementation of the grid work as part of the pile foundation were analyzed. To solve the tasks set in this work, mathematical modeling by the finite element method of the joint operation of the pile foundation elements with the soil base and the separate operation of the pile and grid as a shallow foundation was performed in the "Plaxis 3D Foundation" software complex. It was established that the implementation of the load-bearing capacity of piles in the composition of the foundation with a large distance between the piles is much better. The length of the piles also affects the degree of their implementation. When the length increases, the bearing capacity of the piles is realized less. The greatest implementation of the load-bearing capacity of piles in the composition of the foundation is observed for short piles. The realization of the pressure under the sole of the grid with an increase in the pitch of the piles also improves, the realization of the load-bearing capacity of the grid is from 8 to 50%, which allows to raise the load-bearing capacity of the foundation. For sandy and clay soils, the nature of the redistribution of forces between the elements of the columnar pile foundation is similar. For foundations made of drilled piles, the degree of realization of pressure under the sole of the grate, as well as the degree of realization of the load-bearing capacity of the piles, is higher than for foundations made of driven piles. The guiding factor is the length of the piles. The economic efficiency of the transition in homogeneous soils from a bush made of long piles with a standard minimum step to a bush made of short piles with an increased distance between the piles was investigated. By taking into account the joint operation of piles and grid, a bush made of short piles with larger dimensions of the grid provides the same bearing capacity as a bush made of long piles with a compact grid. Despite the significant increase in the volume of concrete grating and the number of fittings with an increase in the pitch of the piles, cost savings on the cost of piles provide an economic effect of using bushes from short piles with wide gratings up to 35%.

Investigation of the dynamic response of h-type anti-slide pile based on shaking table test

The h-type anti-slide piles (hTPs) are extensively utilized in slope stabilization projects, yet their response to seismic activities remains inadequately understood. This study investigated the dynamic response of hTPs with circular cross-sections (hTCPs) through a shaking table test, focusing on seismic events along Jiuzhaigou-Mianyang highway slopes (ZK142 + 124 to ZK142 + 274). Time-frequency analysis using Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) and Hilbert-Huang Transform (HHT) was conducted. The peak acceleration and its direction, dynamic earth pressure and its sharing ratio, and moment were characterized, and the variations of pile displacement and the seismic damage on different parts of hTCPs were analyzed under varying loading conditions. Results reveal a distinct pressure distribution and damage characteristics between the long and short piles in hTCPs. A positive correlation between peak accelerations and loading conditions was observed in both long and short piles, with peak amplification occurring only at the top of long piles. Long piles exhibited diverse acceleration directions under different loading conditions, contrasting with the infrequent occurrence in short piles. The peak dynamic earth pressure distribution varied between the front and back side of pile bodies, with opposite overall trends between the long and short piles. The sharing ratio displayed an increasing followed by decreasing trend in long piles, but an opposite trend in short piles, with the turn point occurring at a loading condition of 0.3 g. These differences were significantly influenced by El Centro waves within a low frequency band (13.34 Hz–16.18 Hz), as a single large peak HHT energy spectrum was observed in long piles, but multiple and destructive low-frequency energy spectra in short piles. The results suggest an independent dynamic response occurred in the long and short piles of hTCPs during shaking table test, providing insights for their field engineering application in seismic active regions.

Influence of Settlement on Base Resistance of Long Piles in Soft Soil—Field and Machine Learning Assessments

Understanding the role that settlement can have on the base resistance of piles is a crucial matter in the design and safety control of deep foundations under various buildings and infrastructure, especially for long to super-long piles (60–90 m length) in soft soil. This paper presents a novel assessment of this issue by applying explainable machine learning (ML) techniques to a robust database (1131 datapoints) of fully instrumented pile tests across 37 real-life projects in the Mekong Delta. The analysis of data based on conventional methods shows distinct responses of long piles to rising settlement, as compared to short piles. The base resistance can rapidly develop at a small settlement threshold (0.015–0.03% of pile’s length) and contribute up to 50–55% of the total bearing capacity in short piles, but it slowly rises over a wide range of settlement to only 20–25% in long piles due to considerable loss of settlement impact over the depth. Furthermore, by leveraging the advantages of ML methods, the results significantly enhance our understanding of the settlement–base resistance relationship through explainable computations. The ML-based prediction method is compared with popular practice codes for pile foundations, further attesting to the high accuracy and reliability of the newly established model.

Experimental Study on the Bearing Characteristics of Rigid-Flexible Long-Short Pile Composite Foundations in Thick Collapsible Loess Areas

The bearing and deformation characteristics of embankments with rigid-flexible long-short pile composite foundations (RLPCFs) in thick collapsible loess strata are not yet accurately understood. In this study, a large-scale field experiment was conducted, and screw (long) and compaction (short) piles were employed to reinforce a section of the foundation of the Lanzhou-Zhangye high-speed railway in thick collapsible loess. The pile load transfer, foundation settlement, pile-soil stress distribution, and load sharing characteristics were analyzed to reveal the bearing properties of the composite foundation. The results show that negative friction arises along the upper part of the pile, and the neutral points of the short pile and long pile are located at 2/5 and 1/3 down the pile lengths, respectively. The short pile eliminates the collapsibility of the shallow loess and enhances the foundation's bearing capacity. The long pile transfers the load of the shallow foundation and pile top to the deep foundation through lateral friction, which reduces the settlement of the shallow foundation. When the soil arch in the embankment is fully formed, the short pile bears approximately 20% of the load, while the long pile and the soil between piles bear 80%. With the increase in embankment filling height, the load borne by the long pile rises, and the load borne by the soil between piles decreases gradually. The top settlement of the cross-section of the composite foundation is distributed in a concave basin shape, and the maximum settlement occurs in the center of the embankment. The parameters of the short pile can be obtained on the basis of the collapsibility grade and bearing capacity of the loess foundation, the length and area replacement rate of the long pile can be obtained based on the settlement control requirements of the superstructure of the composite foundation, and the lateral friction of the long pile can be increased by increasing the roughness of the pile and setting the screw.

Analytical method for laterally loaded short piles near clay slopes considering the soil-pile-slope surface deformation mechanism

Piles are inevitably installed on sloping coastlines or inclined seabeds to support offshore wind turbines, offshore bridges, and other structures. The objective of this paper is to develop an analytical method for investigating the lateral response of short piles near clay slopes. The soil-pile interaction is modelled by a two-spring model which is used to describe the soil resistance around the pile and the horizontal shear force at the pile base. Considering the combined effect of slope angle and near-slope distance, the ultimate soil resistance along the pile is divided into three cases based on the nearby soil flow mechanism. The soil-pile-slope surface deformation mechanism is established according to the rotational deformation characteristics of short piles. In contrast to the modification of the initial stiffness, the p-y curve around the pile is constructed by considering the deformation mechanism. The accuracy of the analytical method is verified by comparing its results with two piles on level ground and five piles near slopes. Considering the soil-pile-slope deformation mechanism, the secant stiffness of the p-y curve is automatically adjusted and reduced without the need for additional numerical simulations or pile tests to determine the reduction factor of the initial stiffness.

Response of Long–Short Supporting Piles due to Deep Excavation in Soil–Rock Combined Strata

Response of Long–Short Supporting Piles due to Deep Excavation in Soil–Rock Combined Strata

Experimental Investigation and Damage Identification of High-Pile Wharf Framed Bents under Horizontal Impact Loads.

This study investigates damage characteristics, dynamic structural performance changes, and quantitative damage assessment of high-pile wharf framed bents exposed to horizontal impact loads. Through extensive testing of wharf framed bents under such loads, a damage identification approach based on stiffness, natural vibration period, and acceleration data derived from experiments is presented. The findings reveal that under horizontal impact loads, framed bents initially exhibit tensile damage and leaning piles, followed by short straight piles. Additionally, structural damage results in a reduced self-oscillation frequency and an increased amplitude decay rate. Both stiffness-based and cycle-based damage indicators effectively track the cumulative damage progression of the structure. However, the cycle-based damage indicators demonstrate superior stability and accuracy, while acceleration-based indicators precisely identify the moment of damage mutation. This research contributes to enhancing local components, implementing damage identification methods, and advancing health monitoring practices in high-pile wharf projects, aligning with the standards of scientific publications in the field.

Numerical Analysis of Block Type Quay Wall with Piles for Restraining Horizontal Deformation

A two-dimensional numerical analysis was performed on the depth of pile embedment, the magnitude of the residual water level, and the condition of the presence or absence of cap concrete to understand the behavior of the block-type quay wall with piles. The results showed the control effect of the lateral displacement of the quay wall depending on the embedment of the pile. When the piles were not embedded, the lateral displacement of the quay wall increased proportionally as the residual water level difference increased. In contrast, when the piles were embedded into the ground, the control of the lateral displacement of the quay wall was greatly exerted even if the residual water level difference increased. There was little difference in the lateral displacement of the block-type quay wall regardless of the presence or absence of cap concrete. Under the condition where the piles were embedded down to the rubble mound layer, the piles exhibited the rotational behavior seen in the short piles. As the embedment depth of the piles increased, the piles showed the same bending behavior as the intermediate piles. Thus, the piles significantly contribute to the control of lateral displacement in the block-type quay wall with piles.

Load Test on Combined Pile and Cap / Pad Foundation System on Compressible Calcareous Sand and Comparison with FEM Modelling

An optimum type of foundation is expected to support 2 – 3 stories residential house on reclamation area to avoid deep foundation. The foundation will sit on engineering fill that constructed with calcareous sand which is classified as compressible sand. Below that part, at the original ground medium density sand and very soft marine clay is found stratified. Typical column in the residential building will have about 100 tons load intensity and based on this project, the design load for a single pile is 32 ton. Since no additional compression on soft clay layer is expected after building construction, than combine cap/pad foundation with short pile 6.5 m length is proposed. Load test with stress cell for this combine pile and cap/pad foundation was performed. The load test result show that interpretation using Chin’s and Mazurkiewicz’s Method obtained that the combined pile and cap/pad foundation’s ultimate bearing capacity of 112 – 119 tons. Analysis using stress cell data shows that the cap/pad carry about 31.8 % of the total load. Finite element analysis with axisymmetric condition conducted to study load distribution on combine pile and cap/pad foundation system. Analysis result was show that the cap or pad can carried about 38.1% of design load during testing. The 6.3% deviation between the stress cell and FEM results could be attribute by the assumption when calculating the load acting on cap/pad foundation. The stress cell analysis used the assumption that the load carried by the cap/pad foundation was uniform while the FEM results showed a non-uniform load.

ОСОБЛИВОСТІ РОБОТИ КОРОТКИХ ПАЛЬ ПРИ ПІДСИЛЕННІ ФУНДАМЕНТІВ МІЛКОГО ЗАКЛАДАННЯ ЗА РЕЗУЛЬТАТАМИ ФІЗИЧНОГО МОДЕЛЮВАННЯ

In this work, the results of physical modeling of the strengthening of the foundation of shallow laying by transplanting on piles on small-scale models are analyzed. The redistribution of the load between the elements of the strip foundation reinforced with ready-made (precast) piles of shallow laying was studied. The operation of the existing strip foundation, its reinforcement with piles, the formation of the grid of the newly created pile foundation was simulated, while the relative length of the piles and their step along the row, the nature of the placement of the reinforcement piles (removable or arranged through the body of the foundation), and the density of the sand base were varied. The operation of models of single piles of different lengths and grid without piles as a foundation for shallow laying was also investigated. The nature of inclusion in the work of piles and the newly created grid is determined. The dependences of the load-bearing capacity of the elements of the pile foundation, the degree of realization of this load-bearing capacity when working together in the soil environment, and the relative length and pitch of the piles, and the density of the base soil are given. The specific values of the load-bearing capacity of the reinforcement piles per unit of spent material are determined.
 The obtained results were analyzed regarding the difference between the inclusion of short and long piles in the work of reinforcement with a comparison of all options.

Analytical and Finite-Element-Method-Based Analyses of Pile Shaft Capacity Subjected to Rainfall Infiltration

The presence of unsaturated soil is critical in geotechnical engineering since the matric suction may aid in accommodating the pile shaft capacity. The design of piles can be optimized by incorporating unsaturated soil mechanics principles. Hence, the amount of waste materials can be reduced, the duration of pile installation can be expedited, and the amount of energy used for casting the pile can be optimized, resulting in more sustainable design and construction of piles. Conventional α, β, and λ methods and modified α, β, and λ methods are the common models that are used for calculating the shaft capacity by incorporating soil–water characteristic curves (SWCCs). However, in our opinion, we feel that the investigation of the influence of seepage infiltration due to rainfall on the shaft capacity of piles, calculated using both analytical means and numerical analysis, has been dealt with inadequately in past studies. The objective of this study is to investigate changes in the shaft pile capacity according to suction changes due to rainwater infiltration for the greater reliability of the pile design, using both analytical and numerical studies with the finite element method (FEM). Sand and kaolin, which are typical components of coarse-grained and fine-grained soil, are used in this study. The laboratory results were incorporated into PLAXIS 3D (Version 22), and a coupled analysis was carried out, utilizing the meteorological conditions in Astana. The results showed that the decreases in matric suction in sand and kaolin are similar after their subjection to rainfall, yet sand produces a higher shaft capacity compared to kaolin. The modified β method offers a higher shaft capacity compared to the other methods due to the effective stress factors being taken into account. The modified α and λ methods are recommended for short piles because they are more sustainable, whilst the modified β method is preferable for long piles. Overall, unsaturated soil conditions should be applied to optimize the foundation design since they generate a higher shaft capacity.

Assessment of the reasons for the loss of stability of the retaining wall and the choice of slope stabilization options, taking into account the use of retaining walls of different rigidity

An assessment of the reasons for the loss of stability of the sliding slope and the manifestation of significant movements of the existing retaining walls is presented, as well as the selection of measures to stabilize the slope by installing one of the variants of retaining walls of different rigidity is performed.
 To assess the stability of the slope and select the effective parameters of the retaining walls, a numerical simulation of the stress-strain state (SSS) of the elements "soil massif of the slope - retaining walls" was performed. Modeling was carried out by the method of finite elements using the "Plaxis" software complex in a non-linear setting, taking into account changes in the parameters of structures and soils at different stages of modeling.
 An assessment of the real movements of the retaining walls and the reasons for the loss of slope stability at the initial stage was carried out using geodetic monitoring.
 A characteristic engineering-geological section in the zone of the greatest deformations of the existing anti-slide structures was chosen for modeling the calculation scheme.
 Numerical calculations of the retaining walls, which were carried out using the finite element method, involve taking into account the technological sequence of the construction of the retaining walls and modeling the step-by-step development of the pit. Modeling was performed in several stages:
 1) Formation of soil SSS in the current natural state;
 2) Assessment of the stability of the slope before the start of construction, in the presence of an old massive retaining wall made of limestone blocks.
 3) Assessment of the stability of the slope in the version of the original design solution with a retaining wall made of short bored piles with a diameter of 820 mm and taking into account the development of the pit to the design mark.
 4) Modeling of SSS elements "soil array of the slope - retaining walls" with different options of the new retaining wall in order to choose an effective option that will ensure the possibility of developing the pit to the design marks and stabilizing the slope.
 Based on the results of numerical modeling of slope stabilization options with retaining walls of different designs and rigidity, the consumption of materials for each of the options was determined and the most effective option was selected.
 Studies have shown that depending on the change in the spatial rigidity of the retaining walls by introducing additional elements (buttresses, struts) it is possible to obtain an optimal solution and, in the future, to effectively design a complex of anti-landslide structures.

Study of Load Calculation Models for Anti-Sliding Short Piles Using Finite Difference Method

Anti-sliding short piles, a novel technique for slope stabilization, have been applied in engineering practices. Nonetheless, a mature structural calculation theory for these piles is still lacking. In this paper, the study presents an internal force solution model for anti-sliding short piles using the finite difference method. By extending the Euler–Bernoulli beam theory and defining boundary conditions, this study develops a set of finite difference equations for computing the structural forces of anti-sliding short piles. Furthermore, this study conducted laboratory model tests on soil landslide cases reinforced with anti-sliding short piles. By comparing the internal forces and deformations of these piles, the test validates the proposed calculation model for anti-sliding short piles. The results suggest that treating the load-bearing and embedded sections as a unified entity during the calculation process, instead of applying continuity conditions separately at the sliding surface as performed in traditional methods, simplifies the complex solving procedure. Moreover, under identical loading conditions, the displacement, bending moment, and shear force data obtained through the finite difference method closely coincide with the measurements from the model tests, confirming the reliability of the anti-sliding short pile calculation model. Additionally, this study demonstrates that reducing the spacing between nodes along the entire anti-sliding short pile, i.e., decreasing the value of the differential segment length ‘h’, results in more precise computational outcomes. This research offers valuable insights and references for sustainable solutions in the realm of geological disaster prevention and control.

Study on the behavior of short pile groups on soft soil with sand leveling using a smallscale physical model with schneebeli analog material

This paper examines the effectiveness of short piles on soft ground with leveling sand, using a 2D small model. The study focuses on the geology of the Mekong Delta, which consists of a thick layer of soft soil and a layer of leveling sand with a thickness of 2-5m. The use of small and short piles (less than 30x30 cm and 5m or less) is a viable option for low-rise buildings in such conditions. The model replaces the sandy soil with a Schneebeli analog material and the weak clay with EPS foam, while short reinforced concrete piles are replaced by steel bars of the square cross-section. The vertical load tests were conducted on groups of piles, with variable parameters such as pile spacing, s, and the distance from the pile tip to the boundary of two soil layers, H. The results show that when the pile spacing, s, is constant and the distance from the pile tip to the boundary of two soil layers, H, decreases, as well as the deformed soil area under the pile tip. Conversely, when the pile spacing, s, increases, the failure of the soil under the pile tip becomes more localized. The use of a footing increases the bearing capacity of the pile group but also increases the vertical strain of the foam layer in both vertical and horizontal directions. Overall, the study shows that reinforcing soil with short piles significantly improves bearing capacity, increasing it by 2.3 to 3.5 times compared to unreinforced soil.

Load capacity evaluation of different typologies of short and small diameter piles

It is common to observe residences with a high number of pathologies related to differential settlements in the municipality of Cruz Alta, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Motivated by this perspective the first Geotechnical Engineering Experimental Field was implemented in the municipality. Standard penetration test and cone penetration test was conducted to characterize the subsoil and execute 17 excavated piles: nine compression piles and eight reaction piles. This technical note presents and discusses the results of the geotechnical load capacity obtained with the static load test in three different pile conditions: conventional piles, floating piles, and reinforced piles by inserting a crushed stone layer compacted at the bottom of the drilling. The piles evaluated have a length of 3 m and a diameter of 30 cm. The piles are immersed in a layer of unsaturated laterite soil. Conventional piles are extensively executed in the municipality due to the limited equipment of the companies offering this service. In summary, the piles presented low bearing capacity, however, the reinforced piles proved to be a viable alternative in terms of increased resistance. The conventional piles presented low load capacity and significant settlements. The insertion of the reinforcement at the tip of the pile resulted in a resistance gain in the range of 31%. The study of floating piles was important to understand the behavior of the pile base. This technical note will enable the geotechnical understanding for future researchers or designers who will work with this soil condition in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.