Model tests and numerical analyses on horizontal impedance functions of inclined single piles embedded in cohesionless soil

Horizontal impedance functions of inclined single piles are measured experimentally for model soil-pile systems with both the effects of local soil nonlinearity and resonant characteristics.Two practical pile inclinations of 5掳 and 10掳 in addition to a vertical pile embedded in cohesionless soil and subjected to lateral harmonic pile head loadings for a wide range of frequencies are considered.Results obtained with low-to-high amplitude of lateral loadings on model soil-pile systems encased in a laminar shear box show that the local nonlinearities have a profound impact on the horizontal impedance functions of piles.Horizontal impedance functions of inclined piles are found to be smaller than the vertical pile and the values decrease as the angle of pile inclination increases.Distinct values of horizontal impedance functions are obtained for the ＇positive＇ and ＇negative＇ cycles of harmonic loadings,leading to asymmetric force-displacement relationships for the inclined piles.Validation of these experimental results is carried out through three-dimensional nonlinear finite element analyses,and the results from the numerical models are in good agreement with the experimental data.Sensitivity analyses conducted on the numerical models suggest that the consideration of local nonlinearity at the vicinity of the soil-pile interface influence the response of the soil-pile systems.

Experimental investigation on seismic behavior of single piles in sandy soil

This paper describes a quasi-static test program featuring lateral cyclic loading on single piles in sandy soil. The tests were conducted on 18 aluminum model piles with different cross sections and lateral load eccentricity ratios, e/d, （e is the lateral load eccentricity and d is the diameter of pile） of 0, 4 and 8, embedded in sand with a relative density of 30% and 70%. The experimental results include lateral load-displacement hysteresis loops, skeleton curves and energy dissipation curves. Lateral capacity, ductility and energy dissipation capacity of single piles under seismic load were evaluated in detail. The lateral capacities and the energy dissipation capacity of piles in dense sand were much higher than in loose sand. When embedded in loose sand, the maximum lateral load and the maximum lateral displacement of piles increased as e/d increased. On the contrary, when embedded in dense sand, the maximum lateral load of piles decreased as e/d increased. Piles with a higher load eccentricity ratio experienced higher energy dissipation capacity than piles with e/d of 0 in both dense and loose sand. At a given level of displacement, piles with circular cross sections provided the best energy dissipation capacity in both loose and dense sand.

Target reliability index for serviceability limit state of single piles

The objective is to develop an approach for the determination of the target reliability index for serviceability limit state(SLS) of single piles. This contributes to conducting the SLS reliability-based design(RBD) of piles. Based on a two-parameter,hyperbolic curve-fitting equation describing the load-settlement relation of piles, the SLS model factor is defined. Then, taking into account the uncertainties of load-settlement model, load and bearing capacity of piles, the formula for computing the SLS reliability index(βsls) is obtained using the mean value first order second moment(MVFOSM) method. Meanwhile, the limit state function for conducting the SLS reliability analysis by the Monte Carlo simulation(MCS) method is established. These two methods are finally applied to determine the SLS target reliability index. Herein, the limiting tolerable settlement(slt) is treated as a random variable. For illustration, four load test databases from South Africa are compiled again to conduct reliability analysis and present the recommended target reliability indices. The results indicate that the MVFOSM method overestimates βsls compared to that computed by the MCS method. Besides, both factor of safety(FS) and slt are key factors influencing βsls, so the combination of FS and βsls is welcome to be used for the SLS reliability analysis of piles when slt is determined. For smaller slt, pile types and soils conditions have significant influence on the SLS target reliability indices; for larger slt, slt is the major factor having influence on the SLS target reliability indices. This proves that slt is the most key parameter for the determination of the SLS target reliability index.

A new approach for time effect analysis of settlement for single pile based on virtual soil-pile model

A new approach is proposed to analyze the settlement behavior for single pile embedded in layered soils. Firstly, soil layers surrounding pile shaft are simulated by using distributed Voigt model, and finite soil layers under the pile end are assumed to be virtual soil-pile whose cross-section area is the same as that of the pile shaft. Then, by means of Laplace transform and impedance function transfer method to solve the static equilibrium equation of pile, the analytical solution of the displacement impedance fimction at the pile head is derived. Furthermore, the analytical solution of the settlement at the head of single pile is theoretically derived by virtue of convolution theorem. Based on these solutions, the influences of parameters of soil-pile system on the settlement behavior for single pile are analyzed. Also, comparison of the load-settlement response for two well-instrumented field tests in multilayered soils is given to demonstrate the effectiveness and accuracy of the proposed approach. It can be noted that the presented solution can be used to calculate the settlement of single pile for the preliminary design of pile foundation.

Axial bearing behavior of super-long piles in deep soft clay over stiff layers

In order to find out the bearing behavior of super-long piles located in deep soft clay over stiff layers around Dongting Lake, China, a test pile was first designed with the field loading test finished afterward. Based on the measured test results, load transfer mechanism and bearing behavior of the pile shaft were discussed in detail. Then, by introducing a bi-linear model for shaft friction and the tri-linear model for pile tip resistance, respectively, the governing differential equation of pile soil system was set up by the load transfer method with the analytical solutions derived as well, taking into account the effect by stratified feature and various bearing conditions of subsoil, material nonlinearity, and the sediment under pile tip. Furthermore, formulas to determine the axial capacity of super-long piles by the pile top settlement were advised and applied to analyze the test pile. Good agreement between the predicted load settlement variations and the measured data is obtained to verify the validity of the present method. The results also show that, the axial bearing capacity of super-long piles should be controlled by the allowable pile top settlement, and buckling stability of the pile shaft should be paid attention as well.

Buckling analysis of super-long rock-socketed filling piles in soft soil area by element free Galerkin method

In order to discuss the buckling stability of super-long rock-socketed filling piles widely used in bridge engineering in soft soil area such as Dongting Lake, the second stability type was adopted instead of traditional first type, and a newly invented numerical analysis method, i.e. the element-free Galerkin method (EFGM), was introduced to consider the non-concordant deformation and nonlinearity of the pile-soil interface. Then, based on the nonlinear elastic-ideal plastic pile-soil interface model, a nonlinear iterative algorithm was given to analyze the pile-soil interaction, and a program for buckling analysis of piles by the EFGM (PBAP-EFGM) and arc length method was worked out as well. The application results in an engineering example show that, the shape of pile top load-settlement curve obtained by the program agrees well with the measured one, of which the difference may be caused mainly by those uncertain factors such as possible initial defects of pile shaft and the eccentric loading during the test process. However, the calculated critical load is very close with the measured ultimate load of the test pile, and the corresponding relative error is only 5.6%, far better than the calculated values by linear and nonlinear incremental buckling analysis (with a greater relative error of 37.0% and 15.4% respectively), which also verifies the rationality and feasibility of the present method.

Numerical simulation of frost jacking response of a single pile considering hydro-thermo-mechanical coupling

Permafrost is widely distributed in China and around the world.In permafrost regions,soil frost heave and thawing are severe and frequent,and can destabilize pile foundations.To this end,a finite element model of a single pile in frozen soil is established to investigate the frost heave and frost jacking response to ensure its safety in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.Firstly,a hydro-thermal coupling model of a single pile in frozen soil is established based on coupling parameters and initial and boundary conditions.Then the temperature and moisture distributions are analyzed through the established coupling model.A hydro-thermo-mechanical coupling model is developed by importing the ice content and temperature results.Simulation results indicate that the amount of frost heave is greater at locations closer to the ground surface,and the displacement is smaller for frozen soil that is closer to the side of the pile.The results on frost jacking behavior of piles from this study can serve as a reference for the design,construction and maintenance of foundations.

Experimental study and numerical analysis on bearing behaviors of super-long rock-socketed bored pile groups

A centrifuge modeling test and a three-dimensional finite element analysis（FEA）of super-long rock-socketed bored pile groups of the Tianxingzhou Bridge are proposed.Based on the similarity theory,different prototypical materials are simulated using different indicators in the centrifuge model.The silver sand,the shaft and the pile cap are simulated according to the natural density,the compressive stiffness and the bending stiffness,respectively.The finite element method（FEM）is implemented and analyzed in ANSYS,in which the stress field during the undisturbed soil stage,the boring stage,the concrete-casting stage and the curing stage are discussed in detail.Comparisons in terms of load-settlement,shaft axial force distribution and lateral friction between the numerical results and the test data are carried out to investigate the bearing behaviors of super-long rock-socketed bored pile groups under loading and unloading conditions.Results show that there is a good agreement between the centrifuge modeling tests and the FEM.In addition,the load distribution at the pile top is complicated,which is related to the stiffness of the cap,the corresponding assumptions and the analysis method.The shaft axial force first increases slightly with depth then decreases sharply,and the rate of decrease in rock is greater than that in sand and soil.

Dynamic Analysis of a Single-Column Platform

In this paper, a single-column structure used as well-head platform is studied. The loads of wave and current exerted on the single-column will be greatly reduced, therefore the cost of the structure will be decreased. The advantages of the single-column structure compared with ordinary jacket structure are explained. A dynamic analysis of this type of structure is made and some problems related to dynamic analysis are solved. In order to check the reliability of computation theory and programme, model tests have been carried out. However, as space is limited, the conclusion of tests will be introduced in another paper. Therefore, this type of structure is applicable for proctical engineering.

Time-dependent lateral response of pile embedded in elasto-plastic soil

A two-dimensional （2D） finite element analysis was carried out to assess the time-dependent behavior of single vertical pile embedded in elasto-plastic soil. The finite element analyses were carried out using the linear elastic model for the structure of the pile, while the Mohr-Coulomb model was used for representing the soil behavior surrounding the pile. The study includes cohesionless and cohesive soil to assess the lateral response of pile in the two types of soil. The whole geoteehnical model is suitable for problem of piles to determine the design quantities such as lateral deformation, lateral soil stress and its variation with time. The model is verified based on the results of published cases and there is good comparison between the results of published ease and the present simulation model. It is found that, the pile in cohesionless soil has more resistance in the rapid loading and less one in the long term loading. On the other hand, the pile in cohesive soil shows opposite behavior.

Numerical analysis of bearing behaviors of single batter piles under horizontal loads in various directions

The horizontal bearing behavior of a single batter pile(SBP)is vital to its application in practical engineering;however,the horizontal responses of SBPs change with the directions of horizontal loads,and this phenomenon is rarely investigated.Therefore,the directional differences in the horizontal bearing behaviors of SBPs are investigated in this study.Four model tests are conducted to preliminarily examine the effects of the skew angle of horizontal loads on the horizontal bearing capacities and distributions of the bending moments of the SBPs.Subsequently,the differences in the responses of the SBPs under horizontal loads in various directions at full scale are analyzed comprehensively via finite-element(FE)analysis.The effects of the skew angle on SBP-soil interaction are discussed.Moreover,an empirical design method is proposed based on the FE analysis results to predict the bearing ratios of SBPs in medium-dense and dense sand while considering the effects of the skew angle,batter angle,and pile diameter.The method is confirmed to be effective,as confirmed by the close agreement between the predicting results with the model test(reported in this study)and centrifuge model test results(reported in the literature).

A new method for testing pile by sin- gle-impact energy and P-S curve

By studying the pile-formula and stress-wave methods (e.g., CASE method), the authors propose a new method for testing piles using the single-impact energy and P-S curves. The vibration and wave figures are recorded, and the dynamic and static displacements are measured by different transducers near the top of piles when the pile is im- pacted by a heavy hammer or micro-rocket. By observing the transformation coefficient of driving energy (total energy), the consumed energy of wave motion and vibration and so on, the vertical bearing capacity for single pile is measured and calculated. Then, using the vibration wave diagram, the dynamic relation curves between the force (P) and the displacement (S) is calculated and the yield points are determined. Using the static-loading test, the dynamic results are checked and the relative constants of dynamic-static P-S curves are determined. Then the sub- sidence quantity corresponding to the bearing capacity is determined. Moreover, the shaped quality of the pile body can be judged from the formation of P-S curves.

液化场地大直径变截面单桩动力响应研究

为研究不同地震动强度下液化场地大直径变截面单桩的动力响应规律,基于振动台试验,选取5010波,在地震动强度0.10g~0.45g作用下,研究液化场地砂土孔压比和大直径变截面单桩桩顶水平位移、桩身弯矩、桩身加速度时程响应及桩基损伤等变化规律.试验结果表明:饱和砂土孔压比随着地震动强度的增大上升明显,地震动强度≥0.30g时,饱和砂土孔压比稳定值在0.9附近,此时砂土完全液化;在0.45g地震动强度作用下,桩身加速度、桩顶水平位移及桩身弯矩均达到最大;桩身不同位置处加速度峰值出现时刻均滞后于输入地震波加速度峰值出现时刻,且桩顶及变截面的加速度响应比桩端的响应更弱;不同地震动强度作用下,桩身弯矩最大值均出现在液化土层和非液化土层分界处,且变截面处弯矩小于土层分界面处;地震动强度达到0.30g时,大直径变截面单桩桩身发生损伤.因此,液化场地下大直径变截面桥梁单桩基础抗震设计时,应该重点考虑饱和砂土层分界处、变截面处的抗弯能力,以确保单桩桩身强度满足抗震要求.

中风化花岗岩中嵌岩桩承载性能原位试验与极限承载力预测

为深入探究中风化花岗岩中嵌岩桩的竖向抗压承载特性,对12根嵌岩桩进行了单桩竖向抗压静载原位试验与ABAQUS有限元数值模拟,通过多种方法对嵌岩单桩极限承载力进行评价,明确中风化花岗岩中嵌岩桩竖向抗压承载性状。研究表明:12根中风化花岗岩中嵌岩桩并非表现出完全端承桩,而是呈摩擦型桩或摩擦端承桩的性状;中风化花岗岩地基中的嵌岩桩竖向抗压极限承载力较高,桩顶沉降小,满足工程对基础的承载要求;有限元模拟荷载-沉降曲线与实测荷载-沉降曲线走势吻合度较高,桩顶沉降误差较小;本试验条件下,桩端阻力占桩顶荷载的56.9%,桩侧摩阻力占比为43.1%,桩侧摩阻力在荷载传递过程中发挥较充分;有限元模拟得到的单桩极限承载力与指数函数模型的预测结果较为吻合,可用于嵌岩桩单桩竖向抗压极限承载力的预测,以及嵌岩桩承载性状和荷载传递规律的分析。

震陷场地变截面单桩动力特性与损伤评价

为探明震陷场地变截面单桩动力响应特性与损伤状况,以翔安大桥为工程背景,基于大型振动台试验,开展了0.10g~0.45g地震动强度下变截面单桩动力响应特性的研究,评价分析了变截面单桩损伤程度。结果表明:受桩周软弱土层震陷特性的影响,变截面单桩桩顶水平位移动力响应、桩身加速度动力响应及桩身弯矩动力响应均随地震动强度增大呈增大趋势,桩基基频逐渐减小;变截面单桩弯矩最大值出现在震陷土层分界处,地震动强度为0.30g时,超过了其抗弯承载力;地震动强度为0.20g时,变截面单桩桩顶水平位移、桩身加速度、桩身弯矩显著增大,桩基基频突降。基于系统损伤理论,震陷场地变截面单桩损伤状况分为稳定阶段、加剧损伤阶段、塑性破坏阶段共3个阶段。试验结束后,变截面位置处产生弯曲塑性破坏。

大直径嵌岩灌注桩承载特性试验与有限元模拟

基于青岛某工程的4根大直径嵌岩灌注桩,在现场开展了单桩竖向抗压静载试验和桩身完整性测试,以明确大直径嵌岩灌注桩在竖向荷载下的承载特征,拟揭示不同荷载水平下嵌岩灌注桩的承载力发挥机制。结合不同嵌岩深度的单桩承载性能有限元模拟,重点分析了单桩在不同嵌岩深度下的竖向抗压承载特性和桩土位移分布特征。研究表明:在笔者试验条件下,大直径嵌岩灌注桩单桩竖向抗压承载力具有一定离散性,桩头部位的损坏会极大影响单桩承载力的有效发挥;加载完成后,数值模拟得到的桩顶沉降量为31.56 mm,约为现场实测值的1.1倍,模拟结果与实测结果较为吻合;通过不同嵌岩比的模拟结果对比发现,嵌岩深度越大桩端阻力占桩顶荷载的比例越小,且桩端阻力占比的变化速率随着嵌岩比的增加逐渐减缓;嵌岩深度取2.5倍桩径为宜。

基于数值模拟的风化层单桩承载特性研究

为了探究风化层中桩基承载特性,采用数值模拟技术建立了桩-土离散单元模型,对单桩的承载特性以及桩周土的细观力学行为进行了分析。结果表明单桩与周围土体之间存在复杂的相互作用,利用数值仿真计算可以得到桩周土的位移场和应力分布特征;在荷载增加过程中,土体发生剪胀效应和应力集中,导致单桩承载性能衰减;单桩的承载性能随桩径增大而明显提高;桩周土的压缩系数在沉降值超过6 mm时发生突变,计算结果对于预测土体变形特性具有一定的指导意义。数值模拟结果为风化层中桩基的承载性能分析提供了理论支持。

厚软土层下高层建筑长短桩复合地基承载性能研究

为了提升厚软土层下高层建筑地基的承载力,提出长短桩复合地基承载性能研究。基于地质勘测结果设计长短桩复合地基,分析其承载性状及沉降情况;利用Mohr-Coulomb模型,完成承载性能模拟。实验结果显示:在短桩和长桩桩体的单桩承载载荷最大时,沉降结果均在5.00 cm左右;楼体层高为30.00 m时,单位载荷沉降平均值为0.51 cm。所提方法能够可靠分析厚软土层的高层建筑长短桩复合地基承载性能,为厚软土层的高层建筑长短桩复合地基设计提供可靠依据。

局部冲刷下砂土中桩-盘复合基础H-T联合承载特性

海上风机基础工作时既承受复杂组合荷载作用,也受波流冲刷影响。单桩-摩擦盘复合基础同时结合了单桩与重力式基础的特点,摩擦盘还可起防冲板作用。为探讨砂土地基中H-T联合作用时局部冲刷对这种复合基础承载特性的影响,首先基于室内水槽试验装置,完成了一系列模型载荷试验;获得了冲刷前后桩-盘复合基础的荷载-位移曲线,经无量纲化处理与曲线拟合,获得H-T联合受荷桩-盘复合基础的承载包络线及其简化计算公式。然后,采用有限元细化分析了主要冲刷参数(冲刷深度、冲刷宽度、冲刷角度)及加载点高度对复合基础承载特性的影响,结果表明:冲刷坑的存在使复合基础的横向及扭转抗力明显降低,削弱程度分别可达25%及45%;进一步分析表明,桩身弯矩值随加载点高度的增加而显著增大,随预加扭矩的增加呈下降趋势;局部冲刷会明显削弱复合基础的承载力,同时H-T联合作用时相应的承载力包络线向内发生不同程度的收缩;其中,冲刷深度的影响最大,对横向抗力与扭转抗力的削弱程度分别可达约35%及60%,冲刷角度次之,冲刷宽度的影响最小;此外,不同加载路径下桩-盘复合基础承载力包络线呈现一定程度的差异。

青藏高原多年冻土区单桩受斜坡地基土原位冻胀影响下的力学特性研究

在青藏高原多年冻土区铁路建设中,由于高原山区地形地貌复杂,建设在斜坡中的桩基础不在少数,地基土经历冻融过程以后桩基常常发生倾斜,严重影响铁路运行安全。为揭示在地基冻胀影响下多年冻土区斜坡单桩的倾斜机理,基于传热学与弹性力学,建立桩体体系热力耦合计算模型并进行室内试验验证计算模型的合理性,考虑地基土原位冻胀、水分相变、大气变暖等因素,进行地基土冻胀影响下斜坡桩基力学特性模拟分析。研究表明:斜坡桩体在地基土冻胀过程受到不均匀水平冻胀力、产生水平位移以及桩体弯矩,且水平位移随着地基斜坡坡度增大而增大;因不均匀水平冻胀引起的桩体应力占总应力的46.3%,对桩体安全性以及工程寿命产生较大影响。进行受到斜坡地基土冻胀影响下单桩力学特性分析,揭示在地基冻胀影响下多年冻土区斜坡单桩的倾斜机理,对多年冻土区斜坡桩基设计及运营有一定的参考价值。