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Recent Advances in Pile Foundation Engineering
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Recent Advances in Pile Foundation Engineering

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Civil Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 December 2026 | Viewed by 1663

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Yunpeng Zhang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Engineering, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
Interests: soil–structure interactions; consolidations; non-destructive testing; soft ground improvement
Dr. Xin Liu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Marine Science and Technology, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
Interests: pile dynamics; offshore wind development; marine geotechnics; analytical methods

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Pile foundations remain the predominant deep-foundation solution for supporting superstructures. As engineering demands for higher capacity, durability, and adaptability to diverse geological conditions continue to grow, advancements in pile design, construction techniques, testing, and maintenance technologies are rapidly evolving.

In particular, the integration of artificial intelligence has revolutionized complex high-dimensional soil–pile interaction analyses and multi-parameter inversion problems, making them more manageable than ever before. Additionally, modern construction techniques now enable pile installation in challenging geological conditions, such as in karst areas, soft silt, and frozen soils in cold regions. The development of innovative pile types has further enhanced performance in these environments.

To showcase recent advancements in pile foundation engineering, we invite contributions that explore cutting-edge research and technological developments in this field. Potential topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

-Development and application of new pile types.

-Advanced analytical and numerical methods for soil–pile and rock–pile interactions.

-AI-enhanced techniques in pile engineering.

-Innovative applications of pile foundations.

-Pile renewal strategies and health monitoring.

We look forward to your valuable contributions to this Special Issue.

Dr. Yunpeng Zhang
Dr. Xin Liu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • pile foundations
  • pile design and construction techniques
  • AI-enhanced pile engineering
  • pile renewal and health monitoring

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

26 pages, 5739 KB  
Article
Theoretical Analysis of Axial Compressive Load Transfer Mechanism of Anti-Toppling Helical Piles Embedded in Strain-Hardening Soils
by Kai Yin, Xin Wang, Shuiliang Zhang, Zongqin Wang, Xuedong Luo and Yunpeng Zhang
Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(8), 4056; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16084056 - 21 Apr 2026
Viewed by 347
Abstract
Anti-toppling helical piles exhibit superior load-bearing performance due to enhanced interaction between the helices and the underlying soil; however, rigorous theoretical frameworks for their compressive analysis remain scarce. To address this limitation, this study proposes a computationally efficient analytical model utilizing the Modified [...] Read more.
Anti-toppling helical piles exhibit superior load-bearing performance due to enhanced interaction between the helices and the underlying soil; however, rigorous theoretical frameworks for their compressive analysis remain scarce. To address this limitation, this study proposes a computationally efficient analytical model utilizing the Modified Cam-Clay (MCC) constitutive framework to calibrate plane strain elements for pile–soil interaction simulations. Wedge-shaped and bulb-shaped fictitious soil pile models are introduced to accurately capture vertical capacity mobilization beneath the helix and pile tip, respectively. After successfully validating the framework against 3D finite element simulations and field test data, extensive parametric analyses were conducted. The key findings reveal that (1) unlike conventional piles, skin friction for anti-toppling helical piles increases monotonically with depth; (2) an optimal helix-to-pile diameter ratio of approximately 1.5 maximizes coordinated bearing capacity; (3) increasing pile length below a fixed helix depth provides negligible additional capacity; and (4) the critical state parameter M strictly controls the ultimate bearing threshold. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Pile Foundation Engineering)
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19 pages, 2646 KB  
Article
Study on Mechanism of Soil Displacement Effect in Large-Diameter PHC Pipe Piles
by Chenghu Yin, Jianqing Bu and Chuanyi Sui
Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(5), 2197; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16052197 - 25 Feb 2026
Viewed by 376
Abstract
In order to investigate the soil displacement effects and penetration resistance mechanisms of large-diameter PHC pipe piles (1200 mm) in complex railway geology, a tripartite framework combining field tests, theoretical analysis, and numerical simulations was established based on the Xiong’an–BDA Express Line project. [...] Read more.
In order to investigate the soil displacement effects and penetration resistance mechanisms of large-diameter PHC pipe piles (1200 mm) in complex railway geology, a tripartite framework combining field tests, theoretical analysis, and numerical simulations was established based on the Xiong’an–BDA Express Line project. A coupled discrete–continuum analysis using the Coupled Eulerian–Lagrangian (CEL) method was conducted to model the large-deformation process of pile driving in soft clay and stratified layers. The results indicate that the installation process induces a “squeezing effect” that critically enhances pile–soil interfacial friction. The theoretical analysis incorporating the extended Lade–Duncan yield criterion significantly improved prediction accuracy, reducing the relative error of side friction from 22% (using the Mohr–Coulomb model) to 5%. Furthermore, the CEL simulation demonstrated high reliability in predicting deep-depth friction and pile tip resistance, effectively capturing the stress redistribution in complex strata. Therefore, the combined application of pre-drilling and large-diameter piles is recommended for deformation-sensitive infrastructure, and the proposed validated framework offers practical guidance for design optimization and parameter selection in similar geological conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Pile Foundation Engineering)
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17 pages, 2580 KB  
Article
Mechanical Performance and Failure Characteristics of Variable-Section Deep Cement Mixing Columns in Improved Composite Foundation
by Dahai Jiang, Tao Lei, Yuhe Zhang, Lin Li, Zhanyong Yao and Kai Yao
Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(3), 1308; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16031308 - 28 Jan 2026
Viewed by 414
Abstract
Conventional deep cement mixing (DCM) columns commonly experience performance constraints and site-specific challenges arising from heterogeneous geological and loading conditions. This study investigates the vertical stress distribution, settlement behavior, and failure mechanisms of Variable-Section Deep Cement Mixing (VSDCM) columns through a series of [...] Read more.
Conventional deep cement mixing (DCM) columns commonly experience performance constraints and site-specific challenges arising from heterogeneous geological and loading conditions. This study investigates the vertical stress distribution, settlement behavior, and failure mechanisms of Variable-Section Deep Cement Mixing (VSDCM) columns through a series of finite element modeling. A comparative assessment is also conducted with two uniform-diameter columns of 0.5 m and 0.8 m. It is evident that the VSDCM columns possess 90% of the bearing capacity of the corresponding large-diameter columns. It exhibits a relative settlement 4–5 times smaller than that of the small-diameter column composite foundation, indicating a dominant role of enlarged head in stress redistribution and load sharing within the composite foundation. The stress arch exhibits a vertical influence range of approximately 0–0.4 m, within which load redistribution is significant. The VSDCM column encounter two stress peaks due to its variable cross-section, triggering failure at both, with the small-diameter section beneath the enlarged head being the most critical zone. The reduced material demands of the VSDCM column results in higher engineering economy, supporting its applicability as a sustainable and cost-effective ground improvement technique. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Pile Foundation Engineering)
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