Search Results (93)

High-viscosity stratified strata, characterized by complex geotechnical properties such as strong cohesion, low permeability, and pronounced layered structures, exhibit significant lateral friction resistance and high-end resistance during steel sheet pile installation. These factors substantially increase construction difficulty and may even cause structural damage. This study addresses two critical mechanical challenges during vibratory pile driving in Fujian Province’s hydraulic engineering project: prolonged high-frequency driving durations, and severe U-shaped steel sheet pile head damage in high-viscosity stratified soils. Employing the Coupled Eulerian–Lagrangian (CEL) numerical method, a systematic investigation was conducted into the penetration resistance, stress distribution, and damage patterns during vibratory pile driving under varying conditions of cohesive soil layer thickness, predrilled hole spacing, and aperture dimensions. The correlation between pile stress and penetration depth was established, with the influence mechanisms of key factors on driving-induced damage in high-viscosity stratified strata under multi-factor coupling effects elucidated. Finally, the feasibility of predrilling techniques for resistance reduction was explored. This study applies the damage prediction model based on the CEL method to U-shaped sheet piles in high-viscosity stratified formations, solving the problem of mesh distortion in traditional finite element methods. The findings provide scientific guidance for steel sheet pile construction in high-viscosity stratified formations, offering significant implications for enhancing construction efficiency, ensuring operational safety, and reducing costs in such challenging geological conditions. Full article

The implantable capsule grouting pile is a novel pile foundation technology in which a capsule is affixed to the side of the implanted pile to facilitate grouting and achieve extrusion-based reinforcement. This technique is designed to improve the bearing capacity of implanted piles in coastal areas with deep, soft soil. This study conducted model tests involving multiple grouting positions across different foundation types to refine the construction process and validate the enhancement of bearing capacity. Systematic measurements and quantitative analyses were performed to evaluate the earth pressure distribution around the pile, the resistance characteristics of the pile end, the evolution of side friction resistance, and the overall bearing performance. Special attention was given to variations in the lateral friction resistance adjustment coefficient under different working conditions. Furthermore, an actual case analysis was conducted based on typical soft soil geological conditions. The results indicated that the post-grouting process formed a dense soil ring through the expansion and extrusion of the capsule, resulting in increased soil strength around the pile due to increased lateral earth pressure. Compared to conventional piles, the grouted piles exhibited a synergistic improvement characterized by reduced pile end resistance, enhanced side friction resistance, and improved overall bearing capacity. The ultimate bearing capacity of model piles at different grouting depths across different foundation types increased by 6.8–22.3% compared with that of ordinary piles. In silty clay and clayey silt foundations, the adjustment coefficient η_s of lateral friction resistance of post-grouting piles ranged from 1.097 to 1.318 and increased with grouting depth. The findings contribute to the development of green pile foundation technology in coastal areas. Full article

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the frictional anisotropy of snake scale-inspired surfaces, especially its potential applications in enhancing the bearing capacity of foundations (piles, anchor elements, and suction caissons) and reducing materials consumption and installation energy. This study first investigated the frictional properties and surface morphologies of the ventral scales of Cantor’s rat snakes (Ptyas dhumnades). Based on the findings on the snake scales, a novel snakeskin-inspired geosynthetic reinforcement (SIGR) is developed using 3D-printed polylactic acid (PLA). A series of pullout tests under different normal loads (25 kPa, 50 kPa, and 75 kPa) were performed to analyze the pullout behavior of SIGR in sandy soil. Soil deformation and shear band thickness were measured using Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV). The results revealed that the ventral scales of Ptyas dhumnades have distinct thorn-like micro-protrusions pointing towards the tail, which exhibit frictional anisotropy. A SIGR with a unilateral (one-sided) layout scales (each scale 1 mm in height and 12 mm in length) could increase the peak pullout force relative to a smooth-surface reinforcement by 29% to 67%. Moreover, the peak pullout force in the cranial direction (soil moving against the scales) was found to be 13% to 20% greater than that in the caudal direction (soil moving along the scales). The pullout resistance, cohesion, and friction angle of SIGR all showed significant anisotropy. The soil deformation around the SIGR during pullout was more pronounced than that observed with smooth-surface reinforcement, which suggests that SIGR can mobilize a larger volume of soil to resist external loads. This study demonstrates that SIGR is able to enhance the pullout resistance of reinforcements, thereby improving the stability of reinforced soil structures, reducing materials and energy consumption, and is important for the sustainability of geotechnical engineering. Full article

The screw piles used in permafrost regions represent a new type of pile, and their vertical bearing characteristics play a crucial role in ensuring the normal operation of engineering buildings. This study establishes a numerical calculation model to simulate the interaction between screw piles and soil in permafrost regions and verifies the numerical simulation results through model tests. The bearing mechanism of screw piles in permafrost areas is studied and compared with common, bored, cast-in-place piles widely used. Finally, a method for estimating the bearing capacity of screw piles in permafrost regions is proposed. The research indicates that approximately 90% of the bearing capacity of screw piles in permafrost regions is derived from the mechanical interaction between the concrete pile’s side and the permafrost soil. The shear strength of the permafrost is the primary determinant of the pile foundation’s bearing capacity, while the seasonally active layer has a minimal impact on its bearing capacity, resulting in a stable year-round performance. In permafrost regions, the equivalent friction resistance of screw piles is significantly greater than that of the conventional cast-in-place piles. When the pile reaches its ultimate bearing capacity, the plastic zone on the pile’s side becomes connected, and shear failure occurs in the surrounding soil. The design value of the bearing capacity of a single pile can be effectively estimated in engineering practice by improving the formula of the code for calculating the vertical bearing capacity. Full article

In order to study the bearing characteristics of pile groups under the coupling of multiple caves, the influence of the interaction between the crossing cave, the underlying inclined cave, the pile-side cave, and the underlying cave on the ultimate bearing capacity, axial force, lateral friction, and load sharing ratio of the pile group was analyzed based on the model test. The research results show the following: (1) Due to the existence of the underlying cave, the Q-S curves of the pile groups are all steep drop types, and they show the characteristics of end-bearing piles. The influence of other caves is not obvious; the existence of beaded caves, lower crossing caves, underlying inclined caves, upper crossing caves, and pile-side caves will reduce the ultimate bearing capacity of the pile group. The reduction in the ultimate bearing capacity is 7.38%, 4.94% for the lower crossing cave, 2.59% for the underlying inclined cave, 2.27% for the upper crossing cave, and 0.74% for the pile-side cave. (2) When the pile body passes through the cave, the axial force changes slightly in the overburden layer, changes greatly in the limestone layer, and remains unchanged in the cave; under the same load level, the axial force of the pile close to the underlying inclined cave and the pile-side cave is smaller than that of the pile farther away. (3) Under the same load level, the lateral friction of the pile foundation shows a decreasing trend in the sand layer and limestone layer. The friction inside the sand layer is small. After entering the lime layer, the lateral friction increases sharply. The lateral friction is approximately 0 within the cave range. After passing through the cave, the lateral friction increases sharply. (4) The underlying inclined cave and the pile-side cave do not affect the position of the peak point of the pile foundation. The existence of the cave makes the pile foundation increase the peak point at the exit of the cave; under the same load level, the lateral friction of the pile close to the underlying inclined cave and the pile-side cave is larger than that of the pile farther away. (5) The existence of beaded caves, lower crossing caves, underlying inclined caves, upper crossing caves, and pile-side caves will increase the proportion of pile end resistance by 6.95%, 4.23%, 0.94%, 0.77%, and 0.62%, respectively. (6) This study systematically analyzed the differences in the degree of influence of different types of caves (including crossing caves, underlying inclined caves, and pile-side caves) on the bearing characteristics of pile foundations under the condition of the existence of underlying caves. It was found that beaded caves > lower crossing caves > underlying inclined caves > upper crossing caves > pile-side caves, which provides a priority decision-making basis for the optimal design of cave treatment schemes in engineering practice. Full article

This study investigates the full penetration simulation of piles from the ground surface, focusing on frictional contact modeling without mesh distortion. To overcome issues related to mesh distortion and improve solution convergence, the Arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian (ALE) adaptive mesh technique was implemented within both explicit and implicit time integration schemes. The numerical model was validated against field experiments conducted at Bothkennar, Scotland, using the Imperial College instrumented displacement pile (ICP) in soft clay, where the soil behavior was effectively represented using the modified Cam-Clay model and the Mohr–Coulomb model. The primary objectives of this study are to evaluate the ALE method performance in handling mesh distortion; analyze the effects of soil–pile interface friction, pile dimensions, and various dilation angles on pile resistance; and compare the effectiveness of explicit and implicit time integration schemes in terms of stability, computational efficiency, and solution accuracy. The ALE method effectively modeled pile penetration in Bothkennar clay, validating the numerical model against field experiments. Comparative analysis revealed the explicit time integration method as more robust and computationally efficient, particularly for complex soil–pile interactions with higher friction coefficients. Full article

This numerical study utilizes a validated Plaxis 3D model calibrated against full-scale field tests to investigate the lateral load-sharing mechanism of the pile cap in a 3 × 3 pile group under horizontal loading. Numerical simulations calibrated against full-scale field tests reveal that the pile cap significantly enhances the lateral bearing capacity while reducing horizontal displacement by an average of 59.5%. The load-sharing ratio of the pile cap decreases from 62% at low loads to 50% at higher loads, with a corresponding increase in pile contributions. The decomposition of the pile cap’s resistance identifies passive earth pressure (P_C-E) as the dominant component (72–80%), followed by base friction (P_C-B, 15–18%) and side friction (P_C-S, 5–12%). According to parametric analyses, increasing the embedment depth (H) from 0.5 m to 3.0 m elevates the pile cap’s load-sharing ratio by approximately 60%, while expanding the cap width (B) from 2.5 m to 3.5 m enhances lateral resistance by increasing the contact area. A power function relationship quantifies the load-sharing ratio (β) as a function of the product of H and B. These findings provide critical insights for optimizing pile cap geometry and improving the design of laterally loaded pile group foundations. Full article

The NT-CEP pile is an innovative type of pile that builds upon the conventional concrete straight-hole cast-in-place pile. It primarily consists of two components: the main pile and the bearing plate. The key factors influencing its load-bearing capacity include the pile diameter, the cantilever dimensions of the bearing plate, and the slope of the bearing plate’s foot, among others. The pile spacing significantly influences the bearing capacity of NT-CEP pile group foundations. The overall bearing capacity of an NT-CEP pile group foundation is not merely the sum of the ultimate bearing capacities of individual piles; rather, it results from the interactions among the pile bodies, the cap, and the foundation soil. Advancing the design theory of NT-CEP pile groups and enhancing their practical applications in engineering requires an in-depth investigation of how different pile spacings influence the load-bearing performance of pile group foundations. This objective can be achieved by exploring the soil damage mechanisms around side, corner, and central piles. This exploration helps in clarifying the influence of pile spacing on the load-bearing performance. Based on research findings regarding the bearing capacity of single and double pile foundations, this paper utilizes ANSYS finite element simulation analysis to model six-pile and nine-pile groups. Because these arrangements are universally adopted in engineering practice, they are capable of accounting for the pile group effect under various pile spacings and row configurations. The nine-pile group comprises corner piles, side piles, and a center pile, enabling a comprehensive analysis of stress variations among piles at different positions. As six-pile and nine-pile groups represent common pile configurations, studying these two types can provide valuable insights and direct references for optimizing pile foundation design. The study systematically investigates the influence of varying piles spacings on the bearing capacity of NT-CEP pile group foundations. It concludes that, as pile spacing decreases, The displacement of the top of this pile increases. thereby enhancing the group piles effects. Conversely, increasing the spacing between piles represents an effective strategy for elevating the compressive capacity of the NT-CEP pile-group foundation. Larger spacing also increases the vertical load-bearing capacity of the central piles, enhances the lateral friction resistance of corner piles, and heightens the load-sharing proportion between the bearing plate and the pile end. Furthermore, increasing pile spacing raises the ratio of load sharing by the foundation soil for both the CEP nine-pile foundation and the CEP six-pile foundation. The reliability of the simulation study has been verified by a visualization small scale model test of a half cut pile. Full article

The structural clay of the Zhanjiang Formation exhibits significant thixotropy, and there are considerable differences in the ultimate bearing capacity of pulled-out piles under different resting times. Using the structural clay from the Zhanjiang Formation as the foundation, direct shear tests on the soil surrounding nine groups of model single piles of different sizes were conducted at various resting times, along with static pullout tests on the pile foundations. The results indicate that the cohesion and internal friction angle of the surrounding soil increase following a logarithmic function with increasing resting time; specifically, the growth rate is rapid in the early resting period and gradually slows down in the later period. A quantitative relationship describing the variation of cohesion and internal friction angle over time was established. The load–displacement curves for single piles at different resting times exhibit a distinct steep drop. The uplift single pile exhibits significant time-dependency, with the ultimate uplift bearing capacity increasing more rapidly in the early stages and gradually stabilizing in the later stages. Under different resting times, for each load level, the maximum side friction resistance of the pile gradually shifts to the middle and lower parts of the pile body, while the ultimate side friction resistance is evenly distributed along the lower part of the pile body, with the side friction resistance of the pile bearing the uplift load. Based on the quantitative relationship of the cohesion and internal friction angle of the surrounding soil around the pile varying with time, a predictive formula for the axial pullout ultimate bearing capacity of a single pile in the Zhanjiang Group structured clay foundation has been established. Using existing pile foundation projects, model experiments were designed to verify the validity of the formula; however, there is a lack of field-scale validation. The research findings can provide a reference for predicting the axial pullout ultimate bearing capacity of single piles in practical engineering applications. Full article

In situ vertical load field tests were carried out on two bored piles used in the Chizhou Highway Bridge across the Yangtze River, both of which were rooted piles. Based on the test results, such as those on the relationship between the load and settlement, axial force distribution, and the relationship between shaft friction and pile–soil relative displacement, the vertical load transfer mechanics of the rooted piles were analyzed. The results showed that the load-carrying curves of the rooted piles vary gradually and also that the rooted piles exhibit the bearing characteristics of friction piles because the loads at the pile tips are less than 15% of the total bearing capacity of the piles. The slope of the axial force distribution curve of the rooted piles first increased at the upper interface and then decreased at the lower interface of the root-reinforced zone. The axial force of the rooted piles decreased faster in soil layers where the piles had roots, which can be explained by the fact that roots share the vertical load with piles and that roots improve the bearing properties of piles. Considering the shaft and end resistance of the roots on the piles, the relationship between load and settlement of the rooted piles was calculated by a three-line model based on the load transfer method. The results calculated from the model were in good agreement with the results from the tests. The results from the tests could inform the design and analysis of rooted piles. Full article

This paper presents a novel strut-free earth retaining wall system for excavation, referred to as the asymmetric double-row pile wall (ARPW) retaining system. This system comprises three key elements: front-row reinforced concrete piles, back-row walls, and connecting crossbeams at the top of the piles. This paper aims to analyze the deformation characteristics and mechanical behavior of the ARPW retaining system, double-row pile wall (DRPW) retaining system, and single-row pile wall (SPW) retaining system using both physical model tests and numerical simulations. The study reveals that, with reasonable row spacing, double-row structures exhibit substantially lower earth pressure and bending moments compared to SPW. Additionally, all double-row structures display reverse bending points. The optimal row spacing for DRPW and ARPW is within the ranges of 2D to 6D and 4D to 8D, respectively. ARPW outperforms DRPW by efficiently utilizing active zone friction force and soil weight force (G_s) to resist overturning moments, thereby resulting in improved anti-overturning capabilities, reduced deformations, lower internal forces, and enhanced stability. The study also presents a case study from the Jinzhonghe Avenue South Side Plot in Tianjin, demonstrating the practical application and effectiveness of the ARPW system in meeting stringent deformation requirements for deep foundation pits. These research findings provide valuable insights for practical engineering applications. Full article

Pile foundations are vulnerable to fault deformations. However, both the physical and numerical modeling of pile foundations under fault deformations are complicated and time-consuming. A simplified model is required for design and engineering practices. This study proposed a novel simplified analysis model to predict the behaviors of single piles subjected to reverse faulting. A two-dimensional beam–spring model is applied. The calculations of the stiffnesses of soil springs, skin friction, ultimate soil resistances, and Young’s modulus of sand are presented and discussed. The numerical results show a good agreement with the results of previous centrifuge tests. The parametric studies using the novel model show that ultimate horizontal soil resistance, skin friction, Young’s modulus of soil, pile stiffness, and sand density exhibit apparent effects on the responses of a single pile. The ultimate soil resistance controls the maximum inner forces, while Young’s modulus affects the increment of inner forces. The bending moment increases with pile stiffness initially and then remains relatively stable. Larger sand density leads to larger inner forces of the pile, owing to greater ultimate soil resistance and stiffness of the soil spring. Full article

Large-diameter cast-in-place tubular piles offer high efficiency and adaptability for various engineering applications. Despite their widespread use, the bearing behavior of these piles remains complex due to the interactions with the internal soil core, and the related theoretical framework is not yet fully developed. In this study, a simplified load transfer model is proposed based on the pile–soil interaction mechanism of large-diameter tubular piles. Comprehensive load transfer models for the skin friction and end resistance of both the pile body and the soil core are established, supported by a detailed theoretical analysis. A novel three-criteria approach is introduced for the first time to enhance settlement predictions for large-diameter tubular piles by considering the displacement coordination mechanism of the internal soil core, addressing the limitations of traditional two-criteria methods. The proposed methods are validated through two engineering case studies, demonstrating their effectiveness and confirming their rationality and applicability in practical scenarios. Full article

To investigate the load-bearing characteristics of a pile foundation with multiple piles passing through karst caves and the extent of the caves’ influence, this study takes the Qihe Bridge, a key project of the second section of the Anhe Expressway, as a case study. Field tests on the bearing capacity of the pile foundation, passing through underlying karst caves, were conducted. Piles passing through the caves were selected as test piles, and a finite element analysis of the Qihe Bridge pile foundation structure was performed using Midas GTS NX 2022 software. After verifying the accuracy of the software’s calculation results, this study further explored the distribution patterns of factors such as axial force, side friction resistance, settlement, and relative displacement between the pile and soil with respect to the position of the pile. Special attention was given to monitoring locations at the interface between rock and soil layers, as well as within the depth range of the karst caves. The horizontal axial force on the piles was found to increase with the depth of the caves. By analyzing the distribution patterns of axial force, side friction resistance, settlement, and pile–soil relative displacement, the study clarifies the mechanism by which karst caves affect the load-bearing behavior of pile foundations. Full article

The presence of isolated stones in the soil layers of engineering sites has significantly increased. Currently, the existing methods for dealing with isolated stones are inadequate to meet engineering needs. This paper combines pile-planting technology with isolated stones to incorporate them into the load-bearing system, resulting in a new type of pre-drilled composite pile suitable for isolated stone sites. A visualization testing system for pile-soil deformation is developed using Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) technology and transparent soil, conducting non-intrusive model tests on pile-planting and boulder-capped piles under different uplift load conditions, and comparing the results with a discrete-continuous coupled three-dimensional numerical model analysis. The results indicate that when an isolated stone with a cross-sectional area four times that of the pile exists at the pile tip, the ultimate pullout bearing capacity of the pile increases by a factor of two. Regarding the distribution of internal and external side friction resistances of the core and outer concrete of the piles, the internal friction resistance of piles without isolated stones is approximately 1.47 times that of the external friction resistance and about 0.8 times the ratio of the diameters of the pile and core. For piles with isolated stones at the tip, the internal friction resistance is approximately 1.37 times that of the external friction resistance. Under the ultimate load, the displacement field around the pile without an isolated stone exhibits an “inverted triangular” distribution; the displacement field around the pile with an isolated stone at the tip exhibits a “trapezoidal” distribution. This study investigates the bearing capacity and load transfer mechanisms of the new pre-drilled composite piles in isolated stone engineering sites, and the research findings may provide new solutions for similar construction projects involving rubble reclamation. Full article