Bending–buckling interaction as a failure mechanism of piles in liquefiable soils

This paper investigates the importance of bending–buckling interaction in seismic design of piles in liquefiable soils using numerical techniques. A pseudo-static analysis has been performed using a well documented case history, where the pile–soil interaction is modelled as a beam on nonlinear winkler foundation (BNWF). Six possible analytical methods, three force based and three displacement based, are performed in which the pile is subjected to both lateral and axial load. Three out of six analysis cases did not predict the failure of the piles when analysed only for bending (i.e., lateral loads only). The buckling analysis showed that the pile was also safe against pure buckling during full liquefaction. Further, two out of those three cases which did not predict failure in bending were reanalysed for bending–buckling interaction (i.e., lateral and axial loads acting simultaneously). These combined analyses showed a more realistic behaviour of pile response and did predict the pile failure. Hence, it can be concluded that if a pile is designed for bending and buckling criteria separately and safe for these individual design criteria, it may fail due to their combined effect.     

地震作用下液化场地变截面桩与等截面桩的动力响应对比分析

为研究液化场地变截面桩的动力响应,依托翔安大桥实体工程,采用有限元软件,建立变截面桩－土和等截面桩－土相互作用模型,模拟液化场地变截面桩及等截面桩在地震作用下的振动反应,分析在地震作用下变截面位置不同的变截面桩及等截面桩的动力响应特征。结果表明:地震作用下,液化土层不同深度处的孔压比变化规律基本相同,均从0逐渐增大最后趋于稳定;变截面桩的桩身加速度和桩身位移均大于等截面桩,且桩顶加速度峰值出现的时刻均滞后于桩底;在饱和砂土层处,桩身位移变化趋势均较陡;变截面桩的桩身弯矩峰值和桩身剪力峰值均大于等截面桩,且其峰值出现的位置较等截面桩深;地震作用下,变截面桩及等截面桩的弯矩与剪力均在安全范围之内;液化场地变截面梁桥桩基础抗震设计时,应着重分析液化土层与非液化土层分界面以下的抗弯能力设计及液化土层中抗剪能力设计。     

Response of a scale-model pile group for a jacket foundation of an offshore wind turbine in liquefiable ground during shaking table tests

To investigate the seismic response of a pile group during liquefaction, shaking table tests on a 1/25 scale model of a 2 × 2 pile group were conducted, which were pilot tests of a test project of a scale-model offshore wind turbine with jacket foundation. A large laminar shear box was utilized as the soil container to prepare a liquefiable sandy ground specimen. The pile group model comprising four slender aluminum piles with their pile heads connected by a rigid frame was designed with similitude considerations focusing on soil–pile interaction. The input motions were 2-Hz sinusoids with various acceleration amplitudes. The excess pore water pressure generation indicated that the upper half of the ground specimen reached initial liquefaction under the 50-gal-amplitude excitation, whereas in the 75-gal-amplitude test, almost entire ground was liquefied. Accelerations in soil, on the movable frames composing the laminar boundary of the shear box, and along the pile showed limited difference at the same elevation before liquefaction. After liquefaction, the soil and the movable-frame accelerations that represented the ground response considerably reduced, whereas both the movable frames and the piles exhibited high-frequency jitters other than 2-Hz sinusoid, and meantime, remarkable phase difference between the responses of the pile group and the ground was observed, all probably due to the substantial degradation of liquefied soil. Axial strains along the pile implied its double-curvature bending behavior, and the accordingly calculated moment declined significantly after liquefaction. These observations demonstrated the interaction between soil and piles during liquefaction.     

Analytical and centrifuge studies of pile groups in liquefiable soil before and after site remediation

The objectives of this paper are to show practically: (1) the validation of a proposed three-dimensional effective stress analysis for the pile foundations, and (2) the effectiveness of remedial deposits on pile stresses under liquefaction by making comparisons between the results of centrifuge tests and those of the proposed analysis. Two foundation models supported by end-bending piles were studied with improved and unimproved deposits. There exists a good consistency between the numerical and experimental results for excess pore water-pressure ratios ranging from 0 to about 0·9. From the numerical results, the bending moment at the pile top with the improved deposit is about 50 per cent lower than that with the unimproved deposit. However, it was found that the smaller the bending moment develops in the pile with the improved deposit, the larger the compressive and/or tensional axial stresses in the pile. This is due to the predominant excitation of rocking vibration of the foundation. From the analytical and experimental results, it has been found that the remedial method can be a variable means to protect piles from soil liquefaction hazards. However, both axial stress and bending moment produced in piles should be considered in assessing the liquefied seismic capacity of group pile-foundation–structural systems with improved soil deposits. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A shake table investigation of dynamic behavior of pile supported bridges in liquefiable soil deposits

Bridges are a part of vital infrastructure,which should operate even after a disaster to keep emergency services running.There have been numerous bridge failures during major past earthquakes due to liquefaction.Among other categories of failures,mid span collapse(without the failure of abutments)of pile supported bridges founded in liquefiable deposits are still observed even in most recent earthquakes.This mechanism of collapse is attributed to the effects related to the differential elongation of natural period of the individual piers during liquefaction.A shake table investigation has been carried out in this study to verify mechanisms behind midspan collapse of pile supported bridges in liquefiable deposits.In this investigation,a typical pile supported bridge is scaled down,and its foundations pass through the liquefiable loose sandy soil and rest in a dense gravel layer.White noise motions of increasing acceleration magnitude have been applied to initiate progressive liquefaction and to characterize the dynamic features of the bridge.It has been found that as the liquefaction of the soil sets in,the natural frequency of individual bridge support is reduced,with the highest reduction occurring near the central spans.As a result,there is differential lateral displacement and bending moment demand on the piles.It has also been observed that for the central pile,the maximum bending moment in the pile will occur at a higher elevation,as compared to that of the interface of soils of varied stiffness,unlike the abutment piles.The practical implications of this research are also highlighted.     

The effects of liquefaction-induced lateral spreading on pile foundations

Observations of pile foundation performance during previous earthquakes have shown that pile failure has been caused by lateral ground movements resulting from soil liquefaction. The recognition that lateral ground movements may play a critical role in pile performance during an earthquake has important implications for design and risk assessment, and requires that analytical models be devised to evaluate these potential problems.In this paper, parametric studies were conducted to estimate the maximum bending moments induced in piles subjected to lateral ground displacement. The results are summarized in charts using dimensionless parameters.The analyses reveal that the existence of a nonliquefiable layer at the ground surface can affect significantly the maximum bending moment of the pile. When a relatively thick nonliquefiable layer exists above a liquefiable layer, neither the material nonlinearity of the soil nor loss of soil stiffness within the liquefiable layer significantly affect the maximum bending moment. When the thickness of the liquefiable soils is greater than about three times that of an overlying intact layer, soil stiffness in the liquefiable layer must be chosen carefully when evaluating the maximum bending moment.     

液化场地桥梁群桩-土耦合体系强震反应分析

针对振动台试验,采用u-p形式控制方程表述饱和砂土的动力属性,选用土的多屈服面塑性本构模型刻画饱和砂土和黏土的力学特性,引入非线性梁-柱单元模拟桩,建立试验受控条件下液化场地群桩-土强震相互作用分析的三维有限元模型,并通过试验结果验证数值建模途径与模拟方法的正确性。以实际工程中常用的2×2群桩为例,建立桩-土-桥梁结构强震反应分析三维有限元模型。基于此,针对不同群桩基础配置对液化场地群桩-土强震相互作用影响展开具体分析。对比发现,桩的数量相同时,桩排列方向与地震波输入方向平行时比垂直时桩基受力减小5%~10%,而对场地液化情况无明显影响;相同排列形式下,三桩模型中土体出现液化的时间约比双桩模型延缓5s,桩上弯矩和剪力减小33%~38%。由此可见,桩基数量增加,桩-土体系整体刚度更大,场地抗液化性能显著,桩基对上部桥梁结构的承载性能明显增强,其安全性与可靠性更高。这对实际桥梁工程抗震设计具有一定的借鉴意义。     

多桩型复合地基作用机理与动力特性研究

对由碎石桩和CFG桩构成的多桩型复合地基的作用机理进行分析,通过数值模拟,对多桩型复合地基的动力特性进行研究,探讨桩型配比、桩径、桩长、CFG桩桩体刚度和碎石桩桩体渗透性等设计参数对多桩型复合地基动力特性的影响。研究结果表明:相同条件下地震期多桩型复合地基的动变形小于碎石桩复合地基而大于CFG桩复合地基,震后沉降量相对较小,在工程设计时碎石桩与CFG桩的桩型配比宜为4∶5;随桩体长度、桩体直径和CFG桩刚度的增加,多桩型复合地基地震期的竖向动变形逐渐减小;随碎石桩桩体渗透性的增加,多桩型复合地基中的超动孔隙水压力减小,震后沉降量降低。     

Prediction of pile response to lateral spreading by 3-D soil–water coupled dynamic analysis: Shaking in the direction perpendicular to ground flow

The 1995 Kobe earthquake seriously damaged numerous buildings with pile foundations adjacent to quay walls. The seismic behavior of a pile group is affected by movement of quay walls, pile foundations, and liquefied backfill soil. For such cases, a three-dimensional (3-D) soil–water coupled dynamic analysis is a promising tool to predict overall behavior. We report predictions of large shake table test results to validate 3-D soil–water coupled dynamic analyses, and we discuss liquefaction-induced earth pressure on a pile group during the shaking in the direction perpendicular to ground flow. Numerical analyses predicted the peak displacement of footing and peak bending moment of the group pile. The earth pressure on the pile in the crustal layer is most important for the evaluation of the peak bending moment along the piles. In addition, the larger curvatures in the bending moment distribution along the piles at the water side in the liquefied ground were measured and predicted.     

Damage process of pile foundation in liquefied ground during strong ground motion

The 1995 Hyogoken–Nambu earthquake caused severe liquefaction over wide areas of reclaimed land. Furthermore, the liquefaction induced large ground displacement in horizontal directions, which caused serious damage to foundations of structures. However, few analyses of steel pipe piles based on field investigation have so far been conducted to identify the causes and process of such damage. The authors conducted a soil–pile-structure interaction analysis by applying a multi-lumped-mass-spring model to a steel pipe pile foundation structure to evaluate the causes and process of its damage. The damage process analyzed in the time domain corresponded well with the results of detailed field investigation. It was found that a large bending moment beyond the ultimate plastic moment of the pile foundation structure was induced mainly by the large ground displacement caused by liquefaction before lateral spreading of the ground and that the displacement appeared during the accumulating process of the excess pore water pressure.     

Development of new drain method for protection of existing pile foundations from liquefaction effects

Pile foundation as well as other underground structures could be seriously affected by soil liquefaction during strong earthquakes. Damages on pile foundation due to liquefaction can be reduced by implementation of some soil improvement method. Main objective of present study is developing of drain method that can improve the soil in order to mitigate the destructiveness of liquefaction on superstructure supported by pile foundation. Series of shaking table tests were conducted on 2×2 pile foundation and soil model was improved by drains. Configurations of drains around piles, intensity of shaking were one of the parameters that were changing during the tests in order to investigate the response of pile foundation in improved soil condition.Shaking table tests and performed On-site experiment showed the following effects of the new drain method. (1) When the intensity of earthquake motion is 200 gal or less, generation of excess pore water pressure is reduced and the pile bending moment is decreased, (2) when the intensity of earthquake motion is stronger (300 gal or more), drainage effect prevents disappearance of subgrade reaction, and (3) proposed new type of drain can control excess pore water pressure without clogging.     

Efficient analysis of pile-group effect on seismic stiffness and strength design of buildings

A new efficient method is developed for the analysis of pile-group effects on the seismic stiffness and strength design of buildings with pile foundations. An efficient continuum model consisting of a dynamic Winkler-type soil element and a pile is used to express the dynamic behavior of the structure-pile-soil system with only a small numerical error. The pile-group effect is taken into account through the influence coefficients among piles which are defined for interstory drifts and pile-head bending moments. It is shown that, while the pile-group effect reduces the interstory drift of buildings in general, it may increase the bending moment of piles at the head. This means that the treatment without the pile-group effect results in the conservative design for super-structures and requires a revised member design for piles.     

可液化倾斜场地中桩基动力响应振动台试验研究

为研究倾斜场地中桩基的动力响应,以2011年新西兰地震中受损的Dallington桥为原型,设计并完成可液化倾斜场地桥梁桩-土相互作用的振动台模型试验。试验再现了喷砂、冒水、地裂缝、场地流滑等宏观现象。试验结果表明,土层足够的液化势及惯性是造成倾斜场地侧向流滑的必要条件;浅层土相比深层土更易液化,液化层中的加速度由下至上呈现逐渐衰减的趋势,而未液化砂土层却表现为逐渐增大的特征;深部测点的桩侧土压力明显大于浅部测点,且土体的液化会弱化土对结构的压力;结构应变最大值位于上部桥台,而结构弯矩在桩身中部及土层分界面附近出现两个较大值,桩端嵌固及倾斜场地流滑是造成出现两个弯矩较大值的主要原因。     

液化侧扩流场地桥梁群桩效应分析

基于u-p有限元公式模拟饱和砂土中水和土颗粒完全耦合效应,建立液化侧向流场地群桩动力反应分析的三维数值模型。模型中,砂土采用多屈服面弹塑性本构模型模拟、黏土采用多屈服面运动塑性模型模拟,群桩在计算过程中保持线弹性状态;采用20节点的六面体单元和考虑孔压效应的20-8节点分别划分黏土层和饱和砂层;选用剪切梁边界处理计算域的人工边界,模拟地震过程中土层的剪切效应;应用瑞利阻尼考虑体系的阻尼效应。随后对比分析2×2群桩中各单桩的地震反应规律,结果表明,各单桩的弯矩、位移时程规律基本一致,峰值弯矩及峰值位移出现时刻滞后于输入加速度峰值时刻,上坡向桩的弯矩和位移峰值大于下坡向的桩的反应值。接着通过改变桩间距研究群桩效应,随着桩间距增加,群桩中各单桩的弯矩最大值均出现在土层分界处,且各单桩的弯矩、桩顶位移逐渐增大。最后给出液化侧向流场地群桩效应的基本原因,得出该类场地群桩抗震设计的基本认识。     

Characteristics of non-uniform cross-section piles in drivability

A numerical analysis of pile driving for tapered piles is presented in this paper. A three-dimensional finite difference analysis for tapered angle and geometry effects has been used on pile driving response of tapered piles. The simulation considers an idealization for pile–soil system in drivability. The vertical pile is assumed to have linear and elastic behavior. It is also assumed that the soil is elasto-plastic material and its failure stage is controlled using the Mohr–Coulomb failure criterion. At the soil–pile contact surfaces along the pile shaft and pile toe, slip is allowed to occur during the driving procedure using interface elements. Quiet boundaries are used to prevent waves traveling in the lateral and vertical directions for the soil. Cylindrical, fully tapered, and semi-tapered piles were analyzed. The results obtained from numerical analyses were compared with those obtained from available laboratory tests and also other available numerical data, resulting in a satisfactory agreement. The results have shown that among piles of the same length and material volume, with increasing the taper angle from zero (representing a cylindrical pile), the driving stresses decrease and the permanent pile toe settlement (set) increases. These are interesting in pile driving and are on the safe side for driven piles and increasing the driving efficiency. It has also been found that the geometry of the pile can generally influence the pile drivability. Generally speaking, tapered and partially tapered piles offer better drivability performance than cylindrical piles of the same volume and length.     

Evaluation of seismic performance of pile‐supported models in liquefiable soils

The seismic performance of four pile‐supported models is studied for two conditions: (i) transient to full liquefaction condition, i.e. the phase when excess pore pressure gradually increases during the shaking; (ii) full liquefaction condition, i.e. defined as the state where the seismically induced excess pore pressure equalises to the overburden stress. The paper describes two complementary analyses consisting of an experimental investigation, carried out at normal gravity on a shaking table, and a simplified numerical analysis, whereby the soil–structure interaction (SSI) is modelled through non‐linear Winkler springs (commonly known as p–y curves). The effects of liquefaction on the SSI are taken into account by reducing strength and stiffness of the non‐liquefied p–y curves by a factor widely known as p‐multiplier and by using a new set of p–y curves. The seismic performance of each of the four models is evaluated by considering two different criteria: (i) strength criterion expressed in terms of bending moment envelopes along the piles; (ii) damage criterion expressed in terms of maximum global displacement. Comparison between experimental results and numerical predictions shows that the proposed p–y curves have the advantage of better predicting the redistribution of bending moments at deeper elevations as the soil liquefies. Furthermore, the proposed method predicts with reasonable accuracy the displacement demand exhibited by the models at the full liquefaction condition. However, disparities between computed and experimental maximum bending moments (in both transient and full liquefaction conditions) and displacement demands (during transient to liquefaction condition) highlight the need for further studies. Copyright © 2016 The Authors Earthquake Engineering & Structural Dynamics Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.     

Viscous fluid characteristics of liquefied soils and behavior of piles subjected to flow of liquefied soils

Lateral movement of sloping ground due to flow liquefaction has caused many pile foundations to fail, especially those in ports and harbor structures. Several researchers have found and verified that the behavior of liquefied soils can be simulated appropriately by modeling the liquefied soils as viscous fluid. In this study, the influence of the lateral movement of liquefied sloping ground on the behavior of piles was analyzed on the assumption that the flow of liquefied soils can be treated as viscous fluid flow. Sinking ball tests and pulling bar tests were performed to measure the viscosity of liquefied Jumoonjin sand. Then, the behavior of a single pile installed in liquefiable infinite slopes consisting of sand was investigated by numerical analyses. The liquefied sand behaved as non-Newtonian fluid, whose viscosity decreased with increasing shear strain rate. Furthermore, the flow of liquefied soils had a crucial effect on the stability of piles installed in the sloping ground.     

地震作用下预应力混凝土管桩运动响应三维数值分析

基于黏弹性人工边界,建立上部结构-桩-土的共同作用三维有限元模型,分析地震作用下预应力混凝土管桩的运动响应特性。分别针对预应力混凝土管桩的桩径、双层软硬土剪切波速比值、上覆土层厚度、上部结构荷载等影响因素进行数值计算。参数分析表明:在地震作用下,桩径的增大会导致桩身整体弯矩相应增加,特别是桩身土层分界面处增大明显;软硬土层剪切波速比及上覆土层厚度的增加,引起土层分界面处桩身峰值弯矩增加;固定桩头条件下,桩头与桩身软硬土层分界面处均会产生较大的运动弯矩;上部结构的惯性荷载对固定桩头的内力有着较大影响,对桩身深处段弯矩影响较小。本文研究结论可为预应力混凝土管桩抗震设计提供有益的理论参考。     

Centrifuge modeling of batter pile foundations under earthquake excitation

Although batter pile foundations are widely used in civil engineering structures, their behavior under seismic loadings is not yet thoroughly understood. This paper provides insights about the differences in the behavior of batter and vertical piles under seismic soil-pile-superstructure interaction. An experimental dynamic centrifuge program is presented, where the influences of the base shaking signal and the height of the gravity center of the superstructure are investigated. Various seismic responses are analyzed (displacement and rotation of the pile cap, total shear force at the pile cap level, overturning moment, residual bending moment, total bending moment and axial forces in piles). It is found that in certain cases batter piles play a beneficial role on the seismic behavior of the pile foundation system. The performance of batter piles depends not only on the characteristics of the earthquakes (frequency content and amplitude) but also on the type of superstructures they support. This novel experimental work provides a new experimental database to better understand the behavior of batter pile foundations in seismic regions.     

液化土中桩基础动力反应试验研究

本文设计完成了包括三种密度饱和砂土和非液化干砂的多工况桩-土相互作用振动台动力试验,研究液化对土体和桩-承台动力反应的影响。通过试验和分析,得到了液化和非液化土层中土体水平加速度、侧向位移和桩-承台的水平加速度、侧向位移、桩身弯矩等指标的反应过程和模式,对比了液化和非液化条件对这些指标的影响方式,提出了各因素影响大小的分析结果。