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.     

Mitigation measures for pile groups behind quay walls subjected to lateral flow of liquefied soil: Shake table model tests

This paper presents experimental results of a series of 1g shake table tests on mitigation measures for a model consisting of a 3×3 pile group and a sheet-pile quay wall in which the pile group was subjected to liquefaction-induced lateral spreading. First, general observations associated with the mechanism of lateral spreading and pile response are presented based on tests without remedial measures, followed by in depth discussions. Second, three remedial techniques were deployed to provide an adequate seismic performance of the pile group and the quay wall: (i) mitigating sheet pile of floating type, (ii) mitigating sheet pile of fixed end type, and (iii) anchoring the quay wall to a new pile row. The main objective of these mitigation methods was to restrict ground distortion behind the quay wall, enhancing seismic response of pile group and quay wall. This mitigation philosophy was decided based on the outcome of the first part, which consisted of a series of tests without mitigation measures. In addition, it should be noted that the proposed countermeasures were selected to be applicable for existing vulnerable pile groups, which are at risk of liquefaction and lateral spreading. Results of different mitigation tests are comparatively examined using a parameter called reduction factor, and the effectiveness of each countermeasure is discussed in detail. The results demonstrate that by applying the proposed mitigation measures the seismic performance of both pile group and quay wall can be improved, as a result of reduction in soil displacement and velocity of soil flow.     

Remediation of piled foundations against lateral spreading by passive site stabilization technique

Physical modeling tests were conducted on pile foundations to measure the seismic performance of a new ground improvement technology, called passive site stabilization, for use on sites susceptible to liquefaction and liquefaction-induced lateral spreading. The method involves the slow injection of a low-viscosity stabilizer in conjunction with the natural groundwater flow. The effectiveness of the treatment using dilute colloidal silica as the stabilizer was tested by two centrifuge models that simulated soil–pile interaction of a 2×2 end-bearing pile group embedded in a multilayer soil deposit of 10-m thickness. The models utilized a laminar box and involved gently inclined soil profiles with and without the applied soil improvement. Response of the pile groups and the lateral spreading behaviors of the treated and untreated soil under a simulated base shaking were investigated and compared. The results showed that treatment with dilute colloidal silica stabilizer minimized permanent lateral deformations and reduced the liquefaction potential of the soil. Significant reductions occurred in the measured pile bending moments and axial forces because the layer treated with dilute colloidal silica did not liquefy. Thus, the technique can be an alternative to traditional methods of ground improvement.     

Interpretation from large-scale shake table tests on piles undergoing lateral spreading in liquefied soils

Results from a benchmark test on full-scale piles are used to investigate the response of piles to lateral spreading. In the experiment, two single piles, a relatively flexible pile that moves together with the surrounding soil and a relatively stiff pile that does not follow the ground movement have been subjected to large post-liquefaction ground displacement simulating piles in laterally spreading soils. The observed response of the piles is first presented and then the results are used to examine the lateral loads on the pile from a non-liquefied soil at the ground surface and to evaluate the stiffness characteristics of the spreading soils. The measured ultimate lateral pressure from the crust soil on the stiff pile was about 4.5 times the Rankine passive pressure. The back-calculated stiffness of the liquefied soil was found to be in the range between 1/30 and 1/80 of the initial stiffness of the soil showing gradual decrease in the course of lateral spreading.     

近岸水平场地液化侧向大变形影响因素分析

利用改进的软化模量分析方法,对近岸水平场地液化侧向大变形进行数值计算,以研究地震波波形和幅值大小、液化、竖向地震动对侧向大变形的影响。结果表明:不同的地震波作用下,即使峰值加速度相同,液化程度与侧移距离也可能有较大不同,表现了土体变形的强非线性性质,但大地震下液化导致的侧移几乎都在米的量级上;计算区域中无液化区时,岸壁侧向永久位移很小,在几公分左右,随水平峰值加速度及不同地震动输入改变不大;计算区域中有液化区时,岸壁侧向永久位移显著增大,且随输入水平峰值加速度的增大而明显增大,其机理是强地震动使液化范围加大;水平竖向两向地震动输入与单独水平地震动输入相比,前者场地液化范围增大,平均增大42%,侧移量增加,平均增加37%。     

Parametric analysis of single pile response in laterally spreading ground

Extensive damage to pile-supported structures has been witnessed in several recent earthquakes (Chi-Chi, 1999; Kobe, 1995, etc.), as a result of liquefaction-induced lateral spreading of slightly sloping ground or free-face topographic irregularities. This paper presents a parametric analysis of the basic pile and soil parameters, as well as the pile-soil interaction mechanisms affecting the response of single piles subjected to such lateral spreading, based on numerical simulation with the nonlinear P-y method. In parallel, a set of design charts and analytical relations is established, for approximate computation of maximum pile deflections and bending moments, using a “theory guided” multi-variable statistical analysis of the numerical predictions. Three different combinations (design cases) of pile head constraints and soil conditions were considered, which are commonly encountered in practice. The overall accuracy of the proposed analytical relations is evaluated against experimental results from seven centrifuge and five large shaking table experiments.     

Liquefaction-induced ground deformations at Hotel Sapanca during Kocaeli (Izmit),Turkey earthquake

This paper presents a study of liquefaction-induced ground deformations at the Hotel Sapanca site during the 1999 Kocaeli (Izmit)—Turkey earthquake. The paper discusses: (1) observed ground deformations and displacements after the earthquake, (2) the results of field investigations by means of borings and in situ index tests including standard penetration tests (SPT), static cone penetration tests (CPT) and piezocone (CPTU) tests, (3) analyses of observed ground settlements and lateral deformations by a suite of methods, and (4) comparisons of observed and calculated ground movements.     

Numerical simulations of shake-table experiment for dynamic soil-pile-structure interaction in liquefiable soils

A shake-table experiment on pile foundations in liquefi able soils composed of liquefi able sand and overlying soft clay is studied. A three-dimensional(3D) effective stress fi nite element(FE) analysis is employed to simulate the experiment. A recently developed multi-surface elasto-plastic constitutive model and a fully coupled dynamic inelastic FE formulation(u-p) are used to model the liquefaction behavior of the sand. The soil domains are discretized using a solid-fl uid fully coupled(u-p) 20-8 noded brick element. The pile is simulated using beam-column elements. Upon careful calibration, very good agreement is obtained between the computed and the measured dynamic behavior of the ground and the pile. A parametric analysis is also conducted on the model to investigate the effect of pile-pinning, pile diameter, pile stiffness, ground inclination angle, superstructure mass and pile head restraints on the ground improvement. It is found that the pile foundation has a noticeable pinning effect that reduces the lateral soil displacement. It is observed that a larger pile diameter and fi xed pile head restraints contribute to decreasing the lateral pile deformation; however, a higher ground inclination angle tends to increase the lateral pile head displacements and pile stiffness, and superstructure mass seems to effectively infl uence the lateral pile displacements.     

Performance of laterally loaded H-piles in sand

Results from experimental testing of four approximately one-third scale laterally loaded H-piles, subjected to monotonic and cyclic loading are presented. The test setups were designed to prevent torsion in the pile during testing and to eliminate the self-weight of the hydraulic actuator that could otherwise induce moment on the model piles. The tests were conducted in compacted medium dense sand and all the piles were extensively instrumented. Test results indicate that the lateral force–displacement responses under cyclic loading exhibited slight pinching behavior due to the gap that opened at the top of the soil-pile interface. Numerical simulations show that p–y curves based on the American Petroleum Institute (API) recommendations and that proposed by Reese et al. can reasonably predict the lateral response of the piles though slightly underestimate the ultimate capacities. The general pile behavior such as force–displacement response and moment distributions along the pile depth show slight sensitivity to the subgrade reaction modulus at large displacements.     

Cyclic behavior of laterally loaded concrete piles embedded into cohesive soil

Modern seismic design codes stipulate that the response analysis should be conducted by considering the complete structural system including superstructure, foundation, and ground. However, for the development of seismic response analysis method for a complete structural system, it is first imperative to clarify the behavior of the soil and piles during earthquakes. In this study, full‐scale monotonic and reversed cyclic lateral loading tests were carried out on concrete piles embedded into the ground. The test piles were hollow, precast, prestressed concrete piles with an outer diameter of 300 mm and a thickness of 60 mm. The test piles were 26 m long. Three‐dimensional (3D) finite element analysis was then performed to study the behavior of the experimental specimens analytically. The study revealed that the lateral load‐carrying capacity of the piles degrades when subjected to cyclic loading compared with monotonic loading. The effect of the use of an interface element between the soil and pile surface in the analysis was also investigated. With proper consideration of the constitutive models of soil and pile, an interface element between the pile surface and the soil, and the degradation of soil stiffness under cyclic loading, a 3D analysis was found to simulate well the actual behavior of pile and soil. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Shaking table tests on the lateral response of a pile buried in liquefied sand

This paper presents an experimental study on the lateral resistance of a pile subjected to liquefaction-induced lateral flow. To observe the soil surrounding the pile during liquefaction, it was modeled as a buried cylinder that corresponded to a sectional model of the prototype pile at a certain depth in the subsoil. In order to create a realistic stress condition in the model ground, the model was prepared in a sealed container and the overburden pressure was applied to the ground surface by a rubber pressure bag. The model pile was actuated back and forth through rods attached on each side by an electro-hydraulic actuator.This paper focuses on observing the deformation of the liquefied soil surrounding the pile when a large relative displacement between the pile and the soil is induced. The loading rate effect on the lateral resistance of the pile in the liquefied sand and the influence of the relative density are also investigated.Test results show that a larger resistance is mobilized as the loading rate becomes higher. When the loading rate is higher, the cylinder displacement required for the lateral resistance becomes smaller. It has been also observed that as the relative density of the soil increases, dilatancy of the soil in front of the pile also increases.     

液化场地上土体侧向变形对桩基影响研究评述

总结了地震作用下桩基震害现象以及桩-土-结构动力相互作用、液化引起地面侧向扩展对桩基的影响方面理论模型和分析方法的研究现状,指出了存在的问题,讨论了今后的发展趋势。     

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.     

强震作用下桩-土-断层非线性动力相互作用特性

为研究强震区跨断层桥梁桩基非线性动力相互作用特性,依托海文大桥实体工程,利用MIDAS/GTS有限元软件,建立了桩-土-断层相互作用模型,分析0.20~0.60g地震动强度下断层上下盘桩基加速度响应、桩顶水平位移、桩身弯矩以及桩身剪力响应情况。结果表明:覆盖层土体对桩身加速度放大作用明显,且随着输入地震动强度的增大,放大作用逐渐减弱;覆盖层对地震波的滤波作用显著,随着输入地震动强度的增大,滤波作用逐渐减弱;上盘桩基达到桩顶峰值加速度的时刻滞后于下盘;随着输入地震动强度的增大,上、下盘桩的桩顶产生的永久位移和水平位移峰值逐渐变大,上盘桩顶产生的永久位移和桩顶峰值位移均大于下盘,产生显著的"上盘效应";不同强度地震动作用下,断层上、下盘桩基弯矩均在上部土层界面处达到峰值,剪力均在基岩面处达到峰值,下盘桩基弯矩和剪力峰值大于上盘桩基,呈现出显著的"下盘效应"。在桥梁桩基抗震设计时,应着重考虑断层上、下盘桩基的差异和不同强度地震作用对桩基承载特性的影响。     

A Study of Piles during Earthquakes: Issues of Design and Analysis

The seismic response of pile foundations is a very complex process involving inertial interaction between structure and pile foundation, kinematic interaction between piles and soils, seismically induced pore-water pressures (PWP) and the non-linear response of soils to strong earthquake motions. In contrast, very simple pseudo-static methods are used in engineering practice to determine response parameters for design. These methods neglect several of the factors cited above that can strongly affect pile response. Also soil–pile interaction is modelled using either linear or non-linear springs in a Winkler computational model for pile response. The reliability of this constitutive model has been questioned. In the case of pile groups, the Winkler model for analysis of a single pile is adjusted in various ways by empirical factors to yield a computational model for group response. Can the results of such a simplified analysis be adequate for design in all situations?The lecture will present a critical evaluation of general engineering practice for estimating the response of pile foundations in liquefiable and non-liquefiable soils during earthquakes. The evaluation is part of a major research study on the seismic design of pile foundations sponsored by a Japanese construction company with interests in performance based design and the seismic response of piles in reclaimed land. The evaluation of practice is based on results from field tests, centrifuge tests on model piles and comprehensive non-linear dynamic analyses of pile foundations consisting of both single piles and pile groups. Studies of particular aspects of pile–soil interaction were made. Piles in layered liquefiable soils were analysed in detail as case histories show that these conditions increase the seismic demand on pile foundations. These studies demonstrate the importance of kinematic interaction, usually neglected in simple pseudo-static methods. Recent developments in designing piles to resist lateral spreading of the ground after liquefaction are presented. A comprehensive study of the evaluation of pile cap stiffness coefficients was undertaken and a reliable method of selecting the single value stiffnesses demanded by mainstream commercial structural software was developed. Some other important findings from the study are: the relative effects of inertial and kinematic interactions between foundation and soil on acceleration and displacement spectra of the super-structure; a method for estimating whether inertial interaction is likely to be important or not in a given situation and so when a structure may be treated as a fixed based structure for estimating inertial loads; the occurrence of large kinematic moments when a liquefied layer or naturally occurring soft layer is sandwiched between two hard layers; and the role of rotational stiffness in controlling pile head displacements, especially in liquefiable soils. The lecture concludes with some recommendations for practice that recognize that design, especially preliminary design, will always be based on simplified procedures.     

砂土中单桩基础冲刷的修正应变楔计算

由冲刷引起的深水结构物桩基础周围土体损失致使基础水平承载性能下降的问题越发受到重视。应变楔方法假设桩前土体抵抗为三维楔形体,其尺寸发展与楔形体区域土体发挥的内摩擦角有关,从而得到水平受荷桩的p-y曲线。本文对应变楔方法进行修正和拓展,建立非线性位移假设以考虑桩前楔形体区域土体应变沿深度的非均匀分布,将冲刷坑底以上土体的有效自重作用等效为竖向荷载,对楔形体的深度进行修正,以解决楔形体方法只适用于地表水平的情况,得到砂土中单桩基础冲刷的修正应变楔计算方法;并通过与模型试验及三维有限元分析的对比来验证该方法的合理性。分析结果表明:冲刷深度增加会显著降低桩基水平承载性能,冲刷深度3.2D和6.4D情况下的桩顶位移比平均值分别趋近于1.8和3.0;相比有限元方法,本文修正SW方法计算的p-y曲线结果与实测结果更为接近。     

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.     

桩基础抗震性能的简易评价方法

桩基础的抗震性能可从承载力和变形两方面来评价.承载力可考虑地震时作用于结构上的荷载组合,多采用拟静力法进行分析,不同因素变异的影响可用概率分析或可靠度方法予以考虑.变形分析多为按承载力设计之后的校核,其中地震力和土体参数以及地质条件等因素影响可分别加以评估.本文着重阐明基于一维波动方程和概率分析的桩基抗震性能实用分析方法,并以桥梁桩基础为例进行讨论,其中考虑的关键因素为设计地震加速度、测站记录、基桩尺寸及其配筋率.研究表明,当土层液化可忽略时最大弯矩会发生在桩顶,故增加桩顶延性可有效提升桩基础的抗震性能.     

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。     

Experimental p-y curves for liquefied soils from centrifuge tests

The present study aims to obtain p-y curves(Winkler spring properties for lateral pile-soil interaction) for liquefied soil from 12 comprehensive centrifuge test cases where pile groups were embedded in liquefiable soil. The p-y curve for fully liquefied soil is back-calculated from the dynamic centrifuge test data using a numerical procedure from the recorded soil response and strain records from the instrumented pile. The p-y curves were obtained for two ground conditions:(a) lateral spreading of liquefied soil, and(b) liquefied soil in level ground. These ground conditions are simulated in the model by having collapsing and non-collapsing intermittent boundaries, which are modelled as quay walls. The p-y curves back-calculated from the centrifuge tests are compared with representative reduced API p-y curves for liquefied soils(known as p-multiplier). The response of p-y curves at full liquefaction is presented and critical observations of lateral pile-soil interaction are discussed. Based on the results of these model tests, guidance for the construction of p-y curves for use in engineering practice is also provided.