Field loading tests of screw micropiles under axial cyclic and monotonic loads

Unlike conventional grouted micropiles, screw micropiles have been recently introduced to the foundation industry. Full-scale field tests of screw micropiles were carried out at a cohesive soil site. The screw micropiles have a diameter varying from 76 to 114 mm and a length varying from 1.6 to 3 m, and spiral threads welded on the lower half of the steel tubular shaft. Site investigation from cone penetration tests (CPT) and laboratory testing implies that the soil was medium to stiff, low plasticity clay. Six axial monotonic and three axial cyclic load tests were performed on three micropiles. One micropile was instrumented with strain gauges to investigate the shaft load distribution during loading. The axial cyclic loading was intended to simulate cyclic inertia load during vertical ground motions. Results showed that the micropiles behave as frictional piles during monotonic tests; the unit shaft resistance and adhesion coefficient were calculated and compared with results in the literature. The end installation torque was estimated using CPT shaft resistance and was shown to agree reasonably with the measured torque. Under axial cyclic loading, the micropiles underwent small cumulative displacements and the magnitude of the displacement decreased with increasing pile length and diameter. Cyclic loading redistributed the load transfer along different segments of the micropile. Negative skin resistance was observed along the smooth pile shaft when the pile underwent decreasing axial loading.

     

Study of compressive loading capacities of helical piles using torque method and induced settlements

Torque is a most widely used method to estimate the load capacities of helical piles because of its simplicity and minimal costs. This research attempts to investigate the torque method by incorporating settlements and involves its comparison with bearing equations which have also been used to estimate the capacities of helical piles. The test program consisted of installation of seven helical piles including a static axial compression test to estimate the corresponding settlements. The compression test was conducted on the seventh pile which is referred to as the test pile. The load movement curve of the test pile is used to predict the settlement of each pile corresponding to the ultimate load calculated using torque method. In addition, few methods to interpret the load movement curve have been discussed. This research would pave way to yield more reliable results using torque method and could lead to the large-scale usage of helical piles.     

极限荷载下纵向截面异形桩破坏形式对比模型试验研究

由于基桩纵向截面形式的差异,竖向荷载作用下桩侧摩阻力和桩端阻力发挥存在明显的差异,尽管纵向截面异形桩在工程中得到了一定的应用,然而针对极限荷载下桩端和桩侧土体破坏形式的研究却相对较少。基于透明土材料和粒子图像测速（particle image velocimetry）技术,针对等体积的扩底楔形桩、楔形桩和等截面桩的承载特性及破坏形式进行对比模型试验,测得桩顶荷载-沉降曲线,研究了各级荷载下桩端和桩侧土体位移场的变化规律以及极限荷载下桩端和桩侧土体的破坏形式;同时分析了不同桩长情况下各类型桩的承载力特性。研究结果表明,在此试验条件下,扩底楔形桩的极限承载力约为常规楔形桩的3.5倍和等截面桩的2.5倍;极限荷载作用下各类型纵向截面异形桩桩端的破坏形式规律基本一致。     

高速铁路超长桥桩承载特性试验研究

超长桩广泛已应用于土木工程各个领域,但黄土地区超长桩的承载性状和变形特性尚不十分清楚,需要进一步研究。通过对郑西铁路客运专线某特大桥的4根超长桩现场测试项目的资料分析,得出了超长桩桩身轴力及侧阻力的变化规律,对超长桩的承载特性有了更为清晰的了解。试验结果表明,在桩顶竖向荷载作用下,桩身轴力随荷载的增加发生了局部调整,砂性土层的桩侧摩阻力具有增强效应,黏性土层的桩侧摩阻力具有退化效应;单桩竖向刚度随桩顶荷载的增加而减小,单桩竖向刚度降低40 %～70 %。     

能源桩与周围土体之间荷载传递模型的改进及其桩身承载特性研究

桩-土相互作用问题是岩土工程桩基础问题的关键点与难点,目前针对桩身在循环温度荷载与上覆结构荷载双重作用下的能源桩承载特性研究较少。在传统理想弹塑性模型及双曲线模型的基础上,采用分段非线性的方法对桩-土荷载传递骨干曲线进行了修正,并基于Masing’s循环准则,提出了适用于能源桩的桩-土荷载传递模型。利用改进的桩-土荷载传递模型对能源桩承载特性进行数值分析,着重研究了桩-土荷载传递参数比R对能源桩受力情况的影响。此外,为了探究在上覆结构荷载及循环温度荷载双重作用下,能源桩与周围土体之间的真实荷载传递关系及其结构热力学特性,开展了针对能源桩与周围土体之间相互作用问题的室内模型试验,监测了其桩身轴向应力及侧摩阻力随温度及深度变化的趋势,并与基于改进荷载传递模型的数值计算结果进行了对比。室内模型试验监测及数值计算结果显示：能源桩在上覆结构荷载及温度循环荷载双重作用下,其受力行为受改进的桩-土荷载传递循环曲线控制;基于改进的桩-土荷载传递循环曲线而建立的数值模型计算结果与试验结果基本吻合,改进的桩-土荷载传递模型能够较好发地反映能源桩实际的承载特性。     

Response of Pile Groups Driven in Sand Subjected to Combined Loads

Although the loads applied on piles are usually a combination of both vertical and lateral loads, very limited experimental research has been done on the response of pile groups subjected to combined loads. Due to pile–soil–pile interaction in pile groups, the response of a pile group may differ substantially from that of a single pile. This difference depends on soil state and pile spacing. This paper presents results of experiments designed to investigate pile interaction effects on the response of pile groups subjected to both axial and lateral loads. The experiments were load tests performed on model pile groups (2 × 2 pile groups) in calibration chamber sand samples. The model piles were driven into the sand samples prepared with different relative densities using a sand pluviator. The combined load tests were performed on the model pile groups subjected to different axial load levels, i.e., 0 (pure lateral loading), 25, 50, and 75% of the ultimate axial load capacity of the pile groups, defined as the load corresponding to a settlement of 10% of the model pile diameter. The combined load test results showed that the bending moment and lateral deflection at the head of the piles increased substantially for tests performed in the presence of axial loads, suggesting that the presence of axial loads on groups of piles driven in sand is detrimental to their lateral capacity.     

Static Equilibrium of Screw Anchor Pile Under Lateral Load in Sands

The screw anchor piles are installed in ground by screwing which is done with the help of torque motors. In this paper, the lateral load capacity of screw anchor piles is examined through an experimental investigation carried on model piles embedded in dry sand. The tests were carried on screw anchor piles with different number of helices provided in continuation. Lateral loads were applied at different height above the soil surface. The embedment length of screw anchor piles was also varied to study the behaviour of screw anchor piles under lateral loads. Some tests were conducted on plain shaft pile to compare the lateral load capacity of screw anchor piles with that of plain shaft piles. An empirical equation for computation of lateral loads has been developed considering lateral resistance, bearing resistance, uplift resistance and lateral resistance offered by soil in pile on the basis of experimental results. A theoretical model for predicting lateral load capacity of screw anchor piles in dry sand, consistent with the experimental findings has been developed in this study.     

Effect of Compressive Load on Uplift Capacity of Cast-Insitu Bored Piles

Field tests were conducted to study the effect of compressive loading on the uplift capacity of single piles embedded in silty sand. The test program consists of four instrumented cast in situ axial pile load tests in compression, pure tension and tension with 25 and 50% of compressive load of ultimate capacity in compression. The experimental results indicate that the net ultimate uplift capacity of single pile decreases with increase in compressive load. The shaft friction is non linear in nature. It observed that as the compressive load increases the shaft friction along the length of pile decreases.     

循环荷载下圆柱形桩与楔形桩复合地基工作性状对比试验研究

为探讨循环荷载作用下夯实水泥土圆柱形桩与夯实水泥土楔形桩复合地基工作性状的差异,通过室内模型试验,并在桩顶及桩周土表面埋设微型土压力盒,进行循环荷载下夯实水泥土圆柱形桩和楔形桩的4桩复合地基及单纯软土地基工作性状对比试验,探讨循环应力比和加载周数对夯实水泥土圆柱形桩和楔形桩复合地基永久沉降、桩-土应力比的影响规律。研究软土地基加固方法对永久沉降和桩-土应力比的影响,揭示了循环应力比与桩-土应力比的关系。研究结果表明：采用夯实水泥土桩加固软土地基,能提高地基的临界循环应力比,增强地基抵抗循环荷载的能力;在相同的加荷周数和循环应力比的加载条件下,采用夯实水泥土楔形桩加固软土地基对降低地基永久沉降的效果比采用夯实水泥土圆柱形桩的效果要好,且楔形桩的楔角越大,降低永久沉降的效果越明显。循环应力比越大,桩-土应力比越大;桩-土应力比随楔形桩楔角的增大而增大,随加载周数的增加而降低,并存在一临界加载周数;当加载周数小于临界周数时,桩-土应力比随加载周数迅速降低;当加载周数超过临界周数时,桩-土应力比几乎不随加载周数的变化而变化。     

能量桩单桩工作特性简化分析方法

基于荷载传递法,建立了热力耦合作用下能量桩单桩工作特性的简化分析方法。该方法中将桩-土荷载传递函数取为双曲线,采用曼辛法则模拟温度循环过程中桩-土界面的卸载和再加载特性,通过再加载过程中刚度的折减近似考虑塑性变形的积累。利用矩阵位移法求解控制方程组后可直接得到任意温度-力学组合作用下的桩体变形、桩身轴力、桩侧阻力和桩端阻力,无需事先假设温度位移零点的位置。通过与试验数据的对比分析,验证了所提方法的可靠性。结合算例,研究了能量桩的长期工作特性。结果表明,温度循环会造成自由桩的桩顶沉降增加,固定桩的桩顶应力减小,温度循环的影响与桩顶静力荷载水平和土体刚度的衰减程度密切相关。     

珊瑚礁地层中PHC桩原位静载试验研究

珊瑚地层是钙质砂和礁灰岩的统称。在珊瑚地层中开展预应力高强度混凝土管桩（PHC桩）的原位堆载测试,分析了桩?珊瑚地质的相互作用规律。采用光纤光栅传感技术采集加载过程中的试桩桩身应变,由计算获取桩身轴力,分析加载过程中珊瑚地层中PHC桩基础的承载特性。试验结果表明,（1）桩?土响应处于线弹性阶段;（2）桩的承载发挥状态与入土深度显著相关,且入土深度超过15倍桩径时桩端阻力发挥峰值;（3）桩的安装方式几乎不影响其在珊瑚地层中的承载性能,但贯入能量的大小则显著影响;（4）入土深度和贯入能量的大小,影响珊瑚地质的破碎程度,颗粒破碎显著影响珊瑚地质中桩的承载发挥特性。通过原位测试可知在珊瑚地质中在贯入深度在15倍桩径以内,入土深度与桩端阻力正相关,与桩侧摩阻力反相关。     

End bearing capacity comparison of screw pile with straight pipe pile under similar ground conditions

In the present study, the end bearing capacity of screw and straight pipe pile under similar pile tip area and ground conditions were investigated. The effect of increasing overburden pressure was also considered in this research. Pile load tests on close-ended screw and straight pipe piles were conducted in the small scale. Dry Toyoura sand was used to develop the model ground. The sand was compacted at relative density of 70, 80 and 92 %. It was observed that in case of straight pipe pile, load settlement curve plunges downward without increase in load around settlement equals to 10 % of pile tip diameter, whereas in case of screw pile, the load settlement curve plunges around settlement equals to 15 % of pile tip diameter. Moreover, the screw piles having helix-to-shaft diameter ratio 2–4.1 showed 2–12 times higher end bearing capacity than straight pipe piles with similar pile shaft diameter. It was also observed from the test results that the end bearing capacity of single-helix screw pile was in average 16.25 % less than straight pipe pile with similar pile tip area and ground conditions irrespective of the effect of increasing overburden pressure.     

循环加载下X形桩竖向承载特性模型试验研究

实际工程中桩基经常受到各种动荷载作用,如高铁路基中的加固桩长期承受列车行车时产生的循环动荷载作用,桩基在循环荷载作用下的承载特性研究对动荷载下的工程设计至关重要。X形桩是一种在传统圆形截面桩基础上发展而来的新型异性桩技术,其承载机制不同于传统圆形截面桩。为了深入研究X形桩在循环荷载作用下的动力特性和荷载与沉降规律,开展了砂土中X形桩竖向循环加载大比尺模型试验。试验结果表明,随着循环加载的进行,X形桩顶产生累计沉降,且循环荷载比越大,加载频率越高,桩顶沉降越快;循环加载初期,X形桩顶动刚度降低,桩身轴力响应增大,桩侧摩阻力发生弱化,之后逐渐趋于稳定,且桩身下半段侧摩阻力较大;在同等加载条件下X形桩与等截面圆形桩相比,承受动荷载能力较强,桩侧摩阻力较大,长期循环加载作用下产生的累计位移较小。研究结果可为X形桩在动荷载作用下的工程设计提供参考依据。     

Analysis of kinematic seismic response of tapered piles

In the present work, a two-phase analysis is used to assess the lateral movement of a tapered pile due to kinematic seismic loading resulted from earthquakes. First, the free-field horizontal displacement of the ground due to earthquake is estimated using available theory of wave propagation. Second, these estimated soil movements are imposed on the taper pile in a closed-form solution to compute the pile response. The governing differential equation for an arbitrary pile segment is obtained, which includes the free-field horizontal movement estimated from the first phase. The equation is solved explicitly to obtain the horizontal deflection. Parametric studies show that tapered piles tend to be more flexible than uniform piles of the same volume and length under earthquake loading, which is soundly interesting.     

Shaft and base resistance of non-displacement piles in sand

This paper presents the results of three-dimensional, finite element analyses performed with an advanced, two-surface-plasticity, constitutive sand model to investigate the response of non-displacement piles to axial loading. The analysis domain is carefully meshed such that the formation and evolution of shear bands next to the pile shaft and near the pile base can be properly captured. Analyses considering various soil profiles and pile geometries show that the mobilized lateral earth pressure coefficient K along the pile shaft increases with increasing relative density and decreasing initial confining stress. The ultimate unit base resistance is independent of pile diameter, increasing with increasing relative density and increasing initial confining stress at the pile base. Based on the analysis results, design equations are proposed to estimate the limit shaft resistance and ultimate base resistance of non-displacement piles in sandy soil. In proposing these relationships, the pile slenderness ratio is considered. The effect of layer proximity to the base of the pile or pile base embedment in a layer is also considered.     

珊瑚砂地基中膨胀混凝土桩竖向受压承载性能研究

为研究珊瑚砂地基下膨胀混凝土桩竖向承载特性,开展了室内单桩竖向静载模型试验,分析了膨胀混凝土桩的单桩荷载-位移曲线以及轴力、桩侧摩阻力等沿桩长分布特性,与PLAXIS 3D软件数值模拟结果进行对比并探究了线膨胀率对承载特性的影响。结果表明：珊瑚砂中膨胀混凝土桩的荷载位移曲线呈现缓变型,在加载过程中,荷载主要由桩侧摩阻力承担,轴力随着深度的增加而减小,桩侧摩阻力随深度先增加后逐渐减小,随荷载的增加逐渐发挥作用。随着膨胀剂用量的增加,桩身线膨胀量逐渐增加,桩-土相互作用更加明显。添加25% HCSA型膨胀剂可提高近20%的极限承载力和56%的极限侧阻力,提高桩体线膨胀率可以有效提高桩的极限承载力和侧摩阻力。该研究可为珊瑚砂桩基工程设计提供参考。     

桩底注浆对钻孔灌注桩竖向承载性能的影响

依据某工程中采用桩底注浆和没有注浆的2根试桩的单桩竖向抗压静荷载试验结果,通过对基桩的竖向极限承载力性状、桩身轴力传递特性以及桩侧阻力发挥特性和桩端阻力发挥特性的综合分析研究,揭示了桩底注浆对基桩承载性状的影响情况。     

Prediction of the shaft resistance of nondisplacement piles in sand

Using pile segment analysis, the mobilized shaft resistance of axially loaded nondisplacement piles in sand is investigated here. It is accepted that the shaft capacity of piles constructed in granular soils is highly influenced by the mechanical behavior of soil–structure interfaces forming adjacent the piles skin. Adopting the thin interface layer as a load transfer mechanism, a simple but accurate critical state compatible interface constitutive model is introduced. After evaluation, the interface model in conjunction with the pile segment analysis is applied for the prediction of the shaft resistance mobilized in nondisplacement piles. The proposed approach takes into account the influences of pile diameter and surface roughness together with the effects of the surrounding soil density and stiffness on the mobilized shaft resistance. The performance of the proposed method is verified by comparing its predictions with the experimental data of various model piles covering wide ranges of length, diameter, roughness, and surrounding soil properties. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of helix bending deflection on load settlement behaviour of screw pile

A screw pile has higher end bearing capacity than any other straight pipe piles due to its larger helix with respect to central shaft. However, larger helices are not frequently used as it will bend and may reduce the actual bearing capacity of the ground. In the present study, the effect of helix bending deflection on the load settlement behaviour and ultimate bearing capacity is investigated. To achieve the objectives, model scale pile load tests were conducted. The effect of helix bending on the load settlement behaviour at higher stress level was also investigated in this research. The helices with different helix-to-shaft-diameter ratios and thicknesses were used, so that clear difference of deformed and non-deformed screw piles in the load settlement behaviour can be observed. Dry Toyoura sand in dense state was used as a model ground. It is observed from test results that the helix bending deflection starts affecting the load settlement behaviour of the ground if it is more than the critical helix bending deflection. The ratio of critical helix bending deflection to outstand length decreases with increase in helix-to-shaft-diameter ratio, and its relationship is presented in this study. It is also observed that the Roark’s formula for flat circular plate having uniform load over a very small circular area with fixed outer edges showed good agreement with the measured helix bending deflection. In order to estimate the optimum helix thickness, the well-agreed equation is also modified with respect to critical helix bending deflection.

     

Experimental investigation of the behavior of pile groups in sand under different loading rates

The behavior of pile groups in sand under different loading rates is investigated. A total of 60 tests were conducted in the laboratory using model steel piles embedded in a medium dense sand. The model piles have an outside diameter of 25 mm and embedment length of 500 mm. Five different configurations of pile groups (2 × 1, 3 × 1, 2 × 2, 2 × 3, 3 × 3) with center to center spacing between the piles of 3d, 6d and 9d (d is the pile diameter) were tested. The piles were subjected to axial compressive loads under four different loading rates: 1.0, 0.5, 0.1 and 0.05 mm/min. Test results indicated that the axial compressive capacity of pile group increases with the loading rate such that the pile capacity versus logarithm of loading rate data plot approximately along a straight line. The slope of this line increases as the number of piles in a group increases and it decreases by increasing the spacing between piles in a group.