Beam–solid contact formulation for finite element analysis of pile–soil interaction with arbitrary discretization

This paper presents an embedded beam formulation for discretization independent finite element (FE) analyses of interactions between pile foundations or rock anchors and the surrounding soil in geotechnical and tunneling engineering. Piles are represented by means of finite beam elements embedded within FEs for the soil represented by 3D solid elements. The proposed formulation allows consideration of piles and pile groups with arbitrary orientation independently from the FE discretization of the surrounding soil. The interface behavior between piles and the surrounding soil is represented numerically by means of a contact formulation considering skin friction as well as pile tip resistance. The pile–soil interaction along the pile skin is considered by means of a 3D frictional point‐to‐point contact formulation using the integration points of the beam elements and reference points arbitrarily located within the solid elements as control points. The ability of the proposed embedded pile model to represent groups of piles objected to combined axial and shear loading and their interactions with the surrounding soil is demonstrated by selected benchmark examples. The pile model is applied to the numerical simulation of shield driven tunnel construction in the vicinity of an existing building resting upon pile foundation to demonstrate the performance of the proposed model in complex simulation environments. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Embedded beam element with interaction surface for lateral loading of piles

This paper presents a numerical formulation of a three dimensional embedded beam element for the modeling of piles, which incorporates an explicit interaction surface between soil and pile. The formulation is herein implemented for lateral loading of piles but is able to represent soil–pile interaction phenomena in a general manner for different types of loading conditions or ground movements. The model assumes perfect adherence between beam and soil along the interaction surface. The paper presents a comparison of the results obtained by means of the present formulation and by means of a previously formulated embedded pile element without interaction surface, as well as reference semi‐analytical solutions and a fully 3D finite element (FE) model. It is seen that the proposed embedded element provides a better convergence behavior than a previously formulated embedded element and is able to reproduce key features of a full 3D FE model. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Three dimensional elasto‐plastic interface for embedded beam elements with interaction surface for the analysis of lateral loading of piles

This paper presents a numerical formulation for a three dimensional elasto‐plastic interface, which can be coupled with an embedded beam element in order to model its non‐linear interaction with the surrounding solid medium. The formulation is herein implemented for lateral loading of piles but is able to represent soil‐pile interaction phenomena in a general manner for different types of loading conditions or ground movements. The interface is formulated in order to capture localized material plasticity in the soil surrounding the pile within the range of small to moderate lateral displacements. The interface is formulated following two different approaches: (i) in terms of beam degrees of freedoms; and (ii) considering the displacement field of the solid domain. Each of these alternatives has its own advantages and shortcomings, which are discussed in this paper. The paper presents a comparison of the results obtained by means of the present formulation and by other well‐established analysis methods and test results published in the literature. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A hybrid element method for dynamics of piles and pile groups in transversely isotropic media

A hybrid analytical-numerical method is proposed for the dynamic analysis of single piles and pile groups embedded in semi-infinite transversely isotropic media. In the method proposed, the soil-pile system is modeled using finite elements combined with massless rigid radiation discs representing pile-soil-pile interaction. The elasto-dynamic response of the radiation discs buried at different depths in a transversely isotropic half-space is analytically derived in a transform domain using a set of complete potential functions. A Boussinesq-type loading distribution is introduced to act on the disc region to achieve the proper mode of deformation at the cross sections of piles. Numerical results and comparisons with known analytical/numerical solutions are presented, demonstrating the application of the method.     

Evaluation of models for laterally loaded piles

It is common in the analysis of piles under lateral loads to use a model of a beam on elastic foundation, or a finite element model with the pile represented by a one dimensional beam–column with its axis coinciding with the central line of the finite element mesh. In both cases the lateral stiffness of the pile itself, as a structural element, is a function of the product of its Young’s modulus of elasticity by the moment of inertia of the cross section (EI). For solid piles the moment of inertia is directly related to the radius but this is not the case when dealing with hollow piles where the value of the radius corresponding to a given moment of inertia is not unique. Both of the above models ignore the effect of the value of the radius of the soil cavity occupied by the pile. In this work a more accurate model of the pile with the soil around it represented. A consistent boundary matrix valid for static and dynamic analyses is used to evaluate the accuracy of the results provided by the model of a beam on elastic foundation. In addition, a 1D model of the pile is analyzed with finite elements for the soil. This analysis considers a fixed value of the product EI, but a variable radius in order to illustrate the importance of the radial dimension. Results are obtained for a pile fixed at the bottom, but long enough so that the top boundary conditions do not affect the results and for a shorter floating pile were the shear and moment at the bottom resulting from the underlying soil would not be zero. For the beam on elastic foundation model, the top of the pile was assumed to be fixed.     

Axial and lateral response of pile groups embedded in nonhomogeneous soils

A numerical method of analysis based on elasticity theory is presented for the analysis of axially and laterally loaded pile groups embedded in nonhomogeneous soils. The problem is decomposed into two systems, namely the group piles acted upon by external applied loads and pile–soil interaction forces, and a layered soil continuum acted upon by a system of pile–soil interaction forces at the imaginary positions of the piles. The group piles are discretized into discrete elements while the nonhomogeneous soil behaviour is determined from an economically viable finite element procedure. The load–deformation relationship of the pile group system is then determined by considering the equilibrium of the pile–soil interaction forces, and the compatibility of the pile and soil displacements. The influence of soil nonlinearity can be studied by limiting the soil forces at the pile–soil interface, and redistributing the ‘excess forces’ by an ‘initial stress’ process popular in elasto-plastic finite element analysis. The solutions from this approach are compared with some available published solutions for single piles and pile groups in homogeneous and nonhomogeneous soils. A limited number of field tests on pile groups are studied, and show that, in general, the computed response compares favourably with the field measurements.     

Vertical loads effect on the lateral pile group resistance in sand

Vertical loads effect on the lateral response of a 3×5 pile group embedded in sand is studied through a two-dimensional finite element analysis. The soil-pile interaction in three-dimensional type is idealized in the two-dimensional analysis using soil-pile interaction springs with a hysteretic nonlinear load displacement relationship. Vertical loads inducing a vertical pile head displacement of 0.1-pile diameter increase the lateral resistance of the single pile at a 60 mm lateral deflection by 8%. Vertical loads inducing the same vertical displacement applied to a pile group spaced at 3.92-pile diameter increase the overall lateral resistance by 9%. The effect on individual piles, however, depends on the pile position. The vertical load decreases the lateral resistance of the leading pile (pile 1) by 10% and increases the lateral resistances of piles 2, 3, 4, and 5 by 9%, 14%, 17%, and 35%, respectively. Vertical loads applied to the pile group increase the confining pressures in the sand deposit confined by the piles but the rate of increase in those outside the group is relatively small, resulting in the difference in a balance of lateral soil pressures acting at the back of and in front of the individual pile.     

Expanded superposition method for impedance functions of inclined‐pile groups

This paper presents a superposition method expanded for computing impedance functions (IFs) of inclined‐pile groups. Closed‐form solutions for obtaining horizontal, vertical, and rocking IFs, estimated by using pile‐to‐pile interaction factors, are proposed. IFs of solitary inclined piles, crossed IFs, and explicit incorporation of compatibility conditions for pile‐head movements are also appropriately taken into consideration. All of these factors should be known in advance and will be computed and shown for the most relevant cases. The accuracy of the proposed closed‐form solutions is verified for 2 × 2 and 3 × 3 square inclined‐pile groups embedded in an isotropic viscoelastic homogeneous half‐space soil medium, with hysteretic damping. The pile‐to‐pile interaction factors are computed by means of a three‐dimensional time‐harmonic boundary elements–finite elements coupling formulation. The results indicate that the IFs obtained from the proposed method are in good agreement with those obtained from the coupling formulation. Furthermore, crossed vertical‐rocking IFs of solitary piles need to be appropriately considered for obtaining rocking IFs when the number of piles is small. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A variationally consistent hyperstatic reaction method for tunnel lining design

In this technical note, a consistent finite element formulation of the Hyperstatic Reaction Method (HRM) for tunnel linings design is proposed by introducing a variational consistently linearized formulation. It permits to consider a nonlinear interaction between a lining structure and the surrounding ground. Recent advances of the HRM in regard to the consideration of the nonlinear response of the segmented tunnel lining exposed to design loads use an iterative algorithm for solving the nonlinear system of equations. In the proposed Variationally consistent Hyperstatic Reaction Method (VHRM), a distributed nonlinear spring model representing the interaction between the lining and the ground soils is considered in a variationally consistent format. Computing the tangential spring stiffness via consistent linearization, and using Newton-Raphson iteration, requires significantly smaller number of iterations as compared to the original HRM model based on nodal springs. Furthermore, the method is applicable for simulations using solid finite elements (2D and 3D), as well as beam or finite shell elements, respectively.     

地震作用下饱和土-桩-上部结构动力相互作用研究

将土体视为液固两相多孔介质,利用连续介质力学得到了饱和土层的水平动力阻抗,将上部结构视为梁单元,桩-饱和土-桩之间的动力相互作用借助于等效的Winkler动力弹簧和波的干涉来模拟,并通过承台处力的平衡将群桩和上部结构耦合起来,研究了简谐SH地震波作用下饱和土-桩-上部结构的动力相互作用问题。以2×2群桩为例,对饱和土-桩-上部结构体系进行了数值分析,讨论有关参数对结构体系动力特性特别是抗震性能的影响。数值分析表明,桩间距、桩-土弹性模量比、长径比等对结构体系的抗震性能有较大影响。桩间距对地震放大系数的影响与外界激励的频率有关,桩土模量比较小、结构和桩基的阻尼较大时结构体系的抗震效果较好,长径比越大地震作用下产生的结构变形越大     

考虑应力扩散时桩端土性对单桩沉降影响分析方法

基于虚土桩模型,分析了层状地基中桩端土性对单桩沉降特性的影响。首先,以虚土桩扩散角反映桩端土层应力扩散效应,将桩端一定锥角范围内由桩端至基岩面的土体视为虚土桩,并根据其变截面特性,将虚土桩沿纵向划分为有限个微元段。然后,对桩及虚土桩桩侧土体采用理想弹塑性荷载传递模型,利用荷载传递法,推导了层状地基中以桩侧土塑性发展深度为变量的单桩荷载-沉降递推计算方法,并进一步得到了桩身轴力及桩侧摩阻力递推计算式。在此基础上,给出了荷载传递模型参数选取方法,并分析了虚土桩临界深度的影响因素及由实测荷载-沉降曲线反演虚土桩扩散角的可行性。最后,利用该方法分析了桩端沉渣和软弱下卧层对荷载-沉降曲线的影响。结果表明,考虑桩端土层应力扩散效应时,通过计算得到的桩顶及桩端荷载-沉降曲线与实测曲线吻合较好;当桩端存在沉渣或软弱下卧层时,采用虚土桩模型的单桩沉降计算方法可以在一定程度上反映沉渣特性及软弱下卧层埋深等因素对桩顶荷载-沉降曲线的影响。     

Elastostatic response of a pile embedded in a transversely isotropic half‐space under transverse loading

In the framework of elastostatics, a mathematical treatment is presented for the boundary value problem of the interaction of a flexible cylindrical pile embedded in a transversely isotropic half‐space under transverse loadings. Taking the pile region as a stiffened subdomain of an extended half‐space, the formulation of the interaction problem is reduced to a Fredholm integral equation of the second kind. The necessary set of Green's functions for the transversely isotropic half‐space is obtained by means of a method of potentials. The resulting Green's functions are incorporated into a numerical procedure for the solution of the integral equation. The theoretical response of the pile is presented in terms of bending moment, displacement and slope profiles for a variety of transversely isotropic materials so that the effect of different anisotropy parameters can be meaningfully discussed. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Application of a continuum numerical model for pile driving analysis and comparison with a real case

This paper presents the results of a so-called continuum numerical model for wave propagation analysis and soil-pile dynamic response during pile driving. An axisymmetric finite difference numerical model is developed having solid elements for both pile structure and the soil media surrounding and below the pile. Interface elements are used between the pile shaft and the soil to facilitate the sliding between the two media. The performance of the developed model is verified in two stages. First, a simple rod is subjected to a half sine-wave force function at the rod head and the corresponding reflections of force and velocity (multiplied by impedance) are presented for different boundary conditions at the rod tip. The model is then used for signal matching analysis of a real driven pile for which complete information of soil layering, dynamic test signals, and static load test results are available. The signal matching analysis was performed successfully and comparison between several other predicted and measured parameters proved the reasonably good performance of the developed continuum model.     

Dynamic analysis of an axially loaded pile embedded in elastic-poroelasitc layered soil of finite thickness

This paper presents an analytical solution for determining the dynamic characteristics of axially loaded piles embedded in elastic-poroelastic layered soil of finite thickness. The interface between the elastic and poroelastic soil coincides with the groundwater table level, which is explicitly taken into account in the solution. The pile is modelled as elastic one-dimensional rod to account for the effect of its dynamic characteristics on the response of the soil-pile system. The solution is based on Biot's poroelastodynamic theory and the classical elastodynamic theory, which we use to establish the governing equations of the soil and pile. Accordingly, the pile base resistance, shaft reaction, and the complex impedance of soil-pile system are obtained using the method of Hankel integral transformation. Following the validation of the derived solution, we identify the main parameters affecting the vertical dynamic impedance of the pile via a parametric study. The presented method poses as an efficient alternative for quickly estimating the dynamic characteristics of axially loaded piles, without having to resort to complex numerical analyses.     

Three-dimensional finite element study of a single pile response to multidirectional lateral loadings incorporating the simplified state-dependent dilatancy model

Waves and winds can induce lateral loads on piles, which are often multidirectional. The objective of this study is to investigate the response of a single pile subjected to unidirectional and multidirectional lateral loadings using the finite element analysis program ABAQUS. A simplified version of the state-dependent dilatancy model was implemented and embedded into the program to simulate the behavior of the soil around the pile. The results of the analyses indicate that the lateral resistance of the pile along one horizontal direction under multidirectional loading is lower than that under unidirectional loading. The degree of reduction of the resistance increases with the aspect ratio of the displacement path at the pile head. The directions of the force increment vector and the displacement increment vector are generally non-coaxial under multidirectional loading. The soil-pile interaction and soil responses under multidirectional loading are also significantly different than those under unidirectional loading.     

Uncoupled analysis of stabilizing piles in weathered slopes

This paper describes a simplified numerical approach for analyzing the slope/pile system subjected to lateral soil movements. The lateral one-row pile response above and below the critical surface is computed by using load transfer approach. The response of groups was analyzed by developing interaction factors obtained from a three-dimensional nonlinear finite element study. An uncoupled analysis was performed for stabilizing piles in slope in which the pile response and slope stability are considered separately. The non-linear characteristics of the soil–pile interaction in the stabilizing piles are modeled by hyperbolic load transfer curves. The Bishop's simplified method of slope stability analysis is extended to incorporate the soil-pile interaction and evaluate the safety factor of the reinforced slope. Numerical study is performed to illustrate the major influencing parameters on the pile-slope stability problem. Through comparative studies, it has been found that the factor of safety in slope is much more conservative for an uncoupled analysis than for a coupled analysis based on three-dimensional finite element analysis.     

An embedded bond-slip model for finite element modelling of soil–nail interaction

Soil nailing has been widely used as a reinforcing technique to retain excavations and stabilise slopes. Proper assessment of the interaction between the nails and the surrounding soil is central to safe and economical design of the composite reinforced soil structure. In this note, a new interface model, denoted as “embedded bond-slip model”, is proposed to model the soil–nail interaction numerically in a simplified manner. Combining the key features of the embedded element technique and the conventional interface element method, the proposed plane–strain interface model has the advantages that no special considerations have to be given to the arrangement of the finite element mesh for the soil nails, and that possible tangential slippage along the interface can be modelled. The formulation also allows pore water flow across the soil nails to be incorporated into the analysis. The proposed model has been implemented into a finite element code and verified by simple element tests under different uni-direction loading conditions. Using the proposed interface model, back analyses of a field test involving a soil-nailed cut slope subjected to a rise in groundwater table have been conducted. This note presents the details of the embedded bond-slip model and the numerical results which demonstrate that the proposed model is capable of simulating soil–nail interaction conveniently and realistically.     

考虑桩靴贯入对邻近群桩效应影响的分析方法

为考虑钻井船插桩对邻近平台群桩相互作用的影响,以海洋平台群桩设计中使用的修正Poulos法为基础,提出了一种考虑桩靴贯入影响的群桩分析方法。该法基于非线性地基梁模型确定桩靴贯入土层时单桩桩头位移;依据桩同时承受桩头荷载与土体位移时对应的地基反力系数确定土层的弹性模量,进而在Poulos群桩相互作用分析理论框架内,分析桩靴贯入对群桩相互作用的影响,确定桩靴贯入过程中由于群桩相互作用导致的附加桩头位移及相应的群桩桩头位移;依据群桩桩头位移,确定考虑桩靴贯入影响的群桩p-y曲线Y因子及相应的p-y关系。为了说明分析方法的可行性,进行了桩靴贯入砂土时对邻近单桩和群桩相互作用影响的离心模型试验,方法预测与试验结果基本一致,从而验证了方法的合理性。对于文中的工况,桩靴贯入没有导致群桩p-y关系进一步弱化,此时采用桩靴贯入前的群桩p-y关系确定考虑桩靴贯入影响的群桩响应,得到的结果偏安全。     

Modeling of pile installation using contact mechanics and quadratic elements

In geotechnical engineering, numerical analysis of pile capacity is often performed in such a way that piles are modeled using only the geometry of their final position in the ground and simply loaded to failure. In these analyses, the stress changes caused by the pile installation are neglected, irrespective of the installation method. For displacement piles, which are either pushed or hammered into the ground, such an approach is a very crude simplification. To model the entire installation process of displacement piles a number of additional nonlinear effects need to be considered. As the soil adjacent to the pile is displaced significantly, small deformation theory is no longer applicable and a large deformation finite element formulation is required. In addition, the continuously changing interface between the pile and the soil has to be considered. Recently, large deformation frictional contact has been used to model the pile installation and cone penetration processes. However, one significant limitation of the analysis was the use of linear elements, which have proven to be less accurate than higher order elements for nonlinear materials such as soils.

This paper presents a large deformation frictional contact formulation which can be coupled consistently with quadratic solid elements. The formulation uses the so-called mortar-type discretisation of the contact surfaces. The performance of this contact discretisation technique is demonstrated by accurately predicting the stress transfer between the pile and the soil surfaces.     

Kinematic (or hour-glass) mode control for a uniform strain quadrilateral by an assumed strain technique

Finite element and finite difference solid mechanics computer programs have often been observed to overestimate the stiffness of an elastic beam or the collapse load in elasto-plastic problems. There are a number of ways of overcoming these difficulties but many lead to unwanted degrees of freedom in the mesh which continuously degrade the solution if the errors are allowed to accumulate. These unwanted distortions are referred to as spurious or hour-glass modes, and special measures have to be taken if accurate predictions are to be achieved without their appearance. In this paper a new scheme based on assumed strains at the element level is described in the context of a two-dimensional, explicit, finite difference program. The scheme is compared with an earlier solution to this problem and is shown to have some advantages, particularly when irregular meshes and/or large deformations are encountered. Thorough testing indicates that the new formulation passes the patch test and leads to accurate predictions of bending stiffnesses and plastic collapse loads. An underlying consideration of the development was that the new scheme should be applicable to three-dimensional calculations. Although this has not been tested numerically, the extension to three dimensions is discussed.