1-g Experimental investigation of bi-layer soil response and kinematic pile bending

The effect of soil inhomogeneity and material nonlinearity on kinematic soil–pile interaction and ensuing bending under the passage of vertically propagating seismic shear waves in layered soil, is investigated by means of 1-g shaking table tests and nonlinear numerical simulations. To this end, a suite of scale model tests on a group of five piles embedded in two-layers of sand in a laminar container at the shaking table facility in BLADE Laboratory at University of Bristol, are reported. Results from white noise and sine dwell tests were obtained and interpreted by means of one-dimensional lumped parameter models, suitable for inhomogeneous soil, encompassing material nonlinearity. A frequency range from 0.1 Hz to 100 Hz and 5 Hz to 35 Hz for white noise and sine dwell tests, respectively, and an input acceleration range from 0.015 g to 0.1 g, were employed. The paper elucidates that soil nonlinearity and inhomogeneity strongly affect both site response and kinematic pile bending, so that accurate nonlinear analyses are often necessary to predict the dynamic response of pile foundations.     

Experimental study of the effect of inclined pile on the seismic behavior of pile group

Seismic behavior of inclined piles has been considered detrimental for years. However, recent researches show that battered piles can have a beneficial effect. In this framework, a series of centrifuge tests on an inclined pile group is performed. The analysis is based on the comparative response of two 2×1 simplified pile groups: one with vertical piles and the other with one vertical and one inclined pile. The response of these pile groups to repeated earthquakes or sinusoidal inputs is analyzed through the response frequencies, the envelop curves of bending moment profiles, the axial loads measured in both piles and the kinematic response of the cap. Results highlight that the effect of inclined pile is highly influenced by the frequency content of the input. In addition, the inclined pile induces non-negligible residual bending moments, higher horizontal stiffness at the pile cap and larger rotation.     

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。     

A numerical model for the dynamic analysis of inclined pile groups

The paper presents a numerical model for the dynamic analysis of pile groups with inclined piles in horizontally layered soil deposits. Piles are modelled with Euler–Bernoulli beams, while the soil is supposed to be constituted by independent infinite viscoelastic horizontal layers. The pile–soil–pile interaction as well as the hysteretic and geometric damping is taken into account by means of two‐dimensional elastodynamic Green's functions. Piles cap is considered by introducing a rigid constraint; the condensation of the problem permits a consistent derivation of both the dynamic impedance matrix of the soil–foundation system and the foundation input motion. These quantities are those used to perform inertial soil–structure interaction analyses in the framework of the substructure approach. Furthermore, the model allows evaluating the kinematic stress resultants in piles resulting from waves propagating in the soil deposit, taking into account the pile–soil–pile interactions. The model validation is carried out by performing accuracy analyses and comparing results in terms of dynamic impedance functions, kinematic response parameters and pile stress resultants, with those furnished by 3D refined finite element models. To this purpose, classical elastodynamic solutions are adopted to define the soil–pile interaction problem. The model results in low computational demands without significant loss of precision, compared with more rigorous approaches or refined finite element models. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

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.     

An investigation on the ground motion parameters and seismic response of underground structures

Peak ground acceleration (PGA), frequency content and time duration are three fundamental parameters of seismic loading. This study focuses on the seismic load frequency and its effect on the underground structures. Eight accelerograms regarding different occurred earthquakes that are scaled to an identical PGA and variation of ground motion parameters with ratio of peak ground velocity (PGV) to PGA, as a parameter related to the load frequency, are considered. Then, concrete lining response of a circular tunnel under various seismic conditions is evaluated analytically. In the next, seismic response of underground structure is assessed numerically using two different time histories. Finally, effects of incident load frequency and frequency ratio on the dynamic damping of geotechnical materials are discussed. Result of analyses show that specific energy of seismic loading with identical PGA is related to the seismic load frequency. Furthermore, incident load frequency and natural frequency of a system have influence on the wave attenuation and dynamic damping of the system.     

液化场地桩-土地震相互作用p-y曲线分析方法研究

目前,我国尚缺乏液化场地桩-土-桥梁结构地震相互作用分析的合理数值模型与简化分析方法。鉴于此,直接针对振动台试验,基于非线性文克尔地基梁模型,考虑桩周参振土的质量惯性力、上部结构的惯性力、土体辐射阻尼等效应,建立了液化场地桩-土-桥梁结构地震相互作用的p-y曲线分析模型,并给出相应的简化方法。针对振动台试验进行了0.1g El Centro波输入下的分析,验证了桩-土地震相互作用分析方法的正确性,并且推荐了计算参数的合理选取方法,可用于液化场地桩-土地震相互作用的分析。提出的液化场地桩-土地震相互作用p-y曲线简化分析方法,为实际桥梁桩基抗震设计与分析提供一定参考。     

Experimental investigation on seismic behavior of scoured bridge pier with pile foundation

This study investigated the seismic performance and soil‐structure interaction of a scoured bridge models with pile foundation by shaking table tests using a biaxial laminar shear box. The bridge pier model with pile foundation comprised a lumped mass representing the superstructure, a steel pier, and a footing supported by a single aluminum pile within dry silica sand. End of the pile was fixed at the bottom of the shear box to simulate the scenario that the pile was embedded in a firm stratum of rock. The bridge pier model was subjected to one‐directional shakes, including white noise and earthquake records. The performance of the bridge pier model with pile foundation was discussed for different scoured conditions. It is found that the moment demand of pile increases with the increase of scoured depth whereas the moment demand of the bridge pier decreases, and this transition may induce the bridge failure mechanism transform from pier to pile. The seismic demand on scoured pile foundations may be underestimated and misinterpreted to a certain degree. When evaluating the system damping ratio with SSI, the system response may not be significantly changed even if the soil viscous damping contribution is varied. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Response of a RC pile group in liquefiable soil: A shake-table investigation

Soil liquefaction induced by earthquakes frequently cause costly damage to pile foundations. However, various aspects of the dynamic behavior and failure mechanisms of piles in liquefiable soils still remain unclear. This paper presents a shake-table experiment conducted to investigate the dynamic behavior of a reinforced-concrete (RC) elevated cap pile foundation during (and prior to) soil liquefaction. Particular attention was paid to the failure mechanism of the piles during a strong shaking event. The experimental results indicate that decreasing the frequency and increasing the amplitude of earthquake excitation increased the pile bending moment as well as the speed of the excess pore pressure buildup in the free-field. The critical pile failure mode in the conducted testing configuration was found to be of the bending type, which was also confirmed by a representative nonlinear numerical model of the RC pile. The experimental results of this study can be used to calibrate numerical models and provide insights on seismic pile analysis and design.     

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。     

Experimental investigation of spatially varying effect of ground motions on bridge pounding

Pounding between adjacent bridge structures with insufficient separation distance has been identified as one of the primary causes of damage in many major earthquakes. It takes place because the closing relative movement is larger than the structural gap provided between the structures. This relative structural response is controlled not only by the dynamic properties of the participating structures but also by the characteristics of the ground excitations. The consequence of the spatial variation of ground motions has been studied by researchers; however, most of these studies were performed numerically. The objective of the present research is to experimentally evaluate the influence of spatial variation of ground motions on the pounding behaviour of three adjacent bridge segments. The investigation is performed using three shake tables. The input spatially varying ground excitations are simulated based on the New Zealand design spectra for soft soil, shallow soil and strong rock using an empirical coherency loss function. Results confirm that the spatially nonniform ground motions increase the relative displacement of adjacent bridge girders and pounding forces. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Analytical and numerical studies on the nonlinear dynamic response of orthotropic membranes under impact load

Orthotropic membrane components and structures are widely used in building structures, instruments and meters, electronic engineering, space and aeronautics, etc., because of their light weights. However, the same lightweight combined with low stiffness make membranes prone to vibration under dynamic loads, and in some cases the vibration may lead to structural failure. Herein, the undamped nonlinear vibration response of pretension rectangular orthotropic membrane structures subjected to impact loading is studied by analytical and numerical methods. The analytical solution is obtained by solving the governing equations by the Bubnov-Galerkin method and the Lindstedt-Poincaré perturbation method. Numerical analysis has also been carried out based on the same theoretical model. The analytical and numerical results have been compared and analyzed, and the infl uence of various model parameters on membrane vibration discussed. The results obtained herein provide some theoretical basis for the vibration control and dynamic design of orthotropic membrane components and structures.     

A numerical and experimental study of hollow steel pile in layered soil subjected to vertical dynamic loading

This paper presents an investigation of the nonlinear behaviour of single piles subjected to varying levels of vertical dynamic load. A good number of tests are performed for the understanding of the dynamic behaviour of single hollow steel piles embedded in layered soil. Experimental results are validated with results obtained from a nonlinear numerical analysis using commercially available Finite Element Method (FEM) based software. The results of numerical analysis and experimental investigations showed that the length of pile has significant influence on resonant frequency and amplitude of the pile foundation. It has also been found that the slippage of pile from the surrounding soil considerably affects the resonance frequency and amplitude of the soil–pile foundation system.     

A numerical and experimental study of hollow steel pile in layered soil subjected to lateral dynamic loading

The present study aims at investigating the nonlinear behavior of single hollow pile in layered soil subjected to varying levels of horizontal dynamic load. A finite element model has been developed using commercially available FEM based software. Mohr–Coulomb plasticity model is used to simulate the soil plasticity whereas the pile-material is idealized as elastic. Numerical results are validated comparing with the experimental results. The experimental investigations were carried out in the field located at IIT Kharagpur. Two types of motion: horizontal and rocking are studied. The effects of various influencing parameters, namely, exciting moment, length and diameter of the pile etc. on the nonlinear dynamic response of piles are investigated. It is found that separation of pile from the surrounding soil considerably affects the resonance frequency and amplitude of the pile foundations.     

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.     

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.     

Time-domain solution for transient dynamic response of a large-diameter thin-walled pipe pile

The propagation of stress waves in a large-diameter pipe pile for low strain dynamic testing cannot be explained properly by traditional 1D wave theories. A new computational model is established to obtain a wave equation that can describe the dynamic response of a large-diameter thin-walled pipe pile to a transient point load during a low strain integrity test. An analytical solution in the time domain is deduced using the separation of variables and variation of constant methods. The validity of this new solution is verifi ed by an existing analytical solution under free boundary conditions. The results of this time domain solution are also compared with the results of a frequency domain solution and fi eld test data. The comparisons indicate that the new solution agrees well with the results of previous solutions. Parametric studies using the new solution with reference to a case study are also carried out. The results show that the mode number affects the accuracy of the dynamic response. A mode number greater than 10 is required to enable the calculated dynamic responses to be independent of the mode number. The dynamic response is also greatly affected by soil properties. The larger the side resistance, the smaller the displacement response and the smaller the refl ected velocity wave crest. The displacement increases as the stress waves propagate along the pile when the pile shaft is free. The incident waves of displacement and velocity responses of the pile are not the same among different points in the circumferential direction on the pile top. However, the arrival time and peak value of the pile tip refl ected waves are almost the same among different points on the pile top.     

A micro-mechanical investigation of the dynamic response and liquefaction of saturated granular soils

A coupled continuum-discrete hydromechanical model was utilized to analyze the meso-scale pore fluid flow and micro-scale solid phase deformation of saturated granular soils. The fluid motion was idealized using averaged Navier–Stokes equations and the discrete element method was employed to model the solid particles. Well established semi-empirical relationships were used to quantify the fluid–particle interactions. Numerical simulations were conducted to investigate the mechanisms of granular deposit liquefaction in the presence of a critical upward pore fluid flow as well as when subjected to a dynamic base excitation. The outcome of these simulations was consistent with experimental observations and revealed valuable information on the micro-mechanical characteristics of soil liquefaction and associated loss of stiffness and strength.