Analysis of lateral loading of pile groups using embedded beam elements with interaction surface

The numerical simulation of soil-pile interaction problems, by means of full 3D finite element models, involves a large number of degrees of freedom (DOF) and difficulties during the mesh generation process. In order to reduce the unknowns and simplify and properly analyze such class of geotechnical problems, the so-called embedded beam elements (EBE) have recently been developed. In a preceding contribution of the authors, an improved EBE formulation, which brings into play the soil-pile interaction surface, was proposed with the aim to localize material plasticity in the soil surrounding the pile. This embedded beam model couples two different finite elements, each described by distinct kinematics (ie, solid and beam). The coupling is incorporated in the formulation by means of kinematical constrains established over the solid and beam displacement fields on the interaction surface. One of the main advantages of the embedded elements is that the addition of beams structural members immersed within the 3D soil model does not represent a constraint for the solid mesh, which can be adopted independently from the beam mesh. In this paper, the lateral loading of pile groups is studied by means of the proposed EBE approach with elasto-plastic interfaces. In order to represent a rigid cap, a master node and a special set of kinematical restrictions are incorporated into the formulation. The paper presents results obtained by means of the present formulation compared against other well-established analysis methods and test results published in the literature, for both elastic and elasto-plastic cases.