Numerical analysis of bearing behaviors of single batter piles under horizontal loads in various directions

Abstract

The horizontal bearing behavior of a single batter pile (SBP) is vital to its application in practical engineering; however, the horizontal responses of SBPs change with the directions of horizontal loads, and this phenomenon is rarely investigated. Therefore, the directional differences in the horizontal bearing behaviors of SBPs are investigated in this study. Four model tests are conducted to preliminarily examine the effects of the skew angle of horizontal loads on the horizontal bearing capacities and distributions of the bending moments of the SBPs. Subsequently, the differences in the responses of the SBPs under horizontal loads in various directions at full scale are analyzed comprehensively via finite-element (FE) analysis. The effects of the skew angle on SBP-soil interaction are discussed. Moreover, an empirical design method is proposed based on the FE analysis results to predict the bearing ratios of SBPs in medium-dense and dense sand while considering the effects of the skew angle, batter angle, and pile diameter. The method is confirmed to be effective, as confirmed by the close agreement between the predicting results with the model test (reported in this study) and centrifuge model test results (reported in the literature).

Graphical abstract

Keywords

single batter pile / skew horizontal load / model test / finite-element analysis / empirical design method

References

[1] Zhang L, Mcvay M C, Lai P W. Centrifuge modelling of laterally loaded single battered piles in sands. Canadian Geotechnical Journal, 1999, 36(6): 1074–1084

[2] Giannakou A, Gerolymos N, Gazetas G, Tazoh T, Anastasopoulos I. Seismic behavior of batter piles: Elastic response. Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, 2010, 136(9): 1187–1199

[3] Bharathi M, Dubey R N, Shukla S K. Experimental investigation of vertical and batter pile groups subjected to dynamic loads. Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, 2019, 116: 107–119

[4] Subramanian R M, Boominathan A. Dynamic experimental studies on lateral behaviour of batter piles in soft clay. International Journal of Geotechnical Engineering, 2016, 10(4): 317–327

[5] Li Z, Escoffier S, Kotronis P. Centrifuge modeling of batter pile foundations under earthquake excitation. Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, 2016, 88: 176–190

[6] Li Z, Escoffier S, Kotronis P. Centrifuge modeling of batter pile foundations under sinusoidal dynamic excitation. Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering, 2016, 14(3): 673–697

[7] Sarkar R, Roy N, Serawat A. A three dimensional comparative study of seismic behaviour of vertical and batter pile groups. Geotechnical and Geological Engineering, 2017, 36(2): 763–781

[8] Al-Neami A M, Rahil H F, Al-Bayati S K. Bearing capacity of batter piles embedded in sandy soil. International Journal of Geotechnical Engineering, 2016, 10(5): 529–532

[9] Liu K, Han C, Xu C, Nie Z. Experimental study on deformation and load transfer mechanisms of symmetrical batter piles under vertical loading. Applied Sciences (Basel, Switzerland), 2021, 11(7): 3169

[10] Kim J, Yun S K, Kang M, Kang G. Behavior characteristics of single batter pile under vertical load. Applied Sciences (Basel, Switzerland), 2021, 11(10): 1–18

[11] Bajaj P, Yadu L, Chouksey S K. Behavior of vertical and batter piles under lateral, uplift and combined loads in non-cohesive soil. Innovative Infrastructure Solutions, 2019, 4(1): 1–17

[12] Vu A T, Matsumoto T, Kobayashi S I, Nguyen T L. Model load tests on battered pile foundations and finite-element analysis. International Journal of Physical Modelling in Geotechnics, 2018, 18(1): 33–54

[13] Xie Y, Liu C, Gao S, Tang J, Chen Y. Lateral load bearing capacity of offshore high-piled wharf with batter piles. Ocean Engineering, 2017, 142: 377–387

[14] Baca M, Rybak J. Pile base and shaft capacity under various types of loading. Applied Sciences (Basel, Switzerland), 2021, 11(8): 1–15

[15] Baca M, Brzakała W, Rybak J. Bi-directional static load tests of pile models. Applied Sciences (Basel, Switzerland), 2020, 10(16): 1–13

[16] Meyerhof G G, Yalcin A S. Behaviour of flexible batter piles under inclined loads in layered soil. Canadian Geotechnical Journal, 1993, 30(2): 247–256

[17] Meyerhof G G, Yalcin A S. Bearing capacity of flexible batter piles under eccentric and inclined loads in layered soil. Canadian Geotechnical Journal, 1994, 31(4): 583–590

[18] Rao S N, Veeresh C. Influence of pile inclination on the lateral capacity of batter piles in clay. In: Proceeding of 4th International Offshore and Polar Engineering Conference. Golden, CO: ISOPE, 1994, 498–503

[19] Li Z, Kotronis P, Escoffier S. Numerical study of the 3D failure envelope of a single pile in sand. Computers and Geotechnics, 2014, 62: 11–26

[20] Wang A, Zhang D, Deng Y. Lateral response of single piles in cement-improved soil: Numerical and theoretical investigation. Computers and Geotechnics, 2018, 102: 164–178

[21] Dong J, Chen F, Zhou M, Zhou X. Numerical analysis of the boundary effect in model tests for single pile under lateral load. Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment, 2018, 77(3): 1057–1068

[22] CaoW PFanW F. Numerical analysis on bearing and deformation behavior of horizontally loaded batter piles. China Journal of Highway and Transport, 2017, 30(9): 34−43 (in Chinese)

[23] LingD SRenTWangY G. A p–y curves method for horizontal bearing characteristics of single batter pile in sands. Rock and Soil Mechanics, 2013, 34(1): 155−162 (in Chinese)

[24] CaoW PXiaBZhaoMGeoX. P–y curves of laterally loaded batter piles in sand and its application. Chinese Journal of Rock Mechanics and Engineering, 2018, 37(3): 743−753 (in Chinese)

[25] Ashour M, Alaaeldin A, Arab M G. Laterally loaded battered piles in sandy soils. Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, 2020, 146(1): 06019017

[26] Fan S, Bienen B, Randolph M F. Centrifuge study on effect of installation method on lateral response of monopiles in sand. International Journal of Physical Modelling in Geotechnics, 2021, 21(1): 40–52

[27] ASTM. Standard Practice for Classification of Soils for Engineering Purposes (Unified Soil Classification System). West Conshohocken, PA: ASTM International, 2010

[28] Wood D M, Crewe A, Taylor C. Shaking table testing of geotechnical models. International Journal of Physical Modelling in Geotechnics, 2002, 2(1): 1–13

[29] ZhuBXiongGLiuJ CSunY XChenR P. Centrifuge modeling of a large-diameter single pile under lateral loads in sand. Chinese Journal of Geotechnical Engineering, 2013, 35(10): 1807−1815 (in Chinese)

[30] Kyung D, Lee J. Interpretative analysis of lateral load-carrying behavior and design model for inclined single and group micropiles. Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, 2018, 144(1): 04017105

[31] Zhu B, Li T, Xiong G, Liu J. Centrifuge model tests on laterally loaded piles in sand. International Journal of Physical Modelling in Geotechnics, 2016, 16(4): 160–172

[32] HibbittK. ABAQUS User’s Manual, Version 6.8.2. 2008

[33] Chen L, Fang Q, Huan Y, Zhang Y. Analysis on static performances of smeared cracking model for concrete in ABAQUS. Journal of PLA University of Science and Technology, 2007, 8(5): 478–485

[34] Achmus M, Kuo Y S, Abdel-Rahman K. Behavior of monopile foundations under cyclic lateral load. Computers and Geotechnics, 2009, 36(5): 725–735

[35] KuoY SAchmusMAbdel-RahmanK. Estimation of lateral deformation of monopile foundations by use of cyclic triaxial tests. Chinese Journal of Geotechnical Engineering, 2009, 31(11): 1729–1734 (in Chinese)

[36] LiuJ CXiongGZhuBYingP P. Bearing capacity and deflection behaviors of large diameter monopile foundations in sand seabed. Rock and Soil Mechanics, 2015, 36(2): 591–599 (in Chinese)

[37] Li L, Zheng M, Liu X, Wu W B, Liu H, El Naggar M H, Jiang G. Numerical analysis of the cyclic loading behavior of monopile and hybrid pile foundation. Computers and Geotechnics, 2022, 144: 104635

[38] Randolph M F. The response of flexible piles to lateral loading. Geotechnique, 1981, 31(2): 247–259

[39] Ilyas T, Leung C, Chow Y, Budi S. Centrifuge model study of laterally loaded pile groups in clay. Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, 2004, 130(3): 274–283

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Higher Education Press