2D and 3D Numerical Simulation of Load-Settlement Behaviour of Axially Loaded Pile Foundations

Gowthaman S¹ and Nasvi MCM^2,

¹Department of Engineering Technology, University of Jaffna, Jaffna, Sri Lanka

²Department of Civil Engineering, University of Peradeniya, Kandy, Sri Lanka

Cite this paper:
Gowthaman S and Nasvi MCM. 2D and 3D Numerical Simulation of Load-Settlement Behaviour of Axially Loaded Pile Foundations. American Journal of Civil Engineering and Architecture. 2017; 5(5):187-195. doi: 10.12691/ajcea-5-5-2

Abstract

Reliable prediction of settlement behaviour of axially loaded piles is one of the major concerns in geotechnical engineering. Therefore, this paper focuses on the finite element solutions of load-settlement behaviour of a single pile and pile group using PLAXIS numerical package. Three different types of analysis were incorporated: a linear elastic analysis, a complete nonlinear analysis and a combined analysis. The pile case history with settlement measurements made during field pile load test was considered to validate the single pile load-settlement simulation, and the same load test result was extended to simulate the load-settlement behaviour of pile group using RATZ analytical approach. The single pile analysis results suggest that realistic load-settlement predictions can be drawn by considering complete soil as Mohr-Coulomb model at lower working loads, and incorporation of an interface zone thickness of two times pile diameter using Hardening-Soil model is required to simulate the load-settlement behaviour at higher working loads. The group pile analysis results provide a better load-settlement prediction when incorporating an interface zone thickness of pile dimeter from the pile shat using Hardening-Soil model while leaving the remaining soil as Linear-Elastic material.

Keywords:
Hardening-Soil Interface zone Linear-elastic Mohr-Coulomb nonlinear RATZ approach

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