A numerical model for the dynamic analysis of inclined pile groups

Abstract

Summary 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.

A hypoplastic macroelement formulation for single batter piles in sand

“…Mroueh and Shahrour studied numerically the pull‐out capacity of batter piles and Padrón et al the kinematic internal forces using a coupled boundary element–finite element (FE) method. Numerical studies on the dynamic/seismic behavior of batter piles are also reported in previous studies . Results show that batter piles can have a beneficial or a detrimental role (depending on the earthquake and the superstructure) for soil‐structure dynamic interaction problems.…”

“…Numerical studies on the dynamic/seismic behavior of batter piles are also reported in previous studies. 15,[20][21][22][23][24][25] Results show that batter piles can have a beneficial or a detrimental role (depending on the earthquake and the superstructure) for soil-structure dynamic interaction problems. Zhang et al 12 suggested modified p − y curves that take into account the pile inclination.…”

A lumped parameter model for time‐domain inertial soil‐structure interaction analysis of structures on pile foundations

“…Combination of parameters generates a total of 1470 analysis cases. Analyses of the soil foundations systems are performed by means of the numerical model of Dezi et al (2009), 17 previously recalled, and the non-dimensional components of the impedance matrix of the selected case studies are obtained according to Equations (18).…”

Kinematic Stress Resultants in Inclined Single Piles Subjected to Prapagating Seismic Waves: An Analytical Formulation

“…By grouping the horizontal components of the soil reaction resultants in sub-vector rh, and denoting by rz the vertical component, vector of the line reaction forces is ( Figure 1b ; u u r (7) where is the 3x3 impedance matrix of the unbounded soil layers. Matrix can be populated considering results of studies by Dobry et al [9], Makris and Gazetas [10] and Gazetas and Dobry [11].…”

“…On the contrary, applications of such approaches to inclined piles are not so popular in the literature and more sophisticated finite element or boundary element models are preferred [2][3][4][5][6][7].…”