The Reinforcing Effect of Blade Attached Pile to Support Submerged Breakwater

Abstract

The use of pile reinforcement is considered as one of the most promising techniques for improving load carrying capacity of piles in offshore area. In this study, to consider the horizontal and uplift bearing capacity of submerged breakwater bearing pile, exclusive analysis on load-transfer behaviour of pile was conducted. First of all, check the reinforcing effect from the three-dimensional finite element method, and estimate load transfer curve (ground reaction force). Based on these results, the reinforcing effect was quantified by estimating the coefficients of horizontal and uplift reinforcement of reinforced piles. Load transfer function with consideration of the reinforcing effect was proposed from estimated coefficients. A comparison of the analysis using the proposed load transfer function with three-dimensional finite element analysis has resulted that the proposed load transfer function is displaying good accuracy of predicting behavior of the load transfer between the pile and soil reinforcement. Interpretation of the submerged structure by applying a load transfer function considering the reinforcing effect, has shown that the reinforced pile's shear, bending moment and displacement are less than that of non-reinforced piles, while the subgrade reaction modulus arises greater. Thus, it is expected to be relatively cost effective in terms of design.