Performances of Large-Diameter Cast-in-Place Concrete Pipe Piles and Pile Groups under Lateral Loads: Fid-Bau Portal

Performances of Large-Diameter Cast-in-Place Concrete Pipe Piles and Pile Groups under Lateral Loads

Liu, Han-Long / Kong, Gang-Qiang / Ding, Xuan-Ming / Chen, Yu-Min

Abstract

Large-diameter cast-in-place concrete pipe (PCC) pile is widely used for pile foundation and pile-supported embankment over soft clay in China. However, studies on PCC pile-soil reactions ( $p - y$ curves) or performance of the pile groups under lateral load are not widely reported. A large-scale model test of a single PCC pile under lateral load is carried out, and its lateral bearing capacity, bending moment, and $p - y$ curves are measured and analyzed. The deflection and bending moment of this PCC pile is calculated by the $p - y$ curves method and modified pile modulus using LPILE software. Three-dimensional numerical analyses are conducted using ABAQUS software. The reliability and accuracy of the numerical simulation model are verified by comparing the results of the large-scale model test with the LPILE calculation. The distribution of deflection and bending moment along the pile and pile group efficiencies of the PCC piles are comparatively analyzed with those of a drilled shaft, which has the same concrete volume. Then, the lateral performance of the PCC pile-supported embankment influence factors are analyzed and discussed. The results show that the PCC piles under lateral load can be calculated by the $p - y$ curves developed for drilled shaft and modified pile modulus using LPILE software. It also shows that PCC pile-supported embankment is more cost effective than conventional pile (solid circular section pile) supported embankment.