Numerical analysis of pile group within moving soils
Abstract
[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT REQUEST OF AUTHOR.] A coupled soil-pile interaction analysis method for pile groups within moving soil is proposed and implemented in a new computer program MU-PILE-GROUP. Results of evaluations described in this dissertation indicate that the response of pile groups subjected to soil movement can be accurately predicted using MU-PILE-GROUP. Results of analyses presented also show that modifications to commonly used p-y and t-z models (p-multipliers, y-multipliers and t-multiplier) are required to produce close matches between the predicted response from MU-PILE-GROUP and measured response from a series of large-scale laboratory tests. The relationship between these multipliers and spacing ratio and pile batter angle were investigated to improve understanding of soil-pile interaction and to provide recommendations for use of MU-PILE-GROUP. A range of p-multipliers varying from 0.15 to 1.8 and a range of y-multipliers varying from 0.33 to 1 are required for the Reese sand model to produce close matches with measured lateral performance. p-multipliers required to match measured performance decrease with increasing pile spacing perpendicular to the direction of soil movement. y-multipliers required to match measured performance increase with increasing spacing perpendicular to the direction of soil movement. p-multipliers required to match measured performance also increase with increasing pile batter angle. The predicted axial performance reasonably matches the measured axial response for most upslope piles.
Degree
Ph. D.
Thesis Department
Rights
Access is limited to the campus of the University of Missouri--Columbia.