Modeling and Analysis Variable Cross Section Pile Driven in Sandy Soil using Finite Element

Abstract

This study focuses on the finite element simulation of piles with different models in sandy soils using the software PLAXIS 3D V20. The parametric study has conducted to investigate the influence of multiple parameters on the axial capacity of steel piles in sandy soil, including the cross-section variables in two cases: open and close-ended piles. The typical circular and square cross-section open and close-ended piles were selected as the reference for comparison with variables cross-section piles. The open-ended tapered pile 3b showed an increase in the maximum load capacity about 210% more than the open-ended circular section, while the close-ended tapered pile 3b showed an increase of about 176% in the axial load capacity more than the solid close-ended circular section. In terms of the effect of pile’s type, all of the close-ended sections outperformed the open-ended sections, with the circular section showing a 146% increase in its close-ended section, while the tapered 3b section showed the lowest difference between the close-ended and the open-ended sections with just 120% increase. These results showed that the tapering pile is much more efficient than any straight-sided pile or even circular pile. The results also showed that a short open-ended pile's capacity is smaller than the corresponding closed-ended pile.

Keywords

• tapered pile
• square pile
• circular pile
• open and close-ended piles
• finite element method