Analysis of Micropile Constructed in Sandy Soil of Ismailia Area

Abstract

The main object of the paper is to study the behavior of Micropile in sandy soil of Ismailia. A full scale field test result on Micropiles in USA for rocky soil are numerically verified using the finite element analysis software ABAQUS. Then, the verified numerical model of the software ABAQUS is used to curry out the analysis of Micropiles constructed in sandy soil of Ismailia area. Numerical results obtained are very close to the field results. The chosen model is suitable for initial prediction of the behavior of micropile instead of field tests which take more time and cost. Results indicated that, application of the combined load on the micropile causes a decrease in the lateral displacement and bending moments compared with application of the lateral load at Ismailia site (sandy soil). The effect increasing the diameter by 50[%] on the behavior of the micropile is reducing the axial displacement by 22[%] and increasing the axial ultimate load by 30[%]. The lateral loading results indicate that the lateral displacement is reduced by 43.5[%] and the lateral ultimate load increases by 35.1[%], whereas the maximum bending moment increases by 192.4[%]. The combined loading results show that the lateral displacement is reduced by 40.4 [%] and the lateral ultimate load increases by 41[%], but there is more change in the maximum bending moment which increases by 292[%]. The study also presents guidelines and diagrams for the similar sites for different types of load.

Keywords

• micropile
• 3d finite element analysis
• soil–micropile interaction
• combined loads
• rocky soil
• sandy soil