OasisLMS

Abstract: A 3D FE dynamic analysis was conducted to evaluate the effect of barge impact of different speeds on the lateral performance of three pile group (PG) configurations (vertical, battered, mixed) in terms of peak lateral displacement, peak axial reaction, peak shear force, lateral stiffness of PGs, and the contribution of piles and pier columns to the total resisting force. A parametric investigation for the effect of pile spacing and clay soil type was performed. The results showed that the lateral stiffness of the battered and mixed PGs was significantly higher than the vertical PG (+120%, +50%, respectively). The lateral load was found unevenly distributed among the piles in all PGs, and the exterior piles carried 1.5-2% higher load than the interior piles. The influence of the group effect vanished at pile spacings greater than 5D (D is pile width). Also, the influence of pile spacing was more prominent along the load direction. In the dynamic analysis, the PGs behavior was evaluated in barge impact simulations. The results showed that the battered and mixed PGs had similar and large lateral stiffness, which resulted in limited pile cap displacement and large deformation in the barge bow. The weak lateral stiffness of the vertical PG allowed the development of significantly larger impact force and pile cap displacement compared to the battered and mixed PG.

Dr. MURAD ABU-FARSAKH; Mr. Ed Souri

Annual Conference Proceedings