This paper reports the results of recent studies on the response of non-displacement piles in sand using both numerical and experimental approaches. Three-dimensional Finite Element (FE) analyses were performed with an advanced, two-surface-plasticity constitutive model to investigate the response of non-displacement piles subjected to axial loads. The configuration of the mesh in the soil domain of the models was such that localization of strains and shear band development along the pile shaft and near the pile base during loading were captured properly. In addition, axial load tests were performed on model piles pre-installed in sand samples prepared in a large-scale calibration chamber with Digital Image Correlation (DIC) capabilities to obtain the displacement and strain fields in the sand during loading and to advance the understanding of resistance mobilization mechanisms in non-displacement piles. Design equations for the unit limit shaft and
Subjects: finite-element analysis, DIC, non-displacement piles, sand
Author: Fei Han, Rodrigo Salgado and Monica Prezzi
Publisher: DFI, EFFC