Finite Element Analysis to Characterize the Lateral Behaviour of a Capped Pile Group

Abstract

Finite element simulation for analysis of a capped pile group was conducted to investigate the interaction among piles, soil and pile cap, especially the effects resulted from concrete damaging. The simulation was to develop a calibrated model using the test data and to apply that model for conditions not present during the test. In addition to consider pile/soil and cap/pile interaction in the numerical simulation, interaction between steel reinforcement and concrete was also modelled in the analysis. Each steel reinforcement installed in the tested piles and the pile cap was modelled as an individual element at its installed position in the numerical analysis. The simulation results showed that the leading and the middle row piles in the group carried the highest and the lowest fraction of pile head loads when concrete around the pile cap/soil contact area remained its integrity. Increasing loading level, the pile head load carried by the middle row increased due to constraint of the pile cap affected by the concrete damage at the pile cap/soil contact zone.