DFI Journal - The Journal of the Deep Foundations Institute
Volume 14, Issue 1, April 2020
DOI: 10.37308/DFIJnl.20190930.210
Theoretical “t-z” Curves for Piles in Radially Inhomogeneous Soil
Bateman, A. & Crispin, J.
Abstract
Accurate estimates of pile settlement are key for efficient design of axially loaded piles. Calculations of pile settlement can be simplified using one-dimensional “t-z” curves describing pile settlement at a certain depth as a function of side friction. In the realm of this simplified framework, theoretical “t-z” curves can be derived by substituting an attenuation function describing the variation of shear stress with distance from the pile, into a soil constitutive model relating shear strain to shear stress, then integrating with respect to distance to get the settlement at the pile circumference due to an applied shear stress. A handful of analytical “t-z” curves are available in the literature using the concentric cyl-inder model to define an attenuation function; these include solutions for linear-elastic, power-law and hyperbolic constitutive models. However, radially homogeneous soil has often been assumed, ignoring the effect of the pile installation resulting in unconservative calculations of pile settlement. This paper considers the installation of the pile, resulting in a radially variable shear modulus distribution in the surrounding soil. A radial inhomogeneity correction factor has been developed for selected constitutive models based on two simplified functions for the soil inhomogeneity, which can be applied to the pre-viously derived “t-z” curves produced assuming radially homogeneous soil. The performance of this simplified method is investigated.
Keywords:
piles, settlement, t - z curves, radial inhomogeneity, soil/structure interaction