Numerical Simulation of Three-Dimensional Soil Arch Effect Between h-type Pile Based Discrete Element Method

Abstract

Abstract The h-type pile (hTP pile) is a complex anti-slip pile system, which connects the front pile and the back pile through beams. When it is used in engineering, there is a complex soil arch effect between the soil and the hTP pile, which makes the complex anti-slip mechanism. In this paper, the discrete element method (PFC) is used to establish the hTP pile models, analyse the displacement and stress distribution law of the soil body, investigate the spatial distribution and variation patterns of soil arches, this can provide a basis for the design of hTP. The results indicate that the soil arch structure formed under the displacement between hTPs can be divided into four stages: initial stage, development stage, overlapping stage and stable stage. The development speed of the soil arch between the rear piles is slower than that of the soil arch between the former piles. As the depth of the soil increases, the arch line of the soil arch gets closer to the rear pile; The soil arch of the stress between hTPs can be divided into initial stage, development stage and stable stage. The time step corresponding to the stable stage of the stress in the horizontal direction is equal to the sum of the horizontal displacement generated by the overlapping stage and the stabilization stage. The stress of the soil slope gradually decreases and extends from the surface to the bottom layer of the slope; Soil arches appear on the rear side of both the front and rear piles at different anti-slip pile spacing, and they all tend to overlap. The increase in pile spacing does not have a significant effect on theratio of soil arch height and soil arch span, and the evolution of soil arch is similar between hTP at different pile spacing. All above can provide reference for the application and design of hTPs.