Laboratory Modelling and Analysis of Displacement Pile in Different Geometries on Alluvial Soils

Abstract

Alluvial soils are weak soils require precautions, which have disadvantageous engineering characteristics such as low shear strength and bearing capacity, high void ratio and settlement potential. Different foundation systems are preferred for structures built on these soils to transfer the load effects safely. Pile foundations as a deep foundation is classified depending on various parameters such as; material property, application method, load-bearing method. In this study, cylindrical and square concrete piles with different cross-sections and lateral areas placed in the alluvial soil. The natural alluvial soil taken from İzmir province, Balatcik location was placed in displacement-controlled pile model unit with a unit weight of ≈ 17 kN/m3. The manufactured concrete piles were driven into soil with Standard Proctor hammer. Tensile effects were applied at different time intervals to examine long-term and short-term behavior. As result of experiments, load-displacement (p-y) and displacement-time (y-t) graphs were drawn. When the displacement piles were examined under long-term tension, it was seen that the cylindrical piles displaced most. Square piles with same cross-sectional area with cylindrical piles made less displacement. All studies were modeled 1:1 as numerical and compared with experimental results. Studies showed that the experimental and numerical results for pile behavior were compatible.