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Target reliability index for serviceability limit state of single piles

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Abstract

The objective is to develop an approach for the determination of the target reliability index for serviceability limit state (SLS) of single piles. This contributes to conducting the SLS reliability-based design (RBD) of piles. Based on a two-parameter, hyperbolic curve-fitting equation describing the load-settlement relation of piles, the SLS model factor is defined. Then, taking into account the uncertainties of load-settlement model, load and bearing capacity of piles, the formula for computing the SLS reliability index (β sls) is obtained using the mean value first order second moment (MVFOSM) method. Meanwhile, the limit state function for conducting the SLS reliability analysis by the Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) method is established. These two methods are finally applied to determine the SLS target reliability index. Herein, the limiting tolerable settlement (s lt) is treated as a random variable. For illustration, four load test databases from South Africa are compiled again to conduct reliability analysis and present the recommended target reliability indices. The results indicate that the MVFOSM method overestimates β sls compared to that computed by the MCS method. Besides, both factor of safety (FS) and s lt are key factors influencing β sls, so the combination of FS and β sls is welcome to be used for the SLS reliability analysis of piles when s lt is determined. For smaller s lt, pile types and soils conditions have significant influence on the SLS target reliability indices; for larger s lt, s lt is the major factor having influence on the SLS target reliability indices. This proves that s lt is the most key parameter for the determination of the SLS target reliability index.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Civil Engineering & Mechanics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China

    Xiao-ya Bian  (边晓亚), Jun-jie Zheng  (郑俊杰) & Rong-jun Zhang  (章荣军)

  2. School of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou, 450052, China

    Zhi-jun Xu  (徐志军)

Authors
  1. Xiao-ya Bian  (边晓亚)
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  2. Jun-jie Zheng  (郑俊杰)
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  3. Zhi-jun Xu  (徐志军)
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  4. Rong-jun Zhang  (章荣军)
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jun-jie Zheng  (郑俊杰).

Additional information

Foundation item: Projects(51278216, 51308241) supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China; Project(2013BS010) supported by the Funds of Henan University of Technology for High-level Talents, China

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Bian, Xy., Zheng, Jj., Xu, Zj. et al. Target reliability index for serviceability limit state of single piles. J. Cent. South Univ. 22, 310–316 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11771-015-2523-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11771-015-2523-9

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