Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Performance of axially loaded defective pile groups in sand: capacity and serviceability evaluation

  • Technical Paper
  • Published:
Innovative Infrastructure Solutions Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The performance of axially loaded defective pile groups in sand was evaluated numerically in this paper. A three-dimensional finite element model was developed and validated against experimental tests of defective pile groups found elsewhere in the literature. The validated model was used to conduct a parametric study to examine the influence of three design parameters on the capacity and serviceability of defective pile groups: pile group configuration, pile spacing, and defective pile failure scenario. Analysis results indicate that the reduction in pile group capacity and axial stiffness is greater when corner or edge defective piles fail as compared with middle piles. The reduction is further increased with the increase in the pile spacing. The redistribution of the axial load originally carried by the defective pile to the adjacent piles upon defective pile failure was quantified in this research for 5-pile, 7-pile, and 9-pile groups in terms of so-called redistribution factor. The factor can be used by practitioners as an approximation to assess the ultimate capacity of defective pile groups.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15
Fig. 16
Fig. 17
Fig. 18

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

Some or all data, models or code generated or used during the study is available from the corresponding author by request.

References

  1. Terzaghi K (1943) Theoretical soil mechanics. Theor Soil Mech. https://doi.org/10.1002/9780470172766

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Meyerhof GG (1976) Bearing capacity and settlement of pile foundations. J Geotech Eng Div ASCE 102:195–228

    Google Scholar 

  3. Vesic AS (1963) Bearing capacity of deep foundations in sand. Highway Res Rec 39:112–153

    Google Scholar 

  4. Randolph MF, Dolwin J, Beck R (1994) Design of driven piles in sand. Geotechnique 44:427–448. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.1994.44.3.427

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Zhang ZM, Yu J, Zhang GX, Zhou XM (2009) Test study on the characteristics of Mudcakes and in situ soils around bored piles. Can Geotech J 46:241–255. https://doi.org/10.1139/T08-119

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Poulos HG (2005) Pile behavior—consequences of geological and construction imperfections. J Geotech Geoenviron Eng 131:538–563. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1090-0241(2005)131:5(538)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Lv Y, Zhang D (2018) Geometrical effects on the load transfer mechanism of pile groups: three-dimensional numerical analysis. Can Geotech J 55:749–757. https://doi.org/10.1139/cgj-2016-0518

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Hobbs NB (1957) Unusual necking of cast in-situ concrete piles. In: Proceedings of 4th international conference on soil mechanics and foundation engineering, vol 3, pp 40–42

  9. Xu KJ, Poulos HG (2000) Measured and predicted axial response of piles with diameter discontinuities. Geotech Eng J 31

  10. Tabsh SW, O’Neill NW (2001) Structural safety of drilled shaft with minor defect. In: Proceedings of ICCOSSAR’2001 international association for structural safety and reliability

  11. Petek K, Felice WC, Holtz RD (2002) Capacity analysis of drilled shafts with defects. In: An international perspective on theory, design, construction, and performance. ASCE, pp 1120–1135. https://doi.org/10.1061/40601(256)80

  12. Albuquerque PJR, Garcia JR, Neto OF, Cunha RP, Santos-Junior OF (2017) Behavioral evaluation of small-diameter defective and intact bored piles subjected to axial compression. Soils Rocks 40:109–121. https://doi.org/10.28927/SR.402109

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Hariswaran S, Premalatha K (2021) Experimental investigation on the behavior of a defective pile subject to a lateral load. Soil Mech Found Eng 58:339–346. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11204-021-09747-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Zhang LM, Wong EYW (2007) Centrifuge modeling of large-diameter bored pile groups with defects. J Geotech Geoenviron Eng 133:1091–1101. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1090-0241(2007)133:9(1091)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Yang Z, Jeremić B (2003) Numerical study of group effects for pile groups in sands. Int J Numer Anal Methods Geomech 27:1255–1276. https://doi.org/10.1002/nag.321

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Moayed RZ, Izadi E, Mirsepahi M (2013) 3D finite elements analysis of vertically loaded composite piled raft. J Cent South Univ 20:1713–1723. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11771-013-1664-y

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Alnuaim AM, El Naggar MH, El Naggar H (2016) Numerical investigation of the performance of micropiled rafts in sand. Comput Geotech 77:91–105. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2016.04.002

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. El Sharnouby MM, El Naggar MH (2018) Numerical investigation of axial monotonic performance of reinforced helical pulldown micropiles. Int J Geomech 18:1–14. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0001161

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Shawky O, Altahrany AI, Elmeligy M (2022) Study of lateral load influence on behaviour of negative skin friction on circular and square piles. Civil Eng J 8:2125–2153. https://doi.org/10.28991/CEJ-2022-08-10-08

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Ahmed D, Taib SNLB, Ayadat T, Hasan A (2022) Numerical analysis of the carrying capacity of a piled raft foundation in soft clayey soils. Civil Eng J (Iran) 8:622–636. https://doi.org/10.28991/CEJ-2022-08-04-01

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Russo G, Marone G, di Girolamo L (2021) Hybrid energy piles as a smart and sustainable foundation. J Human Earth Future 2

  22. Kong L, Zhang L (2004) Lateral or torsional failure modes in vertically loaded defective pile groups. Geotechnical Special Publication, pp 625–636.

  23. Xu KJ, Poulos HG (2001) Behaviour of pile group containing defective piles. In: 14th international conference on soil mechanics foundation engineering, vol 2, pp 1039–1041

  24. Da Cunha RP, Cordeiro AF, Sales MM, Small JC (2007) Parametric analyses of pile groups with defective piles: observed numerical behaviour and remediation. In: Common ground proceedings 10th Australia New Zealand conference on geomechanics, pp 454–460

  25. Da Cunha RP, Cordeiro AF, Sales MM (2010) Numerical assessment of an imperfect pile group with a defective pile in both initial and reinforced conditions. Soils Rocks 33(2):81–93

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Garcia J, Albuquerque P, Neto OF, Santos O, Cunha RP (2017) Numerical evaluation of the influence of defective piles on the behavior of piled raft systems. In: ICSMGE 2017—19th international conference on soil mechanics and geotechnical engineering, 2017-Septe, pp 2747–2750

  27. SIMULIA. ABAQUS/CAE. Dassault Systèmes Simulia Corp 2013

  28. Canadian Geotechnical Society Canadian Foundation Engineering Manual. Richmond, B.C (2006)

  29. Choi YS, Lee J, Prezzi M, Salgado R (2017) Response of pile groups driven in sand subjected to combined loads. Geotech Geol Eng 35:1587–1604. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-017-0194-z

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Janbu N (1963) Soil compressibility as determined by oedometer and triaxial tests. In: Proceedings of 3rd European conference on soil mechanics and foundation engineering, vol 1, pp 19–25

  31. Kulhawy FH, Duncan JM, Seed HB (1969) Finite element analyses of stresses and movements in embankments during construction. University of California, Berkeley

    Google Scholar 

  32. Garnier J, Gaudin C, Springman SM, Culligan PJ, Goodings D, Konig D, Kutter B, Phillips R, Randolph MF, Thorel L (2007) Catalogue of scaling laws and similitude questions in geotechnical centrifuge modeling. Int J Phys Model Geotech 8(3):1–23

    Google Scholar 

  33. Balmer B, Am C, Ci C (2006) Rock mass properties 2 normal and shear stresses are related to principal stresses by the equations published, pp 1–47

  34. Zhou WH, Xu X (2015) Shear strength of unsaturated completely decomposed granite soil under different stress state conditions. In: 15th Asian regional conference on soil mechanics and geotechnical engineering, ARC 2015: New Innovations and Sustainability, pp 230–235. https://doi.org/10.3208/jgssp.HKG-16.

  35. Elkasabgy M, El Naggar MH (2019) Lateral performance and P-y curves for large-capacity helical piles installed in clayey glacial deposit. J Geotech Geoenviron Eng 145:04019078. https://doi.org/10.1061/(asce)gt.1943-5606.0002063

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. CSA A23.3-14/A23.2-14 Concrete Materials and Methods of Concrete Construction/ Test Methods and Standard Practices for Concrete; Canadian Standards Association: Mississauga (Ontario) (2014)

  37. Kulhawy FH (1984) Limiting tip and side resistance: fact or fallacy. In: ASCE Spec. Conf. on analysis and design of pile foundation, pp 80–98

  38. Mansur CI, Hunter HA (1970) Pile tests—arkansas river project. J Soil Mech Found Div 96(SM5):1545–1582

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. DeBeer E (1970) Proefondervindellijke Bijdrage Tot de Studie van Het Grandsdraagvermogen van Zand Onder Funderinger Op Staal. English Version Geotechnique 20:387–411

    Google Scholar 

  40. Davisson M (1972) High capacity piles. In: Proceedings, soil mechanics lecture series on innovations in foundation construction, ASCE, pp 81–112

  41. Terzaghi K (1942) Discussion of the progress report of the committee on the bearing value of pile foundations. Proc ASCE 68:311–323

    Google Scholar 

  42. Paikowsky SG, Bjorn B, MaVay M, Nguyen T, Kuo C, Baecher G, Ayyub BM, Stenerseen K, O’Malley K, Chernauskas L, et al (2004) Transportation Research Board (TRB), Washington D.C., USA, NCHRP REPORT 507. ISBN 0309088364

  43. Kwak K, Kim KJ, Huh J, Lee JH, Park JH (2010) Reliability-based calibration of resistance factors for static bearing capacity of driven steel pipe piles. Can Geotech J 47:528–538. https://doi.org/10.1139/T09-119

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. AbdelSalam SS, Ng KW, Sritharan S, Suleiman MT, Roling M (2012) Development of LRFD procedures for bridge pile foundations in Iowa — Volume III: Recommended Resistance Factors with Consideration of Construction Control and Setup;; Vol. IHRB Proje; ISBN 8004574416

  45. Poulos HG, Davis EH (1980) Pile foundation analysis and design. Wiley, New York

    Google Scholar 

  46. Comodromos EM, Papadopoulou MC, Rentzeperis IK (2009) Pile foundation analysis and design using experimental data and 3-D numerical analysis. Comput Geotech 36:819–836. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2009.01.011

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. Oudah F, El Naggar MH, Norlander G (2019) Unified system reliability approach for single and group pile foundations—theory and resistance factor calibration. Comput Geotech 108:173–182. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2018.12.003

    Article  Google Scholar 

  48. Timoshenko SP (1922) On the correction for shear of the differential equation for transverse vibration of prismatic bars. Philos Mag 43:125–131

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. Timoshenko SP (1921) On the transverse vibrations of bars of uniform cross-section. Philos Mag 41:744–746

    Article  Google Scholar 

  50. Zhang L, Ng AMY (2005) Probabilistic limiting tolerable displacements for serviceability limit state design of foundations. Geotechnique 55:151–161. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.2005.55.2.151

    Article  Google Scholar 

  51. Alhashmi AE, Oudah F, El-Naggar MH (2021) Application of binomial system-based reliability in optimizing resistance factor calibration of redundant pile groups. Comput Geotech 129:103870

    Article  Google Scholar 

  52. Kraft LM (1991) Performance of axially loaded pipe piles in sand. J Geotech Eng 117(2):272–296

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

Funding was provided by Canadian Network for Research and Innovation in Machining Technology, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (Grant No. RGPAS-020-00101).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Western University, 1151 Richmond Street, London, ON, N6A 5B9, Canada

    Abdalla Elhadi Alhashmi & M. Hesham El Naggar

  2. Department of Civil and Resource Engineering, Dalhousie University, 1360 Barrington Street, Halifax, NS, B3H 4R2, Canada

    Abdalla Elhadi Alhashmi & Fadi Oudah

Authors
  1. Abdalla Elhadi Alhashmi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. Hesham El Naggar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Fadi Oudah
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. Hesham El Naggar.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no confict of interest.

Ethical approval

This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.

Informed consent

The informed consent statement is not relevant or required for this type of research.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Alhashmi, A.E., El Naggar, M.H. & Oudah, F. Performance of axially loaded defective pile groups in sand: capacity and serviceability evaluation. Innov. Infrastruct. Solut. 8, 124 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41062-023-01086-w

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41062-023-01086-w

Keywords

Search

Navigation