Identifier

etd-08162012-135354

Degree

Master of Science in Civil Engineering (MSCE)

Department

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Document Type

Thesis

Abstract

This study presents a series of numerical studies of laterally loaded batter pile groups based on data of the full-scale lateral load test on M19 eastbound pier foundation of the new I-10 Twin Span Bridge, Louisiana. The numerical studies include several continuum-based 3D finite element analyses on batter/vertical pile/pile groups and a FB-MultiPier analysis of the pile foundation. The Anisotropic Modified Cam Clay Model, has been implemented into UMAT and applied for describing clay behavior in all FE models. The explicit substepping scheme with modified Euler algorithm is selected to implement the model in ABAQUS software. The resultant UMAT shows good accuracy compared to the ABAQUS in-built Modified Cam Clay model. Also it exhibits wonderful computational stability and efficiency in the pile group analyses, which greatly accelerated the whole research processes. The results of FE analyses were compared with the measured field data from lateral load test and those predicted by FB-MultiPier. All of them showing good agreement on lateral deformation profiles and bending moment profiles. The comparison of the lateral deflection, bending moment, soil resistance and lateral/ vertical load distributions between different spacing batter/ vertical pile groups and single isolated pile illustrate that small spacing and the vertical piles will produce intensified group effect. The concept of “trapezoidal zone” is firstly proposed to explain the axial load distribution pattern of batter pile group foundation. An additional coupled pore fluid diffusion and stress analysis on a single pile model demonstrated that the resultant excessive pore pressure caused by lateral loads has limited influence on the result of FE analyses.

Date

2012

Document Availability at the Time of Submission

Secure the entire work for patent and/or proprietary purposes for a period of one year. Student has submitted appropriate documentation which states: During this period the copyright owner also agrees not to exercise her/his ownership rights, including public use in works, without prior authorization from LSU. At the end of the one year period, either we or LSU may request an automatic extension for one additional year. At the end of the one year secure period (or its extension, if such is requested), the work will be released for access worldwide.

Committee Chair

Abu-Farsakh, Murad

DOI

10.31390/gradschool_theses.3496

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