Formulation and numerical applications of efficient pile–soil integrated element considering structural inelasticity

Abstract

The prediction of pile behavior under extreme loading is an essential consideration in the design. The pile behavior at a large displacement level is governed by the pile–soil interaction and the material inelasticity. The conventional numerical model using a large number of elements is inefficient for modeling the nonlinear pile–soil interaction and structural inelasticity in finite element analysis. To accurately and effectively evaluate the behavior of piles under extreme loading, this paper develops a pile–soil integrated element considering structural inelasticity. The pile–soil interaction force can be efficiently evaluated according to the soil resistance at the Gauss integration points. The different types of p‐y and t‐z curves can be applied in this element to represent soil properties at any soil depth. Zero‐length plastic hinges at the ends and middle of an element are used to capture the inelastic behavior of a pile. The plastic hinges and the soil springs are integrated into the proposed element formulations, and thus one element type is sufficient to conveniently simulate the nonlinear pile–soil interactions. Comparisons between the results of the elastic pile element and the data from published literature and field tests are provided to validate the accuracy and efficiency of the proposed method.