Single piles under monotonic lateral loads-Full scale tests and numerical modelling

Abstract

This paper aims to present the results of the analysis of full-scale lateral loading tests of a single pile driven into a bi-layered soil located in Plancoet (France). The pile was subjected to a monotonic sequence of loads, and the P-Y curves along the pile were derived and compared to those recommended by the current design methods. Displacement analysis was then undertaken by inputting these P-Y curves, as well as those currently recommended in the literature, into the software SPULL to predict the load-deflection curve. The calibration process was conducted by a 3D finite element model using Abaqus software based on the elastic-perfectly plastic Mohr–Coulomb constitutive model, and the surface-to-surface contact method was used to take into account the nonlinear response at the pile/soil interface. The determined soil elastic modulus was used to predict the pile deflections by using some usual elasticity-based methods, which led to good prediction of the small pile deflections.

Inaugural Editorial of Journal of Geomechanics and Geoengineering

“…The first de the JGG is in progress mode and covers a variety of topics interesting both geoengineering and geomechanics communities. Among the first articles already published, one article dealing with interesting case studies of soil improvement in Tunisia (Ellouze et al, 2023), and another one presenting the results of interpretation of a monotonic lateral loading test of a steel pile driven into a two-layered soil at the experimental site of Plancoet, France (Haouari & Bouafia, 2023). The third article deals with the effect of lime on the stabilization of an expansive clay in Algeria (Driss et al, 2023), whereas the fourth article presents a study of the mechanical properties of rock joints sampled from the Gneiss of Yaounde, Cameroon (Bissaya et al, 2023).…”