Application of the Meshfree Method for Evaluating the Bearing Capacity and Response Behavior of Foundation Piles
Publication: International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 12, Issue 2
Abstract
Meshfree method is one of the numerical methods that typically use higher-order approximate functions and a weighted-residual approach to formulate the shape functions that are independent of the grids. In this paper, a series of computational modeling were conducted using the meshfree local Petrov-Galerkin (MLPG) method to evaluate the bearing capacity and response behavior of extended-length piles. The computational program codes and boundary conditions were generated based on the elastic-plastic behavior of the surrounding soil, reinforcements, and the noncontinuous interfaces between the piles and the soil. Compared to the traditional finite-element method (FEM), the MLPG exhibited higher accuracy in the results and indicated that the optimal length of the pile is directly related to the stiffness of the soil, i.e., the stiffer the soil, the longer the allowable pile length. Overall, the MLPG meshfree method was found to be a reliable and potentially promising numerical method for studying the bearing behavior of pile foundations.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Acknowledgments
The authors appreciate the support of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (no. 50908024), Western Communications Construction Scientific and Technological Project (no. 2009318000048), and the Hunan Transportation Science and Technology Project (no. 200904).
References
Atluri, S. N., and Zhu, T. (1998). “A new meshless local Petrov-Galerkin (MLPG) approach in computational mechanics.” Comput. Mech., 22(2), 117–127.
Atluri, S. N., and Zhu, T. (2000) “New concepts in meshless method.” Int. J. Numer. Methods Eng.IJNMBH, 47(1–3), 537–556.
Belytschko, T., Gu, L., and Lu, Y. Y. (1994a), “Fracture and crack growth by element-free Galerkin method.” Modell. Simul. Mater. Sci. Eng., 2(3A), 519–534.
Belytschko, T., Lu, Y. Y., and Gu, L. (1994b). “Element-free Galerkin methods.” Int. J. Numer. Methods Eng.IJNMBH, 37(2), 229–256.
Belytschko, T., and Mish, K. (2001). “Computability in non-linear solid mechanics.” Int. J. Numer. Methods Eng.IJNMBH, 52(12), 3–21.
Cordes, L. W., and Moran, B. (1996). “Treatment of material discontinuity in the element-free Galerkin method.” Comput. Methods Appl. Mech. Eng., 139(1–4), 75–89.
Feng, Z., Xie, Y., Li, Z., and Zhang, Hong-guang. (2005). “Bearing property of large-diameter over-length nonplacement piles.” J. Traffic Transp. Eng., 5(1), 24–27.
Gingold, R. A., and Monaghan, J. J. (1977) “Smoothed particle hydrodynamics: Theory and applications to non-spherical stars.” Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc.MNRAA4, 181, 375–389.
Hanna, A. M., and Sharif, A. (2006). “Drag force on single piles in clay subjected to surcharge loading.” Int. J. Geomech.IJGNAI, 6(2), 89–96.
Hassen, G., Dias, D., and de Buhan, P. (2009). “Multiphase constitutive model for the design of piled-embankments: Comparison with three-dimensional numerical simulations.” Int. J. Geomech.IJGNAI, 9(6), 258–266.
Kraft, L. M., Ray, R. P., and Kagawa, T. (1981). “Theoretical t-z curves.” J. Geotech. Eng. Div.AJGEB6, 107(11), 1543–1561.
Lancaster, P., and Salkauskas, K. (1981). “Surfaces generated by moving least squares methods.” Math. Comput.MCMPAF, 37(155), 141–158.
Lee, F. H., Hong, S. H., Gu, Q., and Zhao, P. (2011). “Application of large three-dimensional finite-element analyses to practical problems.” Int. J. Geomech.IJGNAI, 11(6).
Liu, Q., Zhao, M., Li, Y., and Liu, J. (2004). “In-site load test of the piles in the foundation of Maocaojie Bridge.” J. Hunan Univ., 31, 51–54.
Long, S. Y., and Atluri, S. N. (2002). “A meshless local Petrov-Galerkin method for solving the bending problem of a thin plate.” Comput. Model. Eng. Sci., 3(1), 53–63.
Lu, Y. Y., Belytschko, T, and Tabbara, M. (1995). “Element-free Galerkin methods for wave propagation and dynamic fracture.” Comput. Methods Appl. Mech. Eng., 126(1–2), 131–153.
Lucyt, L. B. (1977). “A numerical approach to the testing of the fission hypothesis.” Astron. J.ANJOAA, 82(12), 1013–1024.
Lv, X., Jin, G., and Wu, X. (1997). Theory and application of nonlinear FEM in reinforced concrete structure, Tongji University Press, Shanghai.
Monaghan, J. J. (1988). “An introduction to SPH.” Computation Phys. Commun., 48(1), 89–96.
MSC Software Corporation. (2003). “MSC Marc Volume B, Element library.” Version 2003.
Nayroles, B., Touzot, G., and Villon, P. (1992). “Generalizing the finite element method: Diffuse approximation and diffuse elements.” Comput. Mech., 10(5), 307–318.
Polous, H. G., and Davis, E. H. (1980). “Pile foundation analysis and design.” John Wiley and Sons, New York.
Reul, O. (2004). “Numerical study of the bearing behavior of piled rafts.” Int. J. Geomech.IJGNAI, 4(2), 59–68.
Seed, H. B., and Reese, L. C. (1957). “The action of soft clay along friction piles.” Trans. Am. Soc. Civ. Eng.TACEAT, 122, 731–754.
Shao, Z., and Feng, Q. (2004). Experimental design and data processing, China Building Material Industry Publishing House, Shanghai.
Xiong, Y. B., Long, S. Y., and Hu, D. A. (2004a) “A meshless local Petrov-Galerkin method for geometrically nonlinear problem.” International Conf. Computational Methods, AMSS Press, Wuhan, China, 321–324.
Xiong, Y. B., Long, S. Y., and Liu, K. Y. (2004b) “A meshless local Petrov-Galerkin method for the elasto-plasticity problem.” International Conf. Computational Methods, AMSS Press, Wuhan, China, 416–420.
Xu, B., Liu, Xinsheng. (1995). Application elastic-plastic mechanics. Tsinghua University press, Beijing.
Zhang, Y., Zhang, X. (2001). “Choice of parameters and treatment of interface in application of EFG method.” J. Eng. Geol., 9(3), 321–325.
Zhao, M., Cao, W., Liu, Q., and Yang, M. (2004a). “Method of determination of vertical bearing capacity of rock-socketed piles by the settlement of piles top.” Chin. J. Mech Eng.YGXUEB, 40(08), 67–71.
Zhao, M., Liu, Q., Cao, X., and Zou, X. (2006). “Evaluation of vertical bearing capacity of extended-length bored single piles by the piles head settlement.” Eng. Mech.GOLIEB, 42(07), 92–96.
Zhao, M., Zou, X., and Liu, Q. (2004b). “Loading test on the vertical bearing capacity of extended-length and large-diameter bored piles in the soft soil area of Dongting Lake.” China Civ. Eng. J., 37(10), 63–67.
Zhong, W., Shi, M., and Liu, S. (2005). “Load transfer performance of overlength piles.” Rock Soil Mech.YLAIAR, 26(2), 307–311.
Zhou, W., and Kou, X. (1998). “The application of meshfree method in geotechnical engineering.” Chin. J. Geotech. Eng.YGXUEB, 20(1), 5–9.
Zhu, X., Fang, P., and Huang, H. (2003). “Research on super-long pile in soft clay.” Chin. J. Mech. Eng.YGXUEB, 39(05), 76–79.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Copyright
© 2012. American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Oct 9, 2010
Accepted: Jan 7, 2011
Published online: Jan 10, 2011
Published in print: Apr 1, 2012
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.