Effectiveness of small-diameter timber piles to enhance the bearing capacity of micropiled foundation in soft clays
Small-diameter natural timbers like gelam and ironwood have been widely used in constructing micropile foundations, particularly in undrained soft clay. However, the design approaches and analytical methods for micropile foundations using gelam and ironwood remain highly empirical, with limited stud...
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Elsevier
2025-09-01
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| Series: | Results in Engineering |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590123025029111 |
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| author | Yusti Yudiawati Ari Surya Abdi Muhammad Dwiyanto Agung Prakasa |
| author_facet | Yusti Yudiawati Ari Surya Abdi Muhammad Dwiyanto Agung Prakasa |
| author_sort | Yusti Yudiawati |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Small-diameter natural timbers like gelam and ironwood have been widely used in constructing micropile foundations, particularly in undrained soft clay. However, the design approaches and analytical methods for micropile foundations using gelam and ironwood remain highly empirical, with limited studies investigating their load transfer mechanism. Their application often depends on empirical knowledge and field experience. In this study, a series of three-dimensional finite element analyses was conducted to simulate the actual arrangement and behavior of micropile systems, focusing on two foundation types utilizing gelam wood micropiles: ironwood with gelam wood micropiles (IMP) and concrete footing with gelam wood micropiles (FMP). The numerical results are initially validated through the field test data. According to the numerical results, for IMP models, load transfer begins with ironwood side friction, followed by tip resistance and additional base support from horizontal Gelam wood, while in FMP models, Gelam wood friction and tip resistance mobilize first, with the footing starting to contribute thereafter, enhancing bearing capacity and reducing settlement. Furthermore, the use of micropiles could effectively increase the bearing capacity to more than twice that of without micropiles for both IMP and FMP models. Additionally, for configurations with four micropiles, a spacing-to-diameter ratio of six is optimal for maximizing bearing capacity and minimizing settlement. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5acc2fc84b5f48da8ef682b9a868c0a2 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2590-1230 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-09-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Results in Engineering |
| spelling | doaj-art-5acc2fc84b5f48da8ef682b9a868c0a22025-08-25T04:14:43ZengElsevierResults in Engineering2590-12302025-09-012710684710.1016/j.rineng.2025.106847Effectiveness of small-diameter timber piles to enhance the bearing capacity of micropiled foundation in soft claysYusti Yudiawati0Ari Surya Abdi1Muhammad Dwiyanto Agung Prakasa2Department of Civil and Earth Engineering, State Polytechnic of Banjarmasin, Brig. Jend. Hasan Basri Rd, Banjarmasin, 70124, IndonesiaDepartment of Civil Engineering, National Taiwan University, No 1, Section 4, Roosevelt Rd, Da'an District, Taipei City, 10617, TaiwanDepartment of Civil Engineering, State Polytechnic of Ujung Pandang, Makassar 90245, Indonesia; Corresponding author.Small-diameter natural timbers like gelam and ironwood have been widely used in constructing micropile foundations, particularly in undrained soft clay. However, the design approaches and analytical methods for micropile foundations using gelam and ironwood remain highly empirical, with limited studies investigating their load transfer mechanism. Their application often depends on empirical knowledge and field experience. In this study, a series of three-dimensional finite element analyses was conducted to simulate the actual arrangement and behavior of micropile systems, focusing on two foundation types utilizing gelam wood micropiles: ironwood with gelam wood micropiles (IMP) and concrete footing with gelam wood micropiles (FMP). The numerical results are initially validated through the field test data. According to the numerical results, for IMP models, load transfer begins with ironwood side friction, followed by tip resistance and additional base support from horizontal Gelam wood, while in FMP models, Gelam wood friction and tip resistance mobilize first, with the footing starting to contribute thereafter, enhancing bearing capacity and reducing settlement. Furthermore, the use of micropiles could effectively increase the bearing capacity to more than twice that of without micropiles for both IMP and FMP models. Additionally, for configurations with four micropiles, a spacing-to-diameter ratio of six is optimal for maximizing bearing capacity and minimizing settlement.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590123025029111Bearing capacityFinite element methodFootingGelam woodIronwoodMicropile foundation |
| spellingShingle | Yusti Yudiawati Ari Surya Abdi Muhammad Dwiyanto Agung Prakasa Effectiveness of small-diameter timber piles to enhance the bearing capacity of micropiled foundation in soft clays Results in Engineering Bearing capacity Finite element method Footing Gelam wood Ironwood Micropile foundation |
| title | Effectiveness of small-diameter timber piles to enhance the bearing capacity of micropiled foundation in soft clays |
| title_full | Effectiveness of small-diameter timber piles to enhance the bearing capacity of micropiled foundation in soft clays |
| title_fullStr | Effectiveness of small-diameter timber piles to enhance the bearing capacity of micropiled foundation in soft clays |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effectiveness of small-diameter timber piles to enhance the bearing capacity of micropiled foundation in soft clays |
| title_short | Effectiveness of small-diameter timber piles to enhance the bearing capacity of micropiled foundation in soft clays |
| title_sort | effectiveness of small diameter timber piles to enhance the bearing capacity of micropiled foundation in soft clays |
| topic | Bearing capacity Finite element method Footing Gelam wood Ironwood Micropile foundation |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590123025029111 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT yustiyudiawati effectivenessofsmalldiametertimberpilestoenhancethebearingcapacityofmicropiledfoundationinsoftclays AT arisuryaabdi effectivenessofsmalldiametertimberpilestoenhancethebearingcapacityofmicropiledfoundationinsoftclays AT muhammaddwiyantoagungprakasa effectivenessofsmalldiametertimberpilestoenhancethebearingcapacityofmicropiledfoundationinsoftclays |