A Numerical Study of the Lateral Load-Sharing Mechanism of the Pile Cap in a 3 × 3 Pile Group
This numerical study utilizes a validated Plaxis 3D model calibrated against full-scale field tests to investigate the lateral load-sharing mechanism of the pile cap in a 3 × 3 pile group under horizontal loading. Numerical simulations calibrated against full-scale field tests reveal that the pile c...
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MDPI AG
2025-04-01
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| author | Yuanyuan Ren Zhiwei Chen Wenbo Zhu |
| author_facet | Yuanyuan Ren Zhiwei Chen Wenbo Zhu |
| author_sort | Yuanyuan Ren |
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| description | This numerical study utilizes a validated Plaxis 3D model calibrated against full-scale field tests to investigate the lateral load-sharing mechanism of the pile cap in a 3 × 3 pile group under horizontal loading. Numerical simulations calibrated against full-scale field tests reveal that the pile cap significantly enhances the lateral bearing capacity while reducing horizontal displacement by an average of 59.5%. The load-sharing ratio of the pile cap decreases from 62% at low loads to 50% at higher loads, with a corresponding increase in pile contributions. The decomposition of the pile cap’s resistance identifies passive earth pressure (<i>P</i><sub>C-E</sub>) as the dominant component (72–80%), followed by base friction (<i>P</i><sub>C-B</sub>, 15–18%) and side friction (<i>P</i><sub>C-S</sub>, 5–12%). According to parametric analyses, increasing the embedment depth (<i>H</i>) from 0.5 m to 3.0 m elevates the pile cap’s load-sharing ratio by approximately 60%, while expanding the cap width (<i>B</i>) from 2.5 m to 3.5 m enhances lateral resistance by increasing the contact area. A power function relationship quantifies the load-sharing ratio (<i>β</i>) as a function of the product of <i>H</i> and <i>B</i>. These findings provide critical insights for optimizing pile cap geometry and improving the design of laterally loaded pile group foundations. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-89886215709e40b5904a7dd79f82cbfb |
| institution | DOAJ |
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| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-89886215709e40b5904a7dd79f82cbfb2025-08-20T02:59:14ZengMDPI AGBuildings2075-53092025-04-01159143110.3390/buildings15091431A Numerical Study of the Lateral Load-Sharing Mechanism of the Pile Cap in a 3 × 3 Pile GroupYuanyuan Ren0Zhiwei Chen1Wenbo Zhu2School of Highway and Railway Engineering, Shaanxi College of Communications Technology, Xi’an 710018, ChinaSchool of Civil Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, ChinaSchool of Civil Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, ChinaThis numerical study utilizes a validated Plaxis 3D model calibrated against full-scale field tests to investigate the lateral load-sharing mechanism of the pile cap in a 3 × 3 pile group under horizontal loading. Numerical simulations calibrated against full-scale field tests reveal that the pile cap significantly enhances the lateral bearing capacity while reducing horizontal displacement by an average of 59.5%. The load-sharing ratio of the pile cap decreases from 62% at low loads to 50% at higher loads, with a corresponding increase in pile contributions. The decomposition of the pile cap’s resistance identifies passive earth pressure (<i>P</i><sub>C-E</sub>) as the dominant component (72–80%), followed by base friction (<i>P</i><sub>C-B</sub>, 15–18%) and side friction (<i>P</i><sub>C-S</sub>, 5–12%). According to parametric analyses, increasing the embedment depth (<i>H</i>) from 0.5 m to 3.0 m elevates the pile cap’s load-sharing ratio by approximately 60%, while expanding the cap width (<i>B</i>) from 2.5 m to 3.5 m enhances lateral resistance by increasing the contact area. A power function relationship quantifies the load-sharing ratio (<i>β</i>) as a function of the product of <i>H</i> and <i>B</i>. These findings provide critical insights for optimizing pile cap geometry and improving the design of laterally loaded pile group foundations.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/9/1431pile cap3 × 3 pile grouphorizontal resistancelateral load sharingfinite element method |
| spellingShingle | Yuanyuan Ren Zhiwei Chen Wenbo Zhu A Numerical Study of the Lateral Load-Sharing Mechanism of the Pile Cap in a 3 × 3 Pile Group Buildings pile cap 3 × 3 pile group horizontal resistance lateral load sharing finite element method |
| title | A Numerical Study of the Lateral Load-Sharing Mechanism of the Pile Cap in a 3 × 3 Pile Group |
| title_full | A Numerical Study of the Lateral Load-Sharing Mechanism of the Pile Cap in a 3 × 3 Pile Group |
| title_fullStr | A Numerical Study of the Lateral Load-Sharing Mechanism of the Pile Cap in a 3 × 3 Pile Group |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Numerical Study of the Lateral Load-Sharing Mechanism of the Pile Cap in a 3 × 3 Pile Group |
| title_short | A Numerical Study of the Lateral Load-Sharing Mechanism of the Pile Cap in a 3 × 3 Pile Group |
| title_sort | numerical study of the lateral load sharing mechanism of the pile cap in a 3 3 pile group |
| topic | pile cap 3 × 3 pile group horizontal resistance lateral load sharing finite element method |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/9/1431 |
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