Numerical simulation of liquefaction susceptibility of soil interacting by single pile

Abstract

Previous case histories have shown that soil liquefaction severely damaged many structures supported on pile foundations during earthquakes. As a result, evaluating the potential for instability is an important consideration for the safe and resistant design of deep foundation against earthquakes. In this study, the liquefaction susceptibility of saturated sand interacting by single concrete pile was simulated by means of finite difference method. A nonlinear effective stress analysis was used to evaluate soil liquefaction, and the soil-pile interaction was considered using interface elements. The parameter Ru was defined as the pore water pressure ratio to investigate liquefaction in the soil mass during time. A set of numerical models were carried out by three types of soil mass with various condensation (loose, semi-dense and dense) under three ground motion with different predominant frequencies and peak accelerations. The effect of these parameters was studied using excess pore pressure, lateral movement and settlement time histories. It was found that the pile can affect the liquefaction susceptibility of soil by comparing the near pile and free field responses. However, for various soil and earthquake characteristics, it was found that the depth of soil liquefaction and triggering, varies.