Study on load-bearing mechanism of stabilizing pile-groups by FEM and its application

The behaviour of pile-groups subjected to lateral soil pressure is a key consideration in establishing the design parameters of pile-groups. In this paper, one representative section of the Chongqing Jiangdong slope is taken as an example. The existence of an arching zone around pile groups for granular and fine-grained soils is first examined using the finite element computer code CORE-3D. Pile load-displacement curves and the arching effect are considered together to explain how the stresses are transferred from the soil to the piles. The key parameters controlling the soil arching effect are centre-to-centre pile spacing (S), thickness of stable soil mass (H), depth (L) of pile embedment, pile diameter (D) and these were studied extensively. An empirical equation summarising the results is presented and the results have been adopted by the designer in practice.