A simplified approach for negative skin friction calculation of special-shaped pile considering pile-soil interaction under surcharge

A simplified approach was proposed to analyze the negative skin friction calculation of special-shaped pile considering pile-soil interaction under surcharge. Based on the concentric cylinder shearing theory, considering the changes of pile shape (such as, taper angle and diameters of pile base, etc.), the load-transfer of special-shaped pile was built. The accuracy of the developed simplified approach was verified by numerical simulation model with the same condition. Then, the influence factors, such as, taper angles, the diameter of pile base, surcharge, and pile-soil interface parameters were analyzed and discussed. The results show that the developed simplified approach can calculate NSF of special-shaped pile under surcharge effectively. A limited parametric study indicates that in many practical situations special-shaped piles (such as belled wedge pile shown in this work) offer a design option that is more economical than traditional uniform cross-section piles.