• Interaction and multiscale mechanics
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.321-336
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• 2011

This paper presents the results of static vertical load tests carried out on a model building frame supported by pile groups embedded in cohesionless soil (sand). The effect of soil interaction on displacements and rotation at the column base and also the shears and bending moments in the columns of the building frame were investigated. The experimental results have been compared with those obtained from the finite element analysis and conventional method of analysis. Soil nonlinearity in the lateral direction is characterized by the p-y curves and in the axial direction by nonlinear vertical springs along the length of the piles (${\tau}-z$ curves) at their tips (Q-z curves). The results reveal that the conventional method gives the shear force in the column by about 40-60%, the bending moment at the column top about 20-30% and at the column base about 75-100% more than those from the experimental results. The response of the frame from the experimental results is in good agreement with that obtained by the nonlinear finite element analysis.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.287-294
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• 2019

The finite element method (FEM) is widely used to evaluate the seismic performance of pile-supported buildings. However, there are problems associated with modeling the pile end resistance using the FEM, such as the dependence on the mesh size. This paper proposes a new method of modeling around the pile tip to avoid the mesh size effect in two-dimensional (2D) analyses. Specifically, we consider the area of influence around the pile tip as an artificial constraint on the behavior of the soil. We explain the problems with existing methods of modeling the pile tip. We then conduct a three-dimensional (3D) analysis of a pile in various soil conditions to evaluate the area of influence of the soil around the pile tip. The analysis results show that the normalized area of influence extends approximately 2.5 times the diameter of the pile below the pile tip. Finally, we propose a new method for modeling pile foundations with artificial constraints on the nodal points within the area of influence. The proposed model is expected to be useful in the practical seismic design of pile-supported buildings via a 2D analysis.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.579-586
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• 2022

Pile-supported structures are installed on saturated sloping grounds, where the ground stiffness may decrease due to liquefaction during earthquakes. Thus, it is important to consider saturated sloping ground and pile interactions. In this study, we conduct a centrifuge test of a pile-supported structure, and analyze the p-y_p loops, p-y_p loops provide the correlation between the lateral pile deflection (y_p) and lateral soil resistance (p). In the dry sand model (UV67), the p-y_p loops stiffness increased as ground depth increased, and the p-y_p loops stiffness was larger by approximately three times when the pile moved to the upslope direction, compared with when it moved to the downslope direction. In contrast, no significant difference was observed in the stiffness with the ground depth and pile moving direction in the saturated sand model (SV69). Furthermore, we identify the unstable zone based on the result of the lateral soil resistance (p). In the case of the SV69 model, the maximum depth of the unstable zone is five times larger than that of the dry sand model, and it was found that the saturated sand model was affected significantly by kinematic forces due to slope failure.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.311-322
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• 2018

As a method of seismic-design for pile-supported wharves, equivalent static analysis, response spectrum analysis, and time history analysis method are applied. Among them, the response spectrum analysis is widely used to obtain the maximum response of a structure. Because the ground is not modeled in the response spectrum analysis of pile-supported wharves, the amplified input ground acceleration should be calculated by ground classification or seismic response analysis. However, it is difficult to calculate the input ground acceleration through ground classification because the pile-supported wharf is build on inclined ground, the methods to calculate the input ground acceleration proposed in the standards are different. Therefore, in this study, the dynamic centrifuge model tests and the response spectrum analysis were carried out to calculate the appropriate input ground acceleration. The pile moment in response spectrum analysis and the dynamic centrifuge model tests were compared. As a result of comparison, it was shown that the response spectrum analysis results using the amplified acceleration in the ground surface were appropriate.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.415-425
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• 2023

Pile-supported wharves, port structures that support the upper deck, are installed on sloping ground. The sloping ground should be covered with a rubble mound or artificial blocks to protect the interior material from erosion caused by wave force. The behavior of the pile may vary during an earthquake if a rubble mound is installed on the slope. However, studies evaluating the effect of rubble mound on the pile during an earthquake are limited. Here, we performed dynamic centrifuge model tests to evaluate the dynamic behavior of piles installed in a slope reinforced with rubble mound. In the structure, some sections (single-pile, 2×2 group-pile) were selected for the experiment. The moment of the group-pile decreased by up to 26% upon installation of the rubble mound, whereas the moment of the single-pile increased by up to 41%, thus demonstrating conflicting results.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.37 no.12
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• pp.57-71
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• 2021

The pile-supported wharf is the port structure in which the upper deck is supported by piles or columns. By installing batter piles in this structure, horizontal load such as earthquake loads can be partially delivered as axial forces. The codes suggests using the response spectrum analysis as a preliminary design method for seismic design of pile-supported wharf, and suggests modeling the piles using virtual fixed points or soil spring methods for this analysis. Recently, several studies have been conducted on pile-supported wharves composed of vertical piles to derive a modeling method that appropriately simulates the dynamic response of structures during response spectrum analysis. However, studies related to the response spectrum analysis of pile-supported wharves with batter piles are insufficient so far. Therefore, this study performed the dynamic centrifuge model test and response spectrum analysis to evaluate the seismic performance according to the modeling method of pile-supported wharves with batter piles. As a result of test and analysis, it is confirmed that modeling using the Terzaghi (1955) constant of horizontal subgrade reaction (n_h) most appropriately simulates the actual response in the case of the pile-supported wharf with batter piles.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.95-101
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• 2009

As buildings increase in height, lifting plans are becoming increasingly important on construction sites. As a critical piece of load-lifting equipment, the tower crane deserves a well thought-out stability review, since it has a significant impact and is very vulnerable to structural safety disaster. To ensure the structural stability of a tower crane, its lateral support or pile supported foundation designs must include consideration for stability, and pile foundation must be used if site conditions prevent soil from providing the required bearing capacity, or prevent the foundation from being increased to the required extent. Pile supported foundation design requires thorough and systematic review, as more stability parameters need to be considered than with an independent foundation. This paper intends to develop an optimal design algorithm that can minimize associated costs while ensuring the fundamental stability of pile supported foundation design, limiting the scope of research to fixed-type trolley tower cranes using pile supported foundations. The findings herein on pile foundation stability review parameters, process and optimal design are expected to improve the operational efficiency of staff concerned, and reduce the time and efforts required for pile foundation design.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.37 no.12
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• pp.73-87
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• 2021

Pile-supported wharf is a structure that can transmit and receive cargo, and it is mainly installed on saturated inclined ground. In the seismic design of these structures, the codes suggest using the response spectrum analysis method as a preliminary design method. However, guideline on modeling method for pile-supported wharf installed in saturated soil is lacking. Therefore, in this study, the dynamic centrifuge model test and response spectrum analysis were performed to evaluate the seismic performance of pile-supported wharf installed into the saturated soil. For the test, some sections (3×3 pile group) among the pile-supported wharf were selected, and they were classified into two model (dry and saturated sand model). Then the response spectrum analysis was performed by using the soil spring method to the test model. As a result of test and analysis, the m om ent difference occurred within a m axim um of 51% in the dry sand m odel and the saturated sand model where liquefaction does not occur, and it was found that the pile moment by depth was properly simulated. Therefore, in the case of these models, it is appropriate to perform the modeling using the Terzaghi (1955) constant of horizontal subgrade reaction (n_h)

• Coupled systems mechanics
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.455-483
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• 2018

The study deals with physical modeling of a typical three storeyed building frame supported by a pile group of four piles ($2{\times}2$) embedded in cohesive soil mass using three dimensional finite element analysis. For the purpose of modeling, the elements such as beams, slabs and columns, of the superstructure frame; and that of the pile foundation such as pile and pile cap are descretized using twenty noded isoparametric continuum elements. The interface between the pile and the soil is idealized using sixteen node isoparametric surface element. The soil elements are modeled using eight nodes, nine nodes and twelve node continuum elements. The present study considers the linear elastic behaviour of the elements of superstructure and substructure (i.e., foundation). The soil is assumed to behave non-linear. The parametric study is carried out for studying the effect of soil- structure interaction on response of the frame on the premise of sub-structure approach. The frame is analyzed initially without considering the effect of the foundation (non-interaction analysis) and then, the pile foundation is evaluated independently to obtain the equivalent stiffness; and these values are used in the interaction analysis. The spacing between the piles in a group is varied to evaluate its effect on the interactive behaviour of frame in the context of two embedment depth ratios. The response of the frame included the horizontal displacement at the level of each storey, shear force in beams, axial force in columns along with the bending moments in beams and columns. The effect of the soil- structure interaction is observed to be significant for the configuration of the pile groups and in the context of non-linear behaviour of soil.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.38 no.9
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• pp.5-17
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• 2022

Recently, several studies have been conducted on virtual fixed-point and elastic soil spring methods to simulate the soil-pile interaction in response to spectrum analysis of pile-supported structures. However, the soil spring stiffness has not been properly considered due to the seismic load magnitude, and studies on the response spectrum analysis of pile-supported structures considering this circumstance are inadequate. Therefore, in this study, the response spectrum analysis was performed considering the soil spring stiffness according to the seismic load magnitude, and the dynamic behavior of the pile-supported structure was evaluated by comparing it with existing virtual fixed-point and elastic soil spring methods. Comparing the experiment and analysis, the moment differences occurred up to 117% and 21% in the virtual fixed-point and elastic soil spring models, respectively. Moreover, when the analysis was performed using an API p-y curve considering the soil spring stiffness according to the seismic load magnitude, the moment difference between the experiment and analysis was derived at a maximum of < 4%, and it is the most accurate method to simulate the experimental model response.