Soil squeezing effect and bearing capacity of rigid drainage piles based on 3D numerical simulation

Abstract

Due to the minimal vibration and noise generated during installation, static-driven piles have found extensive application. Rigid drainage piles, an innovative pile type, feature built-in drainage channels that combine the high load-bearing capacity of conventional rigid piles with strong drainage functionality. In this paper, a three-dimensional numerical approach is employed to model both the squeezing and consolidation behaviors of the rigid pile, and the model’s accuracy is confirmed through field test data. The influence of the number of drainage elements on the soil-squeezing response is examined. The results demonstrate that, relative to standard rigid piles, a rigid drainage pile equipped with a single drainage element effectively lowers the peak excess pore water pressure, lateral pressure, and horizontal ground displacement. Furthermore, increasing the number of drainage elements provides additional mitigation of these effects. Owing to the drainage function, the numerical analysis indicates that the rigid drainage pile can achieve a higher bearing capacity within a shorter rest period than the ordinary rigid pile.