Numerical Investigation of Concrete and Helical Pile-supported Embankments Under Railway Traffic Loading

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

• Mohammad Amin Mashayekhi
• Mohammadreza Khanmohammadi

Department of Civil Engineering, Isfahan University of Technology

10.22067/jfcei.2023.80622.1209

Abstract

The use of structural elements such as piles are considered as an effective solution in improving the overall performance of an embankment system in terms of stability and settlement control. In recent years using helical piles has been considered due to their proper performance. This research presents a numerical investigation to compare the performance of embankments rested on concrete and helical piles. A 3D finite element models are developed separately in ABAQUS software for embankments based on helical and concrete piles while the length and diameter of their pile shafts are the same. The model was validated via comparing the obtained numerical results with the field and laboratory measurements (observation). The results show that the helical piles have significantly reduced the settlement in the embankments and the soft foundation soil and controlled lateral embankment displacement. Also, the distribution of axial force along the embedment depth of the pile indicates that the helical pile has higher bearing capacity than the concrete pile and behaves frictionally. The presence of the cap on the helical pile was also examined and the results show that it causes adequate control of the settlement in the embankment system and increases the bearing capacity of the piles. In addition, adding the blade to the pile body at different distances does not have a significant effect on improving the performance of the pile-supported embankment system while it could lead to embankment settlement and lower load transmission.

Keywords

• Overall and differential settlement
• Embankments based on pile
• Helical piles
• Bearing Capacity
• Numerical modeling

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