Reproduction Analysis of Pile Lateral Loading Experiments using the Distinct Element Method with Focus on Lateral Spreading Pressure
Received: 12 March 2025 | Revised: 5 April 2025 | Accepted: 9 April 2025 | Online: 4 June 2025
Corresponding author: Daisuke Shibata
Abstract
During a massive earthquake, large-scale lateral spreading may occur in the ground behind mooring facilities. Regarding structures with pile foundations, such as piers, lateral spreading pressure acts on the piles during lateral spreading formation, while the surrounding soil is displaced through the gaps between the piles. Conventional two-dimensional (2D) analysis methods are generally inadequate for capturing such three-dimensional (3D) effects. The present study employs a 3D Distinct Element Method (DEM) to conduct a reproduction analysis of soil displacement and lateral spreading pressure measured during previous lateral loading experiments. The DEM analysis revealed that, as the load was applied, soil particles moved around the surface of the piles, resulting in an uplift at the front of the pile on the loading side and subsidence at the back of the pile. These results closely corresponded to the observed movement of soil particles during the experiments. Due to the differences in the contact conditions between the pile and the surrounding soil before loading, the lateral spreading pressure acting on the lower part of the pile was found to be higher in the analytical results than in the experimental ones. However, the analytical results agreed with the experimental data in terms of the lateral spreading pressure acting on the upper part of the pile.
Keywords:
pile, lateral spreading pressure, distinct element methodDownloads
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