Skip to main content
Log in

Seismic behavior of batter pile groups embedded in liquefiable soil

  • Published:
Earthquake Engineering and Engineering Vibration Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A comparative study of the seismic performance of 2×1 pile groups considering different degrees of batter (0° for vertical, 10° and 20°) embedded in single homogeneous liquefiable sand through fully coupled three-dimensional dynamic analyses is presented. The effects of inertial interaction are considered with structures having two different periods. The performance of pile groups is investigated for the fixed and pinned pile to cap connections for both floating and end bearing types of pile groups. Slenderness ratios of piles were also varied to enable a comprehensive understanding. Investigations have been carried out for three earthquake motions having varied dominant frequencies. It is observed that batter pile groups in liquefiable soils provide beneficial effects on piles and superstructure responses for both fixed and pinned head pile to cap connections for long period structures. However, for short period structures, a beneficial effect is most evident for fixed head connection.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • AASHTO (2010), AASHTO Guide Specifications for LRFD Seismic Bridge Design.

  • Al-Neami MA, Rahil FH and Al-Bayati KS (2016), “Bearing Capacity of Batter Piles Embedded in Sandy Soil,” International Journal of Geotechnical Engineering, 10(5): 529–532.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • AFPS-90 (1990), Recommendations for the Redaction of Rules Relative to the Structures and Installations Built in Regions Prone to Earthquakes, French Association of Earthquake Engineering, Paris, France.

    Google Scholar 

  • Arias A (1970), Measure of Earthquake Intensity, Massachusetts Inst. of Tech., Cambridge. Univ. of Chile, Santiago de Chile.

    Google Scholar 

  • Arulanandan K and Sybico J (1993), “Post-Liquefaction Settlement of Sands,” Predictive Soil Mechanics, Proceedings of the Wroth Memorial Symposium, St Catherine’s College, Oxford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ashford SA and Juirnarongrit T (2002), “Response of Single Piles and Pipelines in Liquefaction-Induced Lateral Spreads Using Controlled Blasting,” Earthquake Engineering and Engineering Vibration, 1(2): 181–193.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Balakrishnan A (2000), Liquefaction Remediation at a Bridge Site, University of California, Davis.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berrill JB, Christensen SA, Keenan RP, Okada W and Pettinga JR (2001), “Case Study of Lateral Spreading Forces on a Piled Foundation,” Geotechnique, 51(6): 501–517.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chaloulos YK, Bouckovalas GD and Karamitros DK (2013), “Pile Response in Submerged Lateral Spreads: Common Pitfalls of Numerical and Physical Modeling Techniques,” Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, 55: 275–287.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen CY and Hsu HQ (2017), “Modeling of Batter Pile Behavior under Lateral Soil Movement,” IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering, 216(1): 012039.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cheng Z and Jeremić B (2009), “Numerical Modeling and Simulation of Pile in Liquefiable Soil,” Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, 29(11–12): 1405–1416.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Choobbasti AJ and Zahmatkesh A (2016), “Computation of Degradation Factors of P-Y Curves in Liquefiable Soils for Analysis of Piles Using Three-Dimensional Finite-Element Model,” Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, 89: 61–74.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elgamal A, Yang Z and Parra E (2002), “Computational Modeling of Cyclic Mobility and Post-Liquefaction Site Response,” Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, 22(4): 259–271.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elgamal A, Yang Z, Parra E and Ragheb A (2003), “Modeling of Cyclic Mobility in Saturated Cohesionless Soils,” International Journal of Plasticity, 19(6): 883–905.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Escoffier S (2012), “Experimental Study of The Effect of Inclined Pile on the Seismic Behavior of Pile Group,” Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, 42: 275–291.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Escoffier S, Chazelas JL and Garnier J (2008), “Centrifuge Modelling of Raked Piles,” Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering, 6(4): 689–704.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eurocode 8 (2004), Structures in Seismic Regions. Part 5, Foundations, Retaining Structures, and Geotechnical Aspects, EN1998-5.

  • Finn WDL and Fujita N (2002), “Piles in Liquefiable Soils: Seismic Analysis and Design Issues,” Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, 22(9–12): 731–742.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gazetas G and Mylonakis G (1998), “Seismic Soil-Structure Interaction: New Evidence and Emerging Issues,” Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering and Soil Dynamics Geo-Institute ASCE Conference.

  • Ghasemi Fare O, Rahmani A and Pak A (2011), “Numerical Simulation of Soil Settlement in Liquefiable Grounds,” Proceedings of the Pan-American CGS Geotechnical Conference, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

  • Ghasemzadeh H and Alibeikloo M (2011), “Pile-Soil-Pile Interaction in Pile Groups with Batter Piles Under Dynamic Loads,” Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, 31(8): 1159–1170.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ghazavi M, Ravanshenas P and El Naggar MH (2013), “Interaction Between Inclined Pile Groups Subjected to Harmonic Vibrations,” Soils and Foundations, 53(6): 789–803.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ghorbani A, Hasanzadehshooiili H, Ghamari E and Medzvieckas J (2014), “Comprehensive Three Dimensional Finite Element Analysis, Parametric Study and Sensitivity Analysis on the Seismic Performance of Soil-Micropile-Superstructure Interaction,” Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, 58: 21–36.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ghotbi SMA, Olyaei M, Yasrebi SS and Mosallanejad M (2013), “Dynamic Soil-Pile Behavior in Liquefiable Sand Overlaid with Soft Clay,” Proceedings of the 18th International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, Paris.

  • Giannakou A, Gerolymos N, Gazetas G, Tazoh T and Anastasopoulos I (2010), “Seismic Behavior of Batter Piles: Elastic Response,” Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, 136(9): 1187–1199.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goit CS and Saitoh M (2013), “Model Tests and Numerical Analyses on Horizontal Impedance Functions of Inclined Single Piles Embedded in Cohesionless Soil,” Earthquake Engineering and Egineering Vibration, 12(1): 143–154.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hui S, Tang L, Zhang X, Wang Y, Ling X and Xu B (2018), “An Investigation of the Influence of Near-Fault Ground Motion Parameters on the Pile’s Response in Liquefiable Soil,” Earthquake Engineering and Engineering Vibration, 17(4): 729–745.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Isam S, Hassan A and Mhamed S (2012), “3D Elastoplastic Analysis of the Seismic Performance of Inclined Micropiles,” Computers and Geotechnics, 39: 1–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Iwan WD (1967), “On a Class of Models for the Yielding Behavior of Continuous and Composite Systems,” Journal of Applied Mechanics, 34(3): 612–617.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jafarzadeh F and Yanagisawa E (1995), “Settlement of Sand Models Under Unidirectional Shaking,” Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Earthquake Geotechnical Engineering, 2: 693–698.

    Google Scholar 

  • Karimi Z and Dashti S (2015), “Numerical and Centrifuge Modeling of Seismic Soil-Foundation-Structure Interaction on Liquefiable Ground,” Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, 142(1): 04015061.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kavazanjian E (2006), “A Driven-Pile Advantage: Batter Piles,” Pile Driver, 4: 21–25.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuhlemeyer RL and Lysmer J (1973), “Finite Element Method Accuracy for Wave Propagation Problems,” Journal of Soil Mechanics & Foundations Div, 99 (Tech Rpt).

  • Lam IP and Martin GR (1986), “Seismic Design for Highway Bridge Foundations,” Proceedings of Lifeline Earthquake Engineering: Performance, Design and Construction, 7–21.

  • Li G and Motamed R (2017), “Finite Element Modeling of Soil-Pile Response Subjected to Liquefaction-Induced Lateral Spreading in a Large-Scale Shake Table Experiment,” Soil Dynamics & Earthquake Engineering, 92: 573–584.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li Z (2014), “Experimental and Numerical Study of Deep Foundations Under Seismic Loading: Vertical Piles and Inclined Piles,” Doctoral Dissertation, Ecole Centrale de Nantes (ECN).

  • Li Z, Escoffier S and Kotronis P (2015), “Centrifuge Modeling of Batter Pile Foundations Under Sinusoidal Dynamic Excitation,” Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering, 14(3): 673–697.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li Z, Escoffier S and Kotronis P (2016), “Centrifuge Modeling of Batter Pile Foundations Under Earthquake Excitation,” Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, 88: 176–190.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lombardi D and Bhattacharya S (2014), “Modal Analysis of Pile-Supported Structures During Seismic Liquefaction,” Earthquake Engineering & Structural Dynamics, 43(1): 119–138.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lysmer J and Kuhlemeyer RL (1969), “Finite Dynamic Model for Infinite Media,” Journal of the Engineering Mechanics Division, 4: 859–877.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maheshwari BK and Sarkar R (2011), “Seismic Behavior of Soil-Pile-Structure Interaction in Liquefiable Soils: Parametric Study,” International Journal of Geomechanics, 11(4): 335–347.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mazzoni S, McKenna F, Scott MH and Fenves GL (2006), OpenSees Command Language Manual, Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research (PEER) Center, 264.

  • McVay MC, Shang TI and Casper R (1996), “Centrifuge Testing of Fixed-Head Laterally Loaded Battered and Plumb Pile Groups in Sand,” Geotechnical Testing Journal, 19(1): 41–50.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Medina C, Padrón LA, Aznárez JJ and Maeso O (2015), “Influence of Pile Inclination Angle on the Dynamic Properties and Seismic Response of Piled Structures,” Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, 69: 196–206.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mitchell D, Tinawi R and Sexsmith RG (1991), “Performance of Bridges in the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake-Lessons for Canadian Designers,” Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering, 18(4): 711–734.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mroz Z (1967), “On the Description of Anisotropic Work Hardening,” Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids, 15(3): 163–175.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pender M (1993), “Aseismic Pile Foundation Design Analysis,” Bulletin of the New Zealand National Society for Earthquake Engineering, 26(1): 49–160.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Poulos HG (1980), “An Approach for the Analysis of Offshore Pile Groups,” Proceedings of Numerical Methods in Offshore Piling, London, United Kingdom.

  • Poulos HG (2006), “Raked Piles-Virtues and Drawbacks,” Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, 132(6): 795–803.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prevost JH (1985), “A Simple Plasticity Theory for Frictional Cohesionless Soils,” Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, 4(1): 9–17.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Priestley N, Singh J, Youd T and Rollins K (1991), “Costa Rica Earthquake of April 22, 1991 Reconnaissance Report,” Earthquake Eng. Research Inst., Oakland, CA, 59–91.

  • Rahmani A and Pak A (2012), “Dynamic Behavior of Pile Foundations Under Cyclic Loading in Liquefiable Soils,” Computers and Geotechnics, 40: 114–126.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ravazi SA, Fahker A and Mirghaderi SR (2007), “An Insight into the Bad Reputation of Batter Piles in Seismic Performance of Wharves,” Proceedings of 4th International Conference on Earthquake Geotechnical Engineering, Thessaloniki.

  • Sadek M and Isam S (2004), “Three-Dimensional Finite Element Analysis of the Seismic Behavior of Inclined Micropiles,” Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, 24(6): 473–485.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sadek M and Shahrour I (2006), “Influence of the Head and Tip Connection on the Seismic Performance of Micropiles,” Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, 26(5): 461–468.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sarkar R and Maheshwari BK (2012), “Effects of Separation on the Behavior of Soil-Pile Interaction in Liquefiable Soils,” International Journal of Geomechanics, 12: 1–13.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sarkar R, Roy N and Serawat A (2018), “A Three Dimensional Comparative Study of Seismic Behaviour of Vertical and Batter Pile Groups,” Geotechnical and Geological Engineering, 1–19.

  • Shahir H, Mohammadi-Haji B and Ghassemi A (2014), “Employing a Variable Permeability Model in Numerical Simulation of Saturated Sand Behavior Under Earthquake Loading,” Computers and Geotechnics, 55: 211–223.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shahir H and Pak A (2009), “Numerical Investigation of the Effects of Soil Densification on the Reduction of Liquefaction-Induced Settlement of Shallow Foundations,” Scientia Iranica, 16(4).

  • Shahir H, Pak A, Taiebat M and Jeremic B (2012), “Evaluation of Variation of Permeability in Liquefiable Soil Under Earthquake Loading,” Computers and Geotechnics, 40: 74–88.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Structural Engineering Association of California (SEAOC) (1991), Reflections on the October 17, 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake, Ad Hoc Earthquake Reconnaissance Committee, Sacrament.

    Google Scholar 

  • Su L, Tang L, Ling X, Liu C and Zhang X (2016), “Pile Response to Liquefaction-Induced Lateral Spreading: A Shake-Table Investigation,” Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, 82: 196–204.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taboada VM and Dobry R (1993), “Experimental Results of Model No. 1 At RPI,” Conference on the Verification of Numerical Procedures for the Analysis of Soil Liquefaction Problems, Rotterdam: A.A. Balkema, 3–18.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taiebat M, Shahir H and Pak A (2007), “Study of Pore Pressure Variation During Liquefaction Using Two Constitutive Models for Sand,” Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, 27(1): 60–72.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tang L, Ling X, Xu P, Gao X and Wang D (2010), “Shake Table Test of Soil-Pile Groups-Bridge Structure Interaction in Liquefiable Ground,” Earthquake Engineering and Engineering Vibration, 9(1): 39–50.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tang L, Maula B H, Ling X and Su L (2014), “Numerical Simulations of Shake-Table Experiment for Dynamic Soil-Pile-Structure Interaction in Liquefiable Soils,” Earthquake Engineering and Engineering Vibration, 13(1): 171–180.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tang L, Zhang X, Ling X, Li H and Ju N (2016), “Experimental and Numerical Investigation on the Dynamic Response of Pile Group in Liquefying Ground,” Earthquake Engineering and Engineering Vibration, 15(1): 103–114.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tazoh T, Sato M, Jang J, Taji Y and Gazetas G (2010), “Seismic Behavior of Batter Pile Foundation: Kinematic Response,” Proceedings of International Conferences on Recent Advances in Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering and Soil Dynamics, 24–29.

  • Wang MW, Li L and Han JP (2008), “Effective Stress Analysis of Seismic Behaviors of Inclined Micropiles On Liquefiable Soils,” Proceedings of the 14th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering, Beijing, China.

  • Wang S and Orense RP (2014), “Modelling of Raked Pile Foundations in Liquefiable Ground,” Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, 64: 11–23.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang S and Orense RP (2017), “Numerical Simulation of Inclined Piles in Liquefiable Soils,” Proceedings of the Proc., 20th NZGS Geotechnical Symposium, Eds. GJ Alexander & CY Chin, Napier.

  • Wilson DW (1998), “Soil-Pile-Superstructure Interaction in Liquefying Sand and Soft Clay,” Doctoral Dissertation, University of California, Davis.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yao S, Kobayashi K, Yoshida N and Matsuo H (2004), “Interactive Behavior of Soil-Pile-Superstructure System in Transient State to Liquefaction by Means of Large Shake Table Tests,” Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, 24(5): 397–409.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zeghal M, Kallou PV, Oskay C, Abdoun T and Sharp MK (2006), “Identification and Imaging of Soil and Soil-Pile Deformation in the Presence of Liquefaction,” Earthquake Engineering and Engineering Vibration, 5(2): 171–182.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zienkiewicz OC, Bicanic N and Shen FQ (1989), “Earthquake Input Definition and the Transmitting Boundary Conditions,” Advances in Computational Nonlinear Mechanics, 109–138.

  • Zienkiewicz OC and Shiomi T (1984), “Dynamic Behaviour of Saturated Porous Media; The Generalized Biot Formulation and its Numerical Solution,” International Journal for Numerical and Analytical Methods in Geomechanics, 8(1): 71–96.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang L, Goh SH and Liu H (2017), “Seismic Response of Pile-Raft-Clay System Subjected to a Long-Duration Earthquake: Centrifuge Test and Finite Element Analysis,” Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, 92: 488–502.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang L, McVay MC and Lai PW (1999), “Centrifuge Modelling of Laterally Loaded Single Battered Piles in Sands,” Canadian Geotechnical Journal, 36(6): 1074–1084.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang F, Okawa K and Kimura M (2008), “Centrifuge Model Test on Dynamic Behavior of Group-Pile Foundation with Inclined Piles and Its Numerical Simulation,” Frontiers of Architecture and Civil Engineering in China, 2(3): 233–241.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang XR, and Yang ZJ (2018), “Numerical Analyses of Pile Performance in Laterally Spreading Frozen Ground Crust Overlying Liquefiable Soils,” Earthquake Engineering and Engineering Vibration, 17(3): 491–499.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgement

The first author acknowledges the financial support provided by MHRD, Govt. of India. The second author acknowledges Ministry of Earth Sciences, Govt. of India, for providing financial assistance for the research (Project No. MoES/P.O.(Seismo)/1(303)/2017).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rajib Sarkar.

Additional information

Supported by: Ministry of Earth Sciences, Govt. of India, for Providing Financial Assistance for the Research (Project No. MoES/P.O.(Seismo)/1(303)/2017)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Rajeswari, J.S., Sarkar, R. Seismic behavior of batter pile groups embedded in liquefiable soil. Earthq. Eng. Eng. Vib. 20, 583–604 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11803-021-2040-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11803-021-2040-9

Keywords

Navigation