Load transfer behaviour of super long piles in multi-layer soft soil through field testing and numerical 3D FEM modelling

Tra, TH; Nguyen, TT; Huynh, TQ; Ishikawa, T

Load transfer behaviour of super long piles in multi-layer soft soil through field testing and numerical 3D FEM modelling

Tra, TH Nguyen, TT Huynh, TQ Ishikawa, T

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Publisher:: Elsevier
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Soils and Foundations, 2025, 65, (3), pp. 101627
Issue Date:: 2025-06-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Tra, TH
dc.contributor.author	Nguyen, TT
dc.contributor.author	Huynh, TQ
dc.contributor.author	Ishikawa, T
dc.date.accessioned	2025-05-30T06:21:33Z
dc.date.available	2025-05-30T06:21:33Z
dc.date.issued	2025-06-01
dc.identifier.citation	Soils and Foundations, 2025, 65, (3), pp. 101627
dc.identifier.issn	0038-0806
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/187568
dc.description.abstract	The load transfer mechanism of pile foundation has received considerable attention over the years, the simultaneous responses that skin friction and base resistances of super-long piles (length L > 60 m) can have in complex soft soil, however, still need greater understanding. This study employs 3D-finite element (FE) analysis incorporating virtual interface elements to simulate the mobilised skin friction and plastic failure (slippage) of pile under ultimate loading. Static pile load tests on 4 different long and large bored piles (1–1.5 m in diameter and 70–80 m in length) embedded in the soft soil region of Mekong Delta are studied in detail through extensive instrumentation along the piles. The results are then used to not only explore load-transfer process, but also validate numerical modelling through a comprehensive process combining multiple-soil layers and −loading stages. The coupled experimental (field) − numerical results reveal the predominant contribution of skin friction exceeding 90 % of the entire bearing capacity before a drop with swift rise in base resistance when reaching a critical condition (displacement sh > 25 mm and load pressure p > 14,000 kPa). The ratio of active skin friction is defined to assess the simultaneous variation of skin friction at different depths, featuring the role of pile length on the mobilisation of skin friction. The study also proposes a novel dynamic method to calculate the strength reduction factor, Ri, based on fundamental soil and load parameters, giving a vital means to advancing the use of interface elements when modelling pile foundation in soft soil.
dc.language	en
dc.publisher	Elsevier
dc.relation	http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/DE230101127
dc.relation	http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/LP230100199
dc.relation.ispartof	Soils and Foundations
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.sandf.2025.101627
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject	0503 Soil Sciences, 0905 Civil Engineering, 0999 Other Engineering
dc.subject.classification	Geological & Geomatics Engineering
dc.subject.classification	4005 Civil engineering
dc.subject.classification	4019 Resources engineering and extractive metallurgy
dc.subject.classification	4106 Soil sciences
dc.title	Load transfer behaviour of super long piles in multi-layer soft soil through field testing and numerical 3D FEM modelling
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	65
utslib.for	0503 Soil Sciences
utslib.for	0905 Civil Engineering
utslib.for	0999 Other Engineering
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology/School of Civil and Environmental Engineering
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/UTS Groups
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/UTS Groups/Transport Research Centre (TRC)
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
dc.rights.license	This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.date.updated	2025-05-30T06:21:28Z
pubs.issue	3
pubs.publication-status	Accepted
pubs.volume	65
utslib.citation.issue	3

Abstract:

The load transfer mechanism of pile foundation has received considerable attention over the years, the simultaneous responses that skin friction and base resistances of super-long piles (length L > 60 m) can have in complex soft soil, however, still need greater understanding. This study employs 3D-finite element (FE) analysis incorporating virtual interface elements to simulate the mobilised skin friction and plastic failure (slippage) of pile under ultimate loading. Static pile load tests on 4 different long and large bored piles (1–1.5 m in diameter and 70–80 m in length) embedded in the soft soil region of Mekong Delta are studied in detail through extensive instrumentation along the piles. The results are then used to not only explore load-transfer process, but also validate numerical modelling through a comprehensive process combining multiple-soil layers and −loading stages. The coupled experimental (field) − numerical results reveal the predominant contribution of skin friction exceeding 90 % of the entire bearing capacity before a drop with swift rise in base resistance when reaching a critical condition (displacement sh > 25 mm and load pressure p > 14,000 kPa). The ratio of active skin friction is defined to assess the simultaneous variation of skin friction at different depths, featuring the role of pile length on the mobilisation of skin friction. The study also proposes a novel dynamic method to calculate the strength reduction factor, Ri, based on fundamental soil and load parameters, giving a vital means to advancing the use of interface elements when modelling pile foundation in soft soil.

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