Experimental and Numerical Analysis of Pile–Rock Interaction Characteristics of Steel Pipe Piles Penetrating into Coral Reef Limestone

Yongtao Zhang (), Zhiqiang Deng, Peishuai Chen, Huiwu Luo, Ruiyuan Zhang, Chengcheng Yu and Caizhao Zhan
Additional contact information
Yongtao Zhang: School of Civil Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
Zhiqiang Deng: CCCC Second Harbor Engineering Company Ltd., Wuhan 430040, China
Peishuai Chen: CCCC Second Harbor Engineering Company Ltd., Wuhan 430040, China
Huiwu Luo: CCCC Second Harbor Engineering Company Ltd., Wuhan 430040, China
Ruiyuan Zhang: CCCC Second Harbor Engineering Company Ltd., Wuhan 430040, China
Chengcheng Yu: CCCC Second Harbor Engineering Company Ltd., Wuhan 430040, China
Caizhao Zhan: CCCC Second Harbor Engineering Company Ltd., Wuhan 430040, China

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 21, 1-18

Abstract: In order to study the characteristics of pile–rock action of steel pipe driven pile in coral reef limestone stratum, coral reef limestone at the China–Maldives Friendship Bridge site was selected to carry out indoor physical and model tests with red sandstone as the control group. The test outcomes indicate the following: (1) when substantial deformation is permitted, the coral reef limestone has a considerable strength dispersion, a low post-peak stress decrease rate, and a high residual strength, roughly 30% of the peak strength; (2) when the steel pipe pile penetrates the coral reef limestone, the pile top load shows an obvious sawtooth shape, and with the increase in penetration depth, the pile end load of the high-porosity rock sample gradually decreases, and the pile end load of the low-porosity rock sample gradually increases; (3) when the steel pipe pile is penetrated, the strain value of the red sandstone is about twice that of the coral reef limestone at the same position from the steel pipe pile. These findings indicate that the high porosity and heterogeneity cementation characteristics of the coral reef limestone make the extrusion effect during piling significantly less than that of the red sandstone. In addition, the steel pipe pile penetration process is numerically simulated using a four-dimensional discrete spring model method based on the multi-body damage criterion. The numerical simulation results further demonstrate that the pile-side rock fragmentation during steel pipe pile penetration is the primary reason for the lower bearing capacity of steel pipe piles in coral reef limestone stratums. This method provides a novel approach for studying the mechanical properties of reef limestone. The findings can serve as a guide for the design and construction of steel pipe piles in the reef limestone stratum.

Keywords: coral reef limestone; steel pipe driven pile; model test; 4D-LSM; multibody failure criterion (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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