Investigation of pile response caused by liquefied soil flow considering the boundary effects of the model

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of liquefaction-induced lateral load demand on piles, focusing on the relationship between geometric boundary effects, such as sidewall effects, and drag force experienced by the pile. By modeling liquefied soil as fluid, this study explores pile response during liquefied soil flow and quantifies the influence of sidewall effects on the drag force calculation. The study uses a numerical software, COMSOL, to conduct analyses for investigating pile–soil interaction under Newtonian flow assumptions and laminar flow conditions to consider the conversion of drag force from unbound to bounded conditions under different Reynolds numbers, Re, and the separation of boundary effects, which is considered in apparent viscosity, and intrinsic viscosity. The proposed method approach is validated through comparisons of numerical and experimental results, correcting drag forces for different width and length-to-diameter ratios within a specific Re range. The study suggests a better correction procedure to accurately calculate drag forces for embedded piles during soil liquefaction, enhancing the understanding of pile behavior.