Performance of pile groups and multiple pile group systems in soft clay-silt deposits

The acceptable performance of pile groups and multiple pile group systems subjected to lateral forces would be critical in ensuring the overall performance of the supported structures. This issue is explored further for driven concrete piles in soft clay-silt deposits, and this paper is to examine the performance of driven piles in pile groups and multiple pile group systems by performing a series of 3D finite element analyses. Three clay-silt shear strength values are assumed to represent typical soft-medium clay-silt deposits. Major findings reported include 1) the additional “efficiency” factors representing complex interactions among pile groups within a multiple pile groups system, and how these factors affected by the soil strength, 2) the subsequent complex development of pile structural plastic hinges in multiple pile group systems, and 3) the effect of the complex interactions of the pile structural capacity and the soil strength on the performance of pile groups and multiple pile groups systems.