Numerical prediction of a pile’s response under lateral monotonic and cyclic loading

This article presents the findings of a comprehensive assessment of the predictive capabilities and limitations of advanced geotechnical numerical tools utilizing two sophisticated constitutive models for sands: the hardening soil model with small strains and hypoplasticity with intergranular strain. The evaluation is based on simulations of laboratory and centrifuge tests under monotonic and cyclic loading conditions. Initially, these models were calibrated and assessed using an experimental database on Fontainebleau sand. This database encompasses a range of laboratory results, including isotropic compression, drained monotonic triaxial, and undrained cyclic triaxial tests with varying initial conditions. The models, in general, provided good representation for monotonic experiments while some discrepancies were observed in undrained cyclic experiments. Subsequently, the calibrated models were employed to replicate a series of centrifuge tests involving a pile embedded in the same sand. The pile was subjected to various episodes of monotonic and cyclic lateral loading. In general, the models accurately replicated the experimental observations from tests conducted under monotonic loading conditions. Some small discrepancies were found in pile tests subjected to cyclic loading, these were however minor when compared to issues in predicting cyclic element tests at undrained conditions.