Battered minipiles in fine-grained soils: Soil-structure interaction

Abstract

The ultimate lateral load capacity of battered minipiles is investigated in fine-grained soil via field testing equipped with optic fibre sensing and consequently complemented with finite element modelling. The numerical model developed in COMSOL Multiphysics was validated against (i) field-obtained force-displacement data of minipiles battered at 25° and (ii) strain profile along a vertical minipile shaft. The numerical model was then further used to predict force-displacement curves for minipiles with batter angles of 15°, 30° and 45° using the full-scale pile and field soil parameters. The model helps in understanding how the combination of normal and shear stresses along the minipile sha..