COURSE - Pile foundations under seismic loading


Pile foundations are the most common deep foundations used around the world to transfer super-structure loads into competent soil strata, particularly when poor soil strata exist at the ground surface. Many buildings in the seismic regions of the world are supported on pile foundations and therefore experience strong seismic loading particularly if the ground suffers liquefaction. It is often very difficult to investigate the performance of pile foundations under such conditions. In this course, we will cover the use of dynamic centrifuge modelling to investigate the seismic behaviour of pile foundations, particularly when soil liquefaction occurs. By using the experimental data from centrifuge tests, we will discover the failure mechanisms that can occur in single piles and in pile groups. We will look at the load the load transfer mechanisms that can occur once liquefaction of soil sets in and also the settlement of piles following soil liquefaction. We will estimate the amount of settlement that pile foundations can suffer. Overall, this course should give you an overview of the design of pile foundations in liquefiable soils.

18, 20 and 21 July, 2022 - 2:30pm-5:30pm, 10:00am-1:00pm, 11:00am-1:00pm

PROGRAM

Monday July 18, 2022, 2:30pm-5:30pm - Basics, Centrifuge, Earthquake observations.
This lecture covers the basic principles of centrifuge modelling, the reasons for centrifuge modelling in geotechnical engineering. In addition, it will also give details about the dynamic centrifuge modelling and the specialist equipment that is required for this. We finish this lecture with some of the observations from previous earthquakes and how these relate to the observations made in the centrifuge testing.

Wednesday July 20, 2022, 10:00am-1:00pm Research findings and design principles.
This lecture will introduce Pile Foundations under seismic loading. It will cover specialist observations on pile foundations in liquefiable soils including buckling of piles under axial loads, piles in laterally spreading ground and pile settlements into liquefied ground. Some of the design principles that can be adopted for the pile foundations located in liquefiable soils will be discussed.

Thursday July 21, 2022, 11:00am-1:00pm Design examples.
This lecture will cover some simple design examples of liquefaction assessment of soils, pile foundation designs, checks for pile buckling, pile settlements into liquefied soils.

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