Numerical analysis of dense narrow backfills for increasing lateral passive resistance.

Details

• Creators:
  Rollins, Kyle L. ; Nasr, Mo'oud ; Gerber, Travis M.
• Corporate Creators:
  Brigham Young University. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
• Corporate Contributors:
  United States. Federal Highway Administration
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  Bridge Abutments Bridges Bridges--Utah--Abutments Lateral Loads Lateral Supports Loads Piling (Civil Engineering) Sheet Piling
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  Utah
• Edition:
  Final.
• Corporate Publisher:
  Utah. Dept. of Transportation. Research Division
• Abstract:
  Previously, full-scale lateral load tests conducted on pile caps with different aspect ratios showed that placement
  
  of a narrow, dense backfill zone against the cap could substantially increase the passive resistance. The objective
  
  of this study is to develop design equations to predict the increased passive resistance for these limited width
  
  backfills for both 2D and 3D conditions. For this purpose, the finite element program, PLAXIS 2D was used to
  
  investigate the 2D or plane strain passive resistance. To validate the procedure, numerical results were calibrated
  
  against analytical results obtained from PYCAP and ABUTMENT. The analytical models were additionally
  
  validated by comparison with measured ultimate passive resistances. The calibrated model was then used to
  
  simulate the passive behavior of limited width gravel backfills. Parametric studies were also executed to
  
  evaluate the influence of a range of selected design parameters, related to the pile cap geometry and backfill soil
  
  type, on the passive resistance of limited width backfills. Numerical results indicated that significant increases in
  
  passive resistance could be expected for long abutment walls where end effects are less pronounced and the
  
  geometry is closer to a plane strain condition. Based on results obtained from the parametric studies, a design
  
  method was developed for predicting the ultimate passive resistance of limited width backfills, for both plane
  
  strain and 3D geometries. Comparisons between measured and numerical results indicated that using the Brinch-
  
  Hansen 3D correction factor, R3D, as a multiplier to the plane strain resistances, will provide a conservative
  
  estimate of the actual 3D passive response of a pile cap with a limited width backfill.
  
  
• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  06 9148
• Collection(s):
  US Transportation Collection
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:b4620572e8f98d49120e61cc72367e6a1b6487e3fb8befebca2fff98f196e0a2
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/18446/dot_18446_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 3.91 MB ]