Numerical study on vertical bearing behavior of pedestal pile’s embedded in fine grained soils

Abstract

The aim here is to investigate the behavior of pedestal/belled piles present in soft clay soil through numerical analysis using Plaxis 2D software. The method used here was based on finite element analysis to simulate pile-soil interaction and to analyze the pile’s behavior under different loads by varying parameters such as length embedded in the soil and also the diameter of the shaft. The results indicate that increase in length as well as the shaft diameter of the pile enhances the pile’s load-bearing capacity. The study also shows that the pedestal/bell pile can improve the pile’s performance in soft clay soil by reducing the soil’s displacement and increasing the pile’s axial capacity in comparison to conventional straight pile. The study concludes that the pedestal/belled pile is a promising option for the foundation of structures in soft clay soil, and the numerical analysis using Plaxis 2D software can provide quick and reliable predictions of the pile’s behavior. The study’s findings can be useful for optimizing the design of pedestal/belled piles in soft clay soil and improving the efficiency and safety of foundation systems in similar geotechnical conditions.