Application of DSC Model for Natural-Element Analysis of Pile Foundations under Cyclic Loading

Abstract

The present paper is about the application of the disturbed-state concept (DSC) model and a mesh-free method called the natural-element method (NEM) for analyzing the dynamic response of pile foundations. In comparison to the finite-element method (FEM), mesh-free methods use higher-order approximate functions to find unknowns. According to the existing stress level, the DSC model divides the behavior of the materials into two states: a relatively intact (RI) state and a fully adjusted (FA) state. The behaviors of RI and FA states were characterized by the hierarchical single surface (HISS) plasticity model as the continuous yield surface and the critical-state concept, respectively. The natural-element procedure and DSC model were used to predict the field behavior of two instrumented piles embedded in saturated clay and dry sand subjected to cyclic axial loading. The predictions showed an appropriate correlation with field measurements and an improvement for the analysis results of the FEM with the DSC model involving softening behavior.