Efficiency of RCC piles with helical grooves subjected to axial and lateral loads in cohesionless soil

Abstract

This paper presents an experimental and numerical investigation of RCC (Reinforced Concrete) piles with helical grooves under axial and lateral loads in cohesionless soil. A set of experiments is carried out to assess the performance of RCC piles with helical grooves. To replicate the experimental findings, the Finite Element Method (FEM) is employed using Abaqus software. Three-dimensional (3D) models are created to represent both the pile and the soil using Abaqus. The paper compares settlement characteristics and lateral displacement of plain RCC piles and RCC piles with helical grooves. This study also evaluates the impact of varying the pitch of helical grooves on enhancing pile performance. The results indicate that RCC piles with helical grooves outperform plain RCC piles in terms of both axial and lateral load-carrying capacity, inferred from both experimental and analytical techniques.

Keywords:

• Helical groove
• pile-soil interaction
• cohesionless soil
• FEM
• pitch of the helical groove

REVIEWING EDITOR:

• Sanjay Kumar Shukla
• Edith Cowan University
• Australia

SUBJECTS:

• Technology
• Engineering & Technology
• Mechanics
• Civil, Environmental, and Geotechnical Engineering
• Social Sciences
• Built Environment
• Building and Construction

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Arun Kumar Y. M.

Arun Kumar Y. M. received his Master of Technology in Structural Engineering from National Institute of Technology, Surathkal, Karnataka, India. Presently he is working as an Assistant Professor in the department of Civil Engineering, Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India. His research interests include concrete technology and Soil-structure interaction. He has published several papers in reputed journals and conferences.

Kiran K. Shetty

Kiran K. Shetty received his doctoral degree form Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) Manipal, Karnataka, India. Presently he is working as a professor in the department of Civil Engineering, Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India. He has more than 23 years of teaching and research experience. His current areas of research include Geopolymer Concrete, Alkali activated concrete, Artificial Aggregates, Structural Dynamics, soil-structure interaction and Earthquake Engineering. Currently he is guiding 6 PhD students. He has published several papers in reputed journals and conference proceedings.

A. Krishnamoorthy

A. Krishnamoorthy received his doctoral degree form Karnataka Regional Engineering College (KREC) Surathkal, Karnataka, India, presently known as National Institute of Technology, Surathkal, Karnataka, India. Presently he is working as a professor in the department of Civil Engineering, Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India. He has more than 38 years of teaching and research experience. His current areas of research include soil-structure interaction, fluid-structure interaction, ground improvement techniques, isolation control techniques for structures. He has guided 5 PhD students. He has published several papers in reputed journals and conference proceedings.