Centrifuge model test on dynamic behavior of group-pile foundation with inclined piles and its numerical simulation

In this paper, dynamic behavior of a group-pile foundation with inclined piles in loose sand has been investigated with centrifuge model tests. The test results are also simulated with elastoplastic dynamic finite element method, in which, not only sectional force of piles, stress of ground, but also deformation of piles are calculated using a three-dimensional elastoplastic dynamic finite element analysis (Code name: DGPILE-3D). The numerical analyses are conducted with a full system in which a superstructure, a pile foundation and surrounding ground are considered together so that interaction between pile foundation and soils can be properly simulated because the nonlinearities of both the pile and the ground are described with suitable constitutive models. Different types of piles, vertical pile or inclined pile, are considered in order to verify the different characteristics of a group pile foundation with inclined piles. The validity of the calculation is verified by the model tests.