• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.19-30
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• 2005

A coupled three-dimensional pile group analysis method was developed by considering complex behavior of sub-structures (pile-soil-cap) which included soil nonlinearity and the behavior of super-structure (pier). As an intermediate analysis method between FBPier 3.0 and Group 0.0, it took advantages of each method. Among the components of a pile group, individual piles were modeled with stiffness matrices of pile heads and soils with nonlinear load-transfer curves (t-z, q-z and p-y curves). A pile cap was modeled with modified four-node flat shell elements and a pier with three-dimensional beam element, so that a unified analysis could be possible. A nonlinear analysis method was proposed in this study with a mixed incremental and iteration techniques. The proposed method for a pile group subjected to axial and lateral loads was compared with othe. analytical methods (i.e., Group 6.0 and FBPier 3.0). It was found that the proposed method could predict the complex behavior of a pile group well, even though piles were modelled simply in this study by using pile head stiffness matrices which were different from the method introduced in FBPier 3.0.