Abstract:
To discuss the torsional behavior of a single pile in double-layered non-homogeneous subsoil, assuming the shear modulus of each single layer as the power function distribution and considering a nonlinear variation of the limit friction resistance along the pile-soil interface, the governing differential equation for the pile shaft under torque is established. Then, the internal forces (torque
T) and deformations (torsion angle
Φ) at the pile top and along the pile shaft are obtained respectively. By simplifying the solutions to single-layered non-homogeneous or double-layered homogeneous subsoil, good agreements are found between the calculated results and the available achievements. Besides, a parameter analysis of pile top
T-Φ curve shows that increasing the shear modulus of pile shaft
Gp helps to control the torsional angle at pile top. And a double value of pile radius
r0 will result in an increase of 4~6 times the torsional resistance at pile top. Similarly, the performance of torsional piles can be improved by greater values of the nonlinear coefficients
α1 and
α2 and the surface modulus
μ1. Besides, comparative analysis results of torsional influence factors at pile top
IΦ show that the pile shaft can be seen as a rigid body for
ζL<0.2, while a value of
ζL>5.0 will cause a flexible pile with the torque transferred to the pile tip small enough to be ignored. Moreover, for a combined value of
ζL>5.0 and shear modulus ratio of upper to lower layers
μ1/
μ2>1.0, the main contribution to torque resistance comes from the 0.2
L surface subsoil, while the 0.4
L surface soil layer will determine the torsional behavior of pile shaft for
ζL>10 and
μ1/
μ2<1.0.