Numerical comparison of bearing capacity of tapered pile groups using 3D FEM

This study investigates the behavior of group of tapered and cylindrical piles. The bearing capacities of groups of tapered and cylindrical piles are computed and compared. Modeling of group of piles in this study is conducted in sand using three-dimensional finite element software. For this purpose, total bearing capacity of each group is firstly calculated using the load-displacement curve under specific load and common techniques. Then, the model of group of piles is reloaded under this calculated capacity to find group settlements, stress states on the lateral surfaces of group block, efficiency of group and etc. In order to calculate the efficiency of each group, single tapered and cylindrical piles are modeled separately. Comparison for both tapered and cylindrical group of piles with same volume is conducted and a relation to predict tapered pile group efficiency is developed. A parametric study is also performed by changing parameters such as tapered angle, angle of internal friction of sand, dilatancy angle of soil and coefficient of lateral earth pressure to find their influences on single pile and pile group behavior.