NUMERICAL ANALYSIS OF CONSOLIDATION BEHAVIOR OF COMPOSITE GROUNDWITH UNDRAINED PILES UNDER EMBANKMENT

Numerical simulation analysis of consolidation of composite ground with undrained piles under embankment is performed with finite element method.Consolidation characteristics of this kind of composite ground are studied systematically, through comparison of consolidation rates of natural ground, composite ground with floating piles and composite ground with penetrated piles.The numerical results indicate that consolidation rate of composite ground with penetrated piles is much faster than that of natural ground, replacement ratio and elastic modulus ratio between pile and soil are the most important factors affecting its consolidation rate.Consolidation characteristics of composite ground with floating piles differ greatly from that of composite ground with penetrated piles, ratio between pile length and thickness of soft soil layer has important effect on its consolidation rate.