Analysis of downdrag on pile groups

This Paper describes a new iterative procedure for the analysis of the downdrag forces in end-bearing pile groups. Special emphasis is placed on the rate of increase of downdrag forces with free field soil settlement. Pile–soil–pile interaction is modelled using Mindlin's elastic solution for a point load in an elastic half-space. Pile–soil slip is taken into account by limiting the shaft friction at the interface. Parametric studies were conducted to elucidate the parameters that govern the relationship between free field soil settlement and downdrag forces induced in a pile group. Results indicated that interior piles of a large pile group experience relatively small downdrag forces, especially when the pile spacing is small. The validity of the proposed method is demonstrated by back-analysing two model studies of negative skin friction on pile groups. The proposed method is also validated against the field test results of a 38 pile group. The computed results show an encouraging degree of agreement wi...