Elastoplastic analysis of thin-walled structures in reservoir area

In the structural design of the high pier, in order to analyze the strength and structure stability, the pier was often considered a thin-walled structure. Elastoplastic incremental theory was used to establish the model of elastoplastic stability of high pier. By considering the combined action of pile, soil and pier together, the destabilization bearing capacity was calculated by using 3-D finite element method (3-D FEM) for piers with different pile and section height. Meanwhile, the equivalent stress in different sections of pier was computed and the processor of destabilization was discussed. When the pier is lower, the bearing capacity under mutual effect of pile, soil and pier is less than the situation when mutual effect is not considered; when the pier is higher, their differences are not conspicuous. Along with the increase of the cross-sectional height, the direction of destabilization bearing capacity is varied and the ultimate capacity is buildup. The results of a stability analysis example are almost identical with the practice.