Modelling of soil–structure interaction for a piled bridge abutment in plane strain FEM analyses

Abstract Full-height piled bridge abutments constructed on soft clay are prone to soil–structure interaction effects. A series of geotechnical centrifuge tests of this type of structure has been undertaken, and an accompanying series of plane strain finite element analyses are reported. Some aspects of the structure do not conform to a plane strain analysis (most notably the piles), and the methods used to incorporate this soil–structure interaction are described. Success of the methods is illustrated by good comparison with the centrifuge test results, and the numerical analyses revealed interaction effects which could not be specifically identified in the centrifuge tests.