Numerical Evaluation of Liquefaction During Vibratory Pile Driving in Saturated Sand

The present research focused on three-dimensional numerical modeling of vibratory pile driving considering axial symmetry in fully saturated sandy soil from the ground surface to the desired depth. Modeling was carried out using a finite element software without considering the simplifications made in previous studies and the results were compared with the experimental findings of other studies. The UBCSAND constitutive model effectively simulated the sudden increase in pore pressure at the pile tip during pile driving, which demonstrated the potential for liquefaction. Sensitivity analysis was performed to determine the effects of different parameters on the pore pressure and liquefaction according to the number of vibratory pulses during pile penetration. The results indicated that the maximum liquefaction potential and pore pressure ratio occurred within one-third to two-thirds of the pile length. A decrease in the pore pressure ratio was observed with an increase in the soil friction angle. A mathematical formula has been suggested to predict the pore pressure ratio during pile penetration in saturated sand.