Three-dimensional analysis of the seismic behaviour of micropiles used in the reinforcement of saturated soil

This paper includes a numerical study of the behaviour of micropiles used for the reinforcement of saturated soil. Analysis is carried out using the (u-p) formulation (displacement for the solid phase and pore-pressure for the fluid phase) implemented in a three-dimensional finite element program. The soil behaviour is described by means of a cyclic elastoplastic constitutive relation which was developed within the framework of the bounding surface concept. The paper is composed of three parts. The first one is concerned with a presentation of the numerical model; the second includes analysis of the seismic behaviour of a single micropile; the last part deals with the group effect under seismic loading. Copyright (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.