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Investigating the performance of micropiled raft in foundation of power

transmission lines towers in cohesive soil: Experimental and numerical study

Article  in  Canadian Geotechnical Journal · July 2017

DOI: 10.1139/cgj-2017-0027

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1

ARTICLE
Investigating performance of micropiled raft in foundation of
power transmission line towers in cohesive soil: experimental
and numerical study
Ali-Asghar Zekavati, Alireza Khodaverdian, Mohammad-Ali Jafari, and Ahmad Hosseini
Can. Geotech. J. Downloaded from www.nrcresearchpress.com by UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS on 02/11/18

Abstract: This paper captures the behavior of micropiled rafts in power transmission line tower foundations in cohesive soil,
concentrating on their uplift performance whether due to the tower position along the line or under wind loading conditions.
In this regard, first a number of micropiles were driven into the ground of a project site at the ParehSar power plant, Gilan, Iran.
Compression and uplift loading tests were conducted according to relevant standards. On the basis of the field data, a three-
dimensional finite element model was developed and subsequently calibrated and verified. The behavior of micropiled rafts
subjected to uplift, which is a typical type of loading in foundations of 230 kV four-circuit lattice towers, was then studied by
means of this model in terms of a wide-ranging parametric study. In the sensitivity analyses, the impacts of various parameters,
such as micropile spacing-to-diameter (s/d) and length-to-diameter (l/d) ratios along with undrained shear strength of the soil, on
the uplift capacity of an individual micropile within and out of the group were investigated. Furthermore, interaction factors
were computed based on diverse values for undrained shear strength of the soil, s/d ratio, l/d ratio, and grout–soil adhesion. From
design and analysis perspectives, the finite element method (FEM) outputs revealed that the efficiency coefficient of micropiled
rafts during uplift can be considered equal to one. Moreover, it was found that not only does the behavior of micropiles affect the
neighboring micropiles immediately adjacent to the loaded one, but it also influences those in further rows, the result of which
would be considering their significance as well.
For personal use only.

Key words: power transmission line, lattice tower, uplift behavior, micropiled-raft foundation, field loading test, finite element
method (FEM).

Résumé : Cet article reflète le comportement de pieux en radeau des fondations de la tour de la ligne de transmission dans le sol
cohérent, se concentrant sur le rendement en arrachement si en raison de la position de la tour le long de la ligne ou sous des
conditions de charge du vent. À cet égard, d’abord un certain nombre de micropieux ont été enfoncés dans le sol d’un site du
projet aux stations de puissance ParehSar, Gilan, Iran. Des essais de chargement en compression et des essais de soulèvement ont
été effectués conformément aux normes pertinentes. Sur la base des données de terrain, un modèle tridimensionnel d’éléments
finis a été développé et calibré et vérifié par la suite. Le comportement de pieux radeaux, soumis à un soulèvement, qui est un
type de chargement dans les fondations de circuit de 230 kV de quatre tours en treillis, a ensuite été étudié à l’aide de ce modèle
en termes d’une étude paramétrique. Dans les analyses de sensibilité, les effets de différents paramètres, tels que l’espacement
des micropieux sur diamètre (s/d) et la longueur / le diamètre (l/d) avec la résistance au cisaillement du sol ont fait l’objet d’une
enquête sur la capacité d’arrachement d’un individu à l’intérieur de micropieux et hors du groupe. En outre, les facteurs
d’interaction ont été calculés en fonction des différentes valeurs de résistance au cisaillement du sol, rapport s/d rapport l/d, et
l’adhérence du sol lors du coulage. De perspective de la conception ou d’analyse, les résultats ont révélé que les résultats FEM ont
relevé le coefficient d’efficacité de pieux en radeau durant le soulèvement peut être considérée comme égale à un. En outre, il
a été constaté que non seulement le comportement des micropieux affecte les micropieux voisins immédiatement à côté de ceux
chargés, elle influence aussi ceux dans d’autres lignes, dont le résultat tient compte de leur importance. [Traduit par la
Rédaction]

Mots-clés : ligne de transmission de puissance, pylône en treillis, comportement en arrachement, fondation de pieux en radeau,
essai de chargement sur le champ, méthode aux éléments finis (FEM).

Introduction
With the rapid development of civil infrastructures and the
associated consumption of power energy, a momentous portion
of financial budget of governments is allocated to the construc-
tion of high-voltage transmission lines. In soft soils, the majority
of this manufacturing cost is devoted to the tower foundation
because the foundation dimensions are generally enlarged to in-
crease the ultimate bearing capacity and reduce the settlement. In
addition, for prevention of uplift phenomenon and provision of
higher overburden, the foundations are built into deeper levels.
In this regard, implementing a new foundation system for ob-
viating the aforementioned drawbacks appears to be indispensable.
Among the common approaches, a micropile group has progres-
sively been employed for execution of foundations in problematic

Received 11 January 2017. Accepted 27 June 2017.

A.-A. Zekavati, A. Khodaverdian, and M.-A. Jafari. Structural Department of Transmission and Distribution Research Center, Niroo Research
Institute (NRI), Dadman Blvd., Shahrak Ghods (Gharb), Tehran, I.R. of Iran.
A. Hosseini. School of Railway Engineering, Iran University of Science and Technology, Tehran, I.R. of Iran.
Corresponding author: Mohammad-Ali Jafari (email: mjafari@nri.ac.ir).
Copyright remains with the author(s) or their institution(s). Permission for reuse (free in most cases) can be obtained from RightsLink.

Can. Geotech. J. 00: 1–17 (0000) dx.doi.org/10.1139/cgj-2017-0027 Published at www.nrcresearchpress.com/cgj on 18 July 2017.
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2 Can. Geotech. J. Vol. 00, 0000

Table 1. Recent investigations regarding performance of micropiles.

Year Researchers Details
1998 Benslimane Summary: Investigation of the earthquake loading response and soil–micropile interaction behavior; centrifugal model tests
et al. (1998) on group and network systems embedded in loose to medium dry sand; group effects were investigated for different
configurations and at different levels of loading.
Key consequences: Results indicate a positive group effect, which leads to smaller bending moments and displacements in
pile group compared with a single micropile; fundamental frequency of micropile system is strongly affected by the
micropile system configuration; the p–y curves for micropile group obtained under strong shaking were found to be
nonlinear and with a low damping.
2004 Shahrour and Summary: Numerical and experimental study of micropile seismic performance; investigating the effect of the main
Juran (2004) controlling parameters of the micropile–soil–structure system, such as the kinematic interaction, group effect, influence
Can. Geotech. J. Downloaded from www.nrcresearchpress.com by UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS on 02/11/18

of micropile inclination, and performance assessment of micropile systems in liquefiable soils.

Key consequences: Reduction in micropile bending moment in group compared with a single micropile under seismic
loading; improvement of group performance including an increase in micropile systems stiffness and reduction in shear
and bending moment in raft using an inclined micropile system.
2006 Sadek et al. Summary: Numerical modeling of micropile group under lateral and vertical loads; the groups were constituted by two
(2006) rows of micropiles with opposite inclination; finite element analyses were carried out using PECPLAS code.
Key consequences: Inclined micropiles lead to improvement of group performance under both lateral and vertical loads;
under lateral loading conditions, the inclination of micropiles leads to sufficient mobilization of the axial stiffness of
micropiles, and subsequently results in an increase in the lateral stiffness of the group as well as the reduction of both
the shearing forces and bending moments in micropiles.
2010 Choi and Cho Summary: Field verification study for micropile load capacity; two sets (installed to the depth of soil and rock layers) of field
(2010) compressive loading tests (loose silty sand for set 1 and loose silty sand and gravel to rock layer for set 2); utilizing two
micropiles with different types A and similar to type C (geotextile–pack–micropile).
Key consequences: More uniform distribution of unit frictional resistance at soil layer in micropile type C than type A; more
bearing capacity (at least 20%) of micropile type C than type A. (A, B, C, D grouting types are determined according to
FHWA (2000) criteria. A, grout is placed under gravity head only; B, pressure through casing; C, single global post-grout;
D, multiple repeatable post-grout.)
2014 Kershaw and Summary: Full-scale field testing (two axial-compression, two lateral-load, and four combined-load tests) of micropiles type A
Luna (2014) in stiff-to-hard clay underlain by weathered silty–sandy shale; applying a static axial load (half of the ultimate failure
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load) and incrementally increasing the lateral load until the maximum lateral deflection of 63 mm, corresponding to the
ratio of 0.6 between the lateral and axial load.
Key consequences: Ultimate axial and lateral capacity of micropiles; applying a static axial load has a minimum impact on the
micropile lateral behavior in stiff clay soil.
2014 Abd Elaziz and El Summary: Full-scale field (stiff to very stiff silty clay to clayey silt underlain by a sandy layer with traces of silt) testing (three
Naggar (2014a) compression and two tension monotonic axial tests on four micropiles type B) and numerical analysis (a two-
dimensional axisymmetric finite element (FE) model); calibrating the model by the experimental results leading to an
appropriate failure criterion for micropiles; performing a parametric study to investigate the effect of some important
parameters on the micropile capacity.
Key consequences:
PG ⫽ 共0.9 to 1兲Su␲dL共1 ⫹ 0.35Vinc兲 ⫹ 9SuAhole for compressive loading.
PG ⫽ 共0.9 to 1兲Su␲dL共1 ⫹ 0.275Vinc兲 ⫹ 9Su 2.5Ainc for uplift loading.
PG, Geotechnical capacity of micropile; Su, undrained shear strength of the soil; d, micropile diameter; L, micropile length;
Vinc, percentage increase in micropile volume; Ahole, grout volume per unit length of micropile; Ainc, percentage increase
in the micropile volume per unit length of micropile.
2014 Abd Elaziz and El Summary: Full-scale field study (four axial monotonic tests) on single micropile and micropile group in stiff silty clay deposit
Naggar (2014b) as well as numerical investigation using 3D FE analysis, and calibrate–verify the model; performing a parametric study
to characterize the capacity and performance of micropile groups.
Key consequences: Establishing the group efficiency of one and interaction factor curves for evaluation of micropiles group
capacity and response (settlement) under vertical loading as well as the interaction between two micropiles considering
the spacing between them, the soil and pile properties, and the slenderness ratio of micropile.
2014 Alnuaim et al. Summary: Five centrifuge tests at 50g acceleration on micropiled raft located inside a sandy soil under a vertical
(2014) point load; investigating the impact of raft flexibility on its behavior by changing its thickness.
Key consequences: Raft global and local settlements, raft contact pressure and bending moment, raft-micropiles load
shearing; 37%–48% load bearing of micropiles (reduction of raft contact pressure); applicability of Poulos–Davis–
Randolph (PDR) method for relatively stiff rafts, but not for flexible ones (need correction factor).
2015 Alnuaim et al. Summary: Three centrifuge tests at 50g acceleration to assess the performance of micropiled raft subjected to a
(2015) concentrated vertical load in a clayey soil (single micropile and single raft).
Key consequences: Initial outputs similar to Abd Elaziz and El Naggar (2014b); considerable influence of micropiled raft on
system axial stiffness with respect to an isolated raft; reasonable accuracy of PDR method prediction of axial stiffness of
the relatively rigid raft (flexible rafts need separate evaluation); converging the micropiled-raft behavior to an isolated
raft as the ultimate load approaches its maximum value.
2016 Alnuaim et al. Summary: Conducting a numerical study including 78 FE analyses in order to evaluate the performance of micropiled rafts
(2016) located inside sand; calibration and verification of the model by employing the results of centrifuge tests; studying the
effects of micropile spacing, raft thickness, sand density, and loading type on the bearing pressure tolerable for the raft,
its axial stiffness, differential settlement, load shearing, bending moment, as well as micropile skin friction.
Key consequences: Suitable capability of PDR method to predict the stiffness of a rigid raft with up to 3% error of the
calibrated FE analyses results (adjustment factor has been introduced for flexible rafts); differential settlement reduction
of 20%–40% for micropile spacing-to-diameter ratios less than 10; higher impacts of micropiles on a flexible raft in the
case of loadings with uniform distribution.

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