Modeling installation and pullout response of snakeskin-textured piles
Modeling installation and pullout response of snakeskin-textured piles
Applying snake-textured surface to piles enables a direction-dependent interface strength. The positive effect of this texture on increasing interface strength during pullout has been demonstrated in centrifuge and field tests. However, these tests are costly, limit the ability to explore a wider range of influencing parameters, and do not offer information on soil response at the element level. To overcome this limitation, numerical simulations offer a valuable extension. Currently, few numerical models piles exist that can enable systematic variation of design parameters beyond physical testing. This study addresses this gap by developing and validating a numerical model for snake-textured piles during installation and pullout. The Coupled Eulerian-Lagrangian (CEL) method, which accounts for large deformations, was used to model snakeskin-inspired piles, and the results were compared with centrifuge test results at prototype scales. The pile was modelled as a rigid steel element with Lagrangian discretization, while the soil, Ottawa F65 sand, was represented with Eulerian elements using a hypoplastic constitutive model with intergranular strains. Both installation and pullout processes were simulated. The numerical results show good agreement with the centrifuge data, with a mean absolute percentage error of 9.7% regarding base pressure. The developed model accurately reproduces centrifuge test behavior and provides a basis for extended parametric studies with more detailed measurements beyond the scope of physical experiments.
Lennart Sekulic; Duy Anh Dao; D. Alkateeb; Jurgen Grabe; Alejandro Martinez
11th International Conference on Physical Modelling in Geotechnics (ICPMG2026)
Special Session 8: Nature-based solution for sustainable geotechnical systems
https://doi.org/10.53243/ICPMG2026-67