Alain Holeyman

Critical Review of the Hypervib1 Model to Assess Pile Vibro-Drivability

The vibratory driving technique is used for driving piles, sheet piles, tubes and rods into the ground by imparting to the element a longitudinal periodic motion. The small amplitude vibrations induced by the equipment reduce the ground resistance which allows penetration under the action of a relatively small axial force. The technique offers an alternative to impact driving due to lower installation costs and reduced environmental disturbance (noise, vibration, etc.) especially in sensitive environments, such as industrial and urban sites or offshore wind farm sites. The vibratory technique is also preferred when the maximum stress levels imparted to the driven element are of concern. Despite the advantages of the vibratory driving technique, its application remains however mainly driven by pragmatic aspects. Within that context, the access to experience databases and full-scale field test results is of valuable interest. The aim of this paper is to review the Hypervib1 model developed by (Holeyman 1993) for assessing the vibratory drivability of piles and sheet piles, based on the analysis of such experimental results. New findings and developments brought to the model are discussed. Conclusions in terms of reliability of the method are finally drawn.

Axial Non-linear Dynamic Soil-Pile Interaction

This chapter describes recent analytical and numerical advances in the modeling of the axial nonlinear dynamic interaction between a single pile and its embedding soil . On one hand, analytical solutions are developed for assessing the nonlinear axial dynamic response of the shaft of a pile subjected to dynamic loads, and in particular to vibratory loads. Radial inhomogeneity arising from shear modulus degradation is evaluated over a range of parameters and compared with those obtained by other authors and by a numerical radial discrete model simulating the pile and soil movements from integration of the laws of motion. New approximate nonlinear solutions for axial pile shaft behaviour developed from general elastodynamic equations are presented and compared to existing linear solutions. The soil nonlinear behaviour and its ability to dissipate mechanical energy upon cyclic loading are shown to have a significant influence on the mechanical impedance provided by the surrounding soil against pile shaft movement. The limitations of over-simplified modelling of pile response are highlighted.

Flexural Analysis in Dynamic Pinned Head Pile Testing

Abstract A Laplace transform is used to solve the problem of the steady state and transient response of a pinned head pile embedded into a viscoelastic Winkler soil medium. The pile is modeled as an Euler–Bernoulli beam while the soil medium is modeled using a Winkler subgrade approach. Two analytical solutions are developed to specifically address both steady state and transient loads encountered during dynamic pile testing. After choosing a proper contour integration in the complex plane, inverse integration is evaluated. The steady state solutions are associated to the residues of the integration around the poles while the transient solutions are associated to the integration paths along the contour integration. The derived solutions are applied to a case history for which results of dynamic pile tests are available. Dynamic pile flexion is generated by delivering eccentric impact using a dynamic loading test module. Validity of the proposed solution is discussed basing on geotechnical campaign and recorded pile head bending moment and rotation rate.

Load Transfers During Vibratory Driving

The vibratory driving technique consists in applying a vibratory load onto a profile to reduce the ground resistance and allow penetration of the profile under its own weight. The vibratory action is produced by counter-rotating eccentric masses actuated within the exciter block. A proper definition of this mechanical action is fundamental for vibratory driving analyses. The vibratory force transferred from the vibrator onto the pile during vibratory driving is however generally neither well defined nor understood, in particular when using simplified closed form solutions for the analysis of pile driving. Few authors have pointed out the very low ratio observed between the force measured in the pile and the nominal inertial force developed by the eccentrics, but without offering a theoretical framework to explain and predict this low ratio. The objective of this paper is to develop a better understanding of the so-called ‘efficiency factor’ of the vibratory driving process. Analytical solutions are presented, along with more advanced numerical simulations. Theoretical solutions are illustrated with reference to field measurements collected at different test sites.

Development of a new electric conductivity sensor in order to characterize soil solute concentration

Laboratory solute transport investigation can be performed using a large panel of tools. On one hand, Same techniques as in the field, including geophysical ones, can be used. However, these are bulk techniques which give an overall image of the soil heterogeneities and of the plume extension.