Francesca Dezi

Linear and Nonlinear Dynamic Response of Piles in Soft Marine Clay

AbstractThis paper presents the results of free vibration tests carried out at different load levels on a system of three near-shore steel pipe piles vibro-driven into soft marine clay. Piles are arranged in an L-shaped horizontal layout and are free at the head. The instrumentation consists of strain gauges placed at selected levels along the shaft of the loaded pile and accelerometers at the head of the receiver piles. The aim of this experiment is to analyze the dynamic soil–water–pile and pile-to-pile interaction and to investigate the development of nonlinearities at increasing load levels. The results of experimental modal analyses, in terms of natural frequencies and damping ratios of the system, are presented and the complex dynamic behavior of the vibrating soil–water–pile system and the pile-to-pile interaction are discussed. For a better reliability assessment of the system response in the range of linear behavior, the results of free vibration tests at the lowest level of the applied loads are...

Erratum to: Implications of non-synchronous excitation induced by nonlinear site amplification and of soil-structure interaction on the seismic response of multi-span bridges founded on piles

This work investigates the effects of soil-structure interaction and spatial variability of seismic motion due to nonlinear site amplification on the seismic behaviour of long multi-span bridges founded on piles. An analysis framework able to include the spatial variation of ground motion induced by specific geological and geomorphological scenarios in the seismic soil-structure interaction analysis of long bridges is adopted, exploiting advantages of the substructure approach. The methodology is applied to a case study constituted by a pile-supported multi-span bridge founded in a soft clay deposit overlaying a stiff bedrock with three different configurations: horizontal, inclined and wedge-shaped. The reference input motion at the outcropping bedrock is represented by a set of real accelerograms and different seismic response models are used to compute site amplification effects, discussing the contribution to the free-field ground motion of both the two-dimensional configuration of the deposit and the nonlinear soil behaviour. The ground motions obtained from the different models are then used for computing the foundation input motion accounting for the pile–soil kinematic interaction; thereafter, inertial interaction analyses are performed on structural models with either fixed or compliant base, considering the non-synchronous seismic actions at the piers foundation. The results, compared in terms of piers head displacements, ductility demand and deck transverse bending moments, finally show the relative importance of bedrock morphology, soil nonlinearity and soil-structure interaction on the structural response.

Experimental study on instrumented micropiles

In the present work, first steps of an extensive experimental study carried out on two vertical micropiles in alluvial silty soil are presented. One of the vertical micropiles is injected throughout valves a-manchèttes placed along the steel core of the shaft, while the other one is grouted with a unique global injection. Both of them are instrumented with several strain gauges along the shaft and an accelerometer at the head. The protection technique adopted to prevent damages on the strain gauges during micropile installation and high-pressure injections is also discussed. The main objectives of this experimental campaign are the monitoring of the modifications in the dynamic characteristics of the complex soil-micropile system due to execution techniques and construction stages, and the investigation of the dynamic response considering different kind of cyclic and dynamic loading. In particular, the effect of the high-pressure injections on the dynamic response of vertical micropiles is here investigated, by means of series of ambient vibrations and lateral impact loading tests. Experimental data of impact load tests are finally compared with results obtained from an analytical model.

Soil-Foundation Compliance Evidence of the “Chiaravalle Viaduct”

This paper focuses on the contribution of the soil-foundation compliance on the measured dynamic response of the Chiaravalle viaduct subjected to ambient excitations. The viaduct, linking the SS76 with the airport of Ancona (in Central Italy), is 875 m long and is constituted by four kinematic chains separated by expansion joints. The r.c. deck is formed by three V-shaped beams supported by column bent piers characterized by circular cross-sections. The piers foundation is constituted by a group of six concrete piles. Ambient vibration measurements have been performed to evaluate the actual natural frequencies and mode shapes of the bridge and data have been used to calibrate a numerical model that was adopted to design the bridge seismic retrofit. Experimental modal properties are evaluated by means of the Operational Modal Analysis; due to the great length of the viaduct, different configurations of sensors placed on the deck are used to study the overall behavior of the viaduct and the Pre Global Estimation Re-scaling method is adopted to merge mode shapes obtained from each configuration. Furthermore, with reference to the transverse behavior, some tests are performed in correspondence of one pier, measuring accelerations of the foundation cap (both translational and rotational components) and the pier bent, in order to identify contribution to the transverse modal displacement due to the elastic deflection of the pier and the foundation rocking. Test results are compared with those obtained from a 3D Finite Element model of the viaduct, including or not the Soil-Structure Interaction problem. The numerical model on compliant restraints is able to capture the foundation rocking, experimentally detected, and provides modal parameters in good agreement with experimental ones.

Current state of the dynamic monitoring of the “Chiaravalle viaduct”

This paper describes some notable aspects regarding the dynamic monitoring planned for the Chiaravalle viaduct, linking SS76 and airport of Ancona in Falconara, in Italy. The viaduct is 875 m long and consists of four r.c. kinematic chains separated by joints. The deck is constituted by three beams supported by column bent piers constituted by two circular r.c. columns founded on a continuous footing on six concrete piles. The first purpose of the dynamic monitoring is to determine the experimental natural frequencies and mode shapes of the viaduct before a scheduled seismic rehabilitation. Then, comparison of the first results with those obtained after the retrofit of foundation and piers and finally after the substitution of the deck bearing, will contribute to evaluate efficiency of the executed works. Two different inputs are used for the dynamic tests, ambient and traffic vibrations. An Operational Modal Analysis is carried out starting from the collected data, using the Enhanced Frequency Domain Decomposition technique. Different sensor configurations are used to evaluate the overall behaviour of the viaduct. The Pre Global Estimation Re-scaling method is adopted in order to merge the different parts of mode shapes relevant to each configuration. Results of dynamic tests are interpreted through a 3D Finite Element model of the viaduct. Firstly, a conventional fixed base model is considered, then a model including the Soil-Structure Interaction phenomena is developed in order to improve consistency between numerical and experimental results. The modal parameters obtained by the model including Soil-Structure Interaction are in good agreement with those estimated experimentally.