ANALYSIS MODEL OF PILE-TO-PILE MECHANICAL CONNECTOR FOR SCREW PILES

螺旋桩由空心钢管和焊接在钢管上的一个或多个螺旋形承压板组成。他们是 通过向桩头施加向下的力和转动力矩，将桩“扭转”成 土壤。通常需要延长桩的原始长度，以达到土层， 承载能力桩延伸的常见解决方案是焊接连接。然而，焊接往往 在施工期间，由于需要由 专家，使过程昂贵。一种用于桩延伸的新型机械连接器， 最近由Almita Piling Inc.新的连接器代表了一种具有成本效益的替代方案， 焊接，便于快速和有效的桩安装过程。Almita打桩公司有兴趣验证 通过3D有限元分析模型设计连接器。一个强大的，严格的3D模型将是 由阿尔伯塔大学使用最先进的有限元软件开发。该车型将 使用由Almita Piling Inc.进行的“空气中”测试的实验结果进行验证。分析模型 将用于更好地了解桩与桩连接的结构性能，荷载路径 通过耦合器，机械连接器在组合应力下的响应，并识别区域 具有可能导致连接器失效的高应力集中。验证后， 模型将用于进行参数分析，包括研究不同几何形状的影响 连接器性能的细节和材料特性。Almita打桩公司将受益于 本研究中生成的分析证据表明，连接器的性能符合设计要求， 可安全用于各种桩尺寸。使用机械耦合器代替焊接连接将 对Almita Piling Inc.来说更具成本效益，使该公司能够提供更具竞争力的服务， 开拓新的市场领域，增加业务量。

Screw piles consist of hollow steel pipe with one or more helical bearing plates welded to the pipe. They are installed by applying a downward force and a turning moment to the head of the pile, "twisting" the pile into the soil. Extensions to the original length of the pile are often needed to reach soil layers with sufficient load-bearing capacity. A common solution to pile extensions are welded connections. However, welding often entails an excessive amount of down-time during construction due to the required supervision of the welds by a specialist, making the process expensive. A new type of mechanical connector for use in pile extensions has been recently developed by Almita Piling Inc. The new connector represents a cost-effective alternative to welding, facilitating a rapid and efficient pile installation process. Almita Piling Inc. is interested in validating the design of the connector through a 3D finite-element analysis model. A robust, rigorous 3D model will be developed at the University of Alberta using state-of-the-art finite-element software. The model will be validated using experimental results from "in-air" tests conducted by Almita Piling Inc. The analysis model will be used to better understand the structural performance of the pile-to-pile connection, the load path through the coupler, the response of the mechanical connector under combined stresses, and to identify regions with high stress concentrations that potentially would lead to failure of the connector. Once validated, the model will be used to conduct a parametric analysis that includes studying the influence of different geometric details and material properties on the performance of the connector. Almita Piling Inc. will benefit from the analytical evidence generated in this study by showing that the connector performs as designed, and that it can be used safely for a wide range of pile sizes. Using the mechanical coupler instead of welded connections will be more cost-effective for Almita Piling Inc, allowing the company to offer its services more competitively, to reach new market areas, and to increase its business volume.