Pile foundations in unsaturated soils: a mechanistic framework

该项目将通过综合非饱和土力学、材料非线性、数值模拟、极限分析和试验研究等领域的专业知识，开发一种在可变饱和土壤中进行桩基设计的力学方法。它将实现对非饱和状态下桩性状的严格理解。 通过规模实验室试验、数值和理论分析的综合方案，土体承受单调荷载。这项研究产生的模型、理论、力学和预测工具将对工业和住宅发展中涉及桩基的多种基础设施的规划、设计、施工和管理产生直接和直接的影响。

This project will develop a mechanistic approach to pile foundation design in variably saturated soils through integrated expertise in the fields of unsaturated soil mechanics, material nonlinearity, numerical modelling, limit analysis and experimental investigation. It will achieve a rigorous understanding of pile behaviour in unsaturated soils subjected to monotonic loading through a comprehensive program of scaled laboratory testing, numerical and theoretical analyses. The models, theories, mechanics and predictive tools arising from this research will have direct and immediate impact on the planning, design, construction and management of many types of infrastructure involving pile foundations in industrial and residential developments.