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

螺纹桩由中空钢管和一个或多个螺旋承重板焊接在钢管上组成。他们是 通过对桩头施加向下的力和转动力矩来安装的，将桩“扭曲”成 土壤。通常需要延长桩的原始长度，以达到足够的土层 承重能力。桩基延伸的一种常见解决方案是焊接连接。然而，焊接经常 在施工期间，由于需要由一名 专家，使这一过程变得昂贵。一种用于扩桩的新型机械连接件 是由Almita P桩公司最近开发的。新的连接器代表了一种经济高效的替代方案 焊接，便于快速高效的桩基安装过程。Almita P桩公司有兴趣验证 通过三维有限元分析模型对连接件进行了设计。一个健壮、严谨的3D模型将是 由艾伯塔大学使用最先进的有限元软件开发。模型将是 使用Almita打桩公司进行的空气中测试的实验结果进行验证。分析模型 将用来更好地了解桩对桩连接的结构性能、荷载路径 通过联轴器，得到机械连接件在复合应力作用下的响应，并识别区域 具有可能导致连接器失效的高应力集中。一旦经过验证， 模型将用于进行参数分析，其中包括研究不同几何形状的影响 详细信息和材料特性对连接器的性能有影响。Almita P桩公司将受益于 在本研究中产生的分析证据表明，连接器按设计运行，并且它可以 适用于各种桩号的安全使用。使用机械联轴器代替焊接连接将 对Almita P桩公司来说更具成本效益，使该公司能够提供更具竞争力的服务，以 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.