Finite element analyses of pile load tests performed in the Yorktown formation, Newport News, Virginia

The finite element method is used in determining the load-capacity and behavior of a single concrete pile modeled after full scale instrumented test piles which were employed in the Tidewater area of Virginia. Specifically, this report describes the subsurface conditions and full scale pile tests that were performed during the design phase of the foundation for the Land Level Shipbuilding Facility in Newport News, Virginia. It also addresses the testing conducted by the author to determine the material properties required for finite element analyses, including: soil sampling and in-situ tests within the Yorktown formation; standard soil laboratory tests for index properties and strength-deformation characteristics of the soil along the pile perimeter and tip, plus interface tests to evaluate soil strength-deformation characteristics along the soil-pile interface. The data derived from the finite element method of analysis is then compared with the load-displacement and load-transfer data obtained from the full scale instrumented pile load tests. The comparative analysis shows favorable results leading to the conclusion that the finite element method shows promise for use in the design of deep foundations systems in the Tidewater area of Virginia. Master of Science