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Abstract

Newly proposed pile wall frame structures (PWFSs), notably with small-spaced row piles, have great potential for cofferdams of artificial islands applied for oil recovery in shallow seas. Studies have been called to analyze the bearing performance of small-spaced row piles subjected to lateral loads. A numerical investigation of laterally loaded row piles with small pile spacing was conducted to achieve a fitted algebraic expression of the P-Y curve. Significantly different from the hyperbolic P-Y curves of a single pile reported in other studies, the P-Y curve of small-spaced row piles is similar to an elastic–perfectly plastic curve, which simply depends on the ultimate lateral bearing capacity of piles (Pu) and initial slope of curves (Ki). Parametric studies have revealed that Pu and Ki values are affected by pile spacing, depth, untrained shear strength of soil, and relative soil–pile rigidity. Algebraic expression of the P-Y curve could be employed for the subgrade reaction method and be effectively used in predicting the behavior of small-spaced row piles, such as PWFSs.

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