Model tests and numerical analyses of polymer gravel piles

In order to apply and popularize the new type polymer gravel piles in engineering, model tests and finite element analyses are carried out on three kinds of polymer gravel piles with different polymer densities, and their bearing characteristics are studied. The results show that the bearing capacity of polymer gravel piles increases with the increase of polymer density, pile length and pile diameter. Under the same pile top load, the pile friction resistance of the model pile increases with the increase of polymer density. Under the same polymer density, it is found that the larger the pile diameter, the smaller the load sharing ratio of the pile tip resistance. In addition, the loading capacity of the polymer gravel piles is better than that of the gravel piles and CFG piles.