Nonlinear analysis of composite ground with weak drainage pile

Under a constant load, considering the influences of smear zone and nonlinear characteristics of soil, assuming that there is only radial flow in weak drainage piles, a governing equation under the assumption of equal strain is derived. The validity of the proposed method is conformed through being equivalent to Terzaghi’s one-dimensional consolidation theory . The analytic results show that: the nonlinear characteristics of soil have great i nfluences on the rate of consolidation , the consolidation velocity of composite ground decreases with the increase of C _c / C_k and H / r_c , the stress ratio σ₀/ σ_si has less influences on the rate of consolidation in comparison with C_c/ C_k, the larger the ratio of pile-soil modulus, the faster the consolidation velocity and the less influences of C _c / C_k on consolidation, and the consolidation velocity of composite ground with weak drainage pile is mainly under the influences of anisotropy of permeability of soil.