Probabilistic assessment of pile group response considering superstructure stiffness and three-dimensional soil spatial variability

Abstract

This note presents the probabilistic analyses of pile groups considering spatially variable soil properties and superstructure-foundation interaction effects. Condensed stiffness matrices for the superstructure and spatially variable subsurface domain are evaluated individually, and coupled with foundation elements for holistic analyses of the system. Probabilistic assessments are then performed using surrogate modeling method. Parametric studies show that common assumptions of perfect or no spatial correlations in the soil may not represent the critical scenario for pile groups. Two presented foundation case studies also reveal the significance of interactions between superstructure and soil variability, and potentials of foundation tilting due to spatially variable soil properties.