Pile Overview

Pile support can be modeled in various ways in RS2, depending on whether or not you wish to consider slip at the interface of the pile and the surrounding soil or rock.

The four general methods of modeling pile support in RS2 are:

• No Slip - pile can be modeled as a simple liner with the Add Liner option.
• Slip on one side - pile can be modeled as a Composite Liner with a joint.
• Slip on both sides - use the Structural Interface option.
• Slip on both sides considering stress flow in soil/rock - use the Pile Element option (see below).

In all cases, the basic support properties of the pile are modeled as a liner (i.e. beam elements are used to model the strength and stiffness of the pile).

Modelling Pile As a Pile Element

Pile elements were specifically designed to easily model piles:

• Different connection types with raft/beam can be specified
• Multiple pile sections are supported
• Many pile/soil interaction methods are implemented to provide flexibility to users.

Adding Piles

Piles are added to a model using the Add Pile option.

Editing Piles

After piles are added to the model, they can be edited using the Edit Pile option.

Pile Properties

Pile properties are defined with the Define Pile Properties option, and then assigned to the piles with the Edit Pile option.

Pile Staging

The staging sequence of pile installation for a multi-stage model can be specified when piles are initially added, by entering the install stage in the Add Pile dialog.

Modeling a Pile as a regular liner

No Slip - the simplest way to model a pile, is to use the Add Liner option to apply a liner to a boundary (Excavation, External, Material or Stage boundaries). In this case, slip at the interface is not considered. The pile (liner) is considered to be fully bonded to the rock or soil, and no joint will exist at the interface. For this method:

1. Define the strength and stiffness properties of the pile with the Define Liner option.
2. Use the Add Liner option to apply the liner (pile) to the desired boundaries. You can apply liners to Excavation, External, Material or Stage boundaries.

Modeling a Pile as a Composite Liner

Slip on one side - if you want to model a pile where slip is allowed on one side, and the other side is fully bonded, you can use the Composite Liner option. A Composite Liner in RS2 allows you to include a single joint, between the rock or soil and the liner. A Composite Liner can also consist of up to 4 layers of material. For this method:

1. Define the strength and stiffness properties of the pile with the Define Liner option.
2. Define the properties of the joint with the Define Joint option.
3. Define the overall properties of the composite liner (i.e. select the joint / liner combination), with the Define Composite option.
4. Use the Add Liner option to apply the composite liner (pile) to the desired boundaries. You can apply liners to Excavation, External, Material or Stage boundaries.

Modeling a Pile as a Structural Interface

Slip on both sides - in the most general case, slip on BOTH sides of the pile can be considered, by using the Structural Interface option to model a pile. For this method:

1. Define the location of the pile by adding a Structural Interface boundary with the Add Structural Interface option.
2. Define the strength and stiffness properties of the pile with the Define Liner option.
3. Define the properties of the joints on either side of the pile, with the Define Joint option (i.e. the properties of the pile/soil or pile/rock interface).
4. Define the overall properties of the pile (i.e. select the joint / liner / joint combination), with the Define Structural Interface option.
5. If necessary assign the properties to the Structural Interface boundary with the Assign option.