DETERMINATION OF CRITICAL LOADS FOR PILES BY ENERGY METHOD CONSIDERING FROST HEAVE FORCES AND RESISTANCE TO DEFORMATION OF FROZEN SOIL

Using the Euler elastic stability theory for reference, the stability equation of piles in frozen soil is established and solved to obtain a general formula for calculating the buckling loads of piles under the action of frost heave forces and resistance to deformation of frozen soil. A discrete spring element model is established using the commercially available finite element analysis program ANSYS to calculate the forces generated by frozen soil. The results obtained from the two methods are compared with the experimental data of piles in Kunlunshan permafrost test field, and they are shown to be in good agreement. Through parameter analysis, the major factors affecting the stability of piles in frozen soil region are obtained.