NONLINEAR BENDING BEHAVIOR OF PRESTRESSED HIGH STRENGTH CONCRETE PILE UNDER AXIAL AND LATERAL LOADING

The finite element software OpenSees was used to study the behavior of prestressed high strength concrete (PHC) piles under axial and lateral loading. The comparison between analytical and experimental results shows that the model is capable of accurately describing the behavior of PHC piles. Finite element analysis was conducted to study the load-bearing capacity and curvature ductility of PHC piles. The results indicated that the bending capacity of PHC piles increases with the increase of the axial force, and the curvature ductility decreases. As the load ratio was below 0.35, the bending capacity increases greatly. PHC pile damage was featured by premature concrete crushing when the load ratio is greater than 0.45. The load ratio should be controlled below 0.35 in construction practice.