Comparative Numerical Study of XCC and Conventional Piles in Clay Soils Using PLAXIS 3D

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Structural Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Tanta University.

2 Faculty of Engineering, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt

Abstract

This research investigates the effectiveness of cross-sectional modification in piles as an advanced deep foundation technique for clay soils. Conventional circular piles often underperform under compressive loads due to their limited surface area and geometry. To address this limitation, this study proposes the use of X-section cast-in-place concrete (XCC) piles, designed to improve compressive strength compared to traditional circular piles. The behaviour of XCC piles under compression in clay soil was analysed using PLAXIS 3D V20 software. A series of numerical models were run at different XCC pile geometry and length in clay soil with different cohesion. Numerical results indicate that at an Lp/Dp ratio of 16 and θ° = 120°, the bearing capacity of XCC piles increased by 1.4 times compared to conventional piles with the same cross-sectional area and clay cohesion values of 70 KN/m², 100 KN/m², and 150 KN/m². Furthermore, XCC piles demonstrated a twofold increase in vertical load-carrying capacity compared to conventional piles. These findings highlight the enhanced performance of XCC piles, attributed to their optimized cross-sectional geometry, which maximizes soil-pile interaction. Therefore, XCC piles represent a promising solution for improving compressive resistance in clay conditions.

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International Journal of Advances in Structural and Geotechnical Engineering

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 17 June 2025

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