Wenhui Zeng, Rongquan Fan, Jiahui Zhu, Min Xia, Yu Mao, Wenjie Xu, Shijun Gao

Numerical simulation of static load tests for evaluating the bearing capacity of expanded micropiles

Abstract Based on in-situ static load tests of micropiles, a three-dimensional finite element model of the variable-diameter micropile was established using the software ABAQUS to investigate the bearing capacities of the straight, expanded-base, and double-expanded micropile under compressive, uplift, and lateral loading conditions. The results indicate that under compressive loading, the ultimate compressive bearing capacities of the expanded-base and double-expanded micropile were approximately 1.35 and 1.47 times that of the straight micropile, respectively. Notably, the enhancement in compressive bearing performance provided by the double-expanded micropiles configuration is not significantly greater than that of the expanded micropiles. Under uplift loading, the capacities of the expanded-base and double-expanded micropiles were approximately 1.64 and 2.0 times that of the straight micropile, respectively. These indicate that the expanded configuration significantly enhances uplift bearing performance. Under lateral loading, the capacity of the double-expanded micropile was approximately 1.1 times that of the straight and expanded-base micropile, suggesting that the contribution of the expanded section to improving lateral bearing performance is relatively limited.

Doi https://doi.org/10.5200/baltica.2026.2.2

Keywords variable-diameter micropile; in-situ static load tests; uplift bearing capacities; compressive bearing capacities

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