Evaluation of dynamic soil-pile interaction based on both full scale in situ tests and numerical simulations

This paper presents some comparisons between results obtained by full-scale experimental dynamic tests and numerical simulations for the evaluation of the dynamic behaviour of soil-pile foundation systems. Two experimental campaigns were considered for this scope: one conducted on vibro-driven steel pipe piles in nearshore environment and the other on vertical injected and not injected micropiles in an alluvial silty deposit. Experimental campaigns include ambient vibration and impact tests, as well as snap back and forced vibration tests. A numerical procedure, developed to study the kinematic and inertial interaction of pile foundations in horizontally layered soil profiles, was applied to predict the response of the 3 types of piles realized in different soil deposits. The primary objective of the comparisons was to assess the accuracy of the numerical procedure in predicting the dynamic response of the pile-foundation system varying the pile construction method and soil nature surrounding the pile shaft.