Numerical Simulation and Parametric Analysis of Laterally Loaded Piles: Foundation of Tracker Systems

Resumo

The need to generate more and more renewable energy has motivated the increasing installation of
equipment in onshore and offshore environments in order to take advantage of sunlight, wind and sea waves. The
foundation elements that support this equipment are designed to absorb not only axial loads but also lateral loads.
This paper investigates, through a 3D numerical model in Abaqus, the effects of the loading and unloading cycle
and the Young modulus of soil on load-displacement curves of laterally loaded piles. Two experimental lateral
loading tests were used to validate the numerical model, and the results are satisfactory. The load-displacement
curves were not affected by the loading and unloading cycle, but the elastic modulus of the system (k) decreases
with the eccentricity. Furthermore, eccentricity influences the values of yres and yPlas, while Young’s modulus of
soil affects the load-displacement curves. The importance of these analyses in planning the lateral load tests and
in interpreting the experimental results are presented and discussed