Open-ended pipe piles (OEPPs) are widely used in offshore foundations, yet accurately predicting their driving responses remains challenging due to soil plug complexities. Existing pile driving analysis models inadequately characterize the effects of soil plug, potentially leading to driving problems such as hammer refusal, pile running, and structural damage. This paper proposes an effective soil plug (ESP) model for OEPP driving analysis. The ESP model considers the effective range of soil plug, which exerts internal resistance that increases exponentially with depth while the beyond of effective range contributes only mass inertia. It also accounts for the relative slippage at the pile-soil plug interface. A differential iterative method is developed to solve the ESP model. Subsequently, investigations including the model validation and parameter analysis are conducted. Model validations against existing models and field measurements confirms the reliability of the ESP model. Parameters sensitivity analysis reveals the importance of soil plug length and distribution type of internal resistance on the pile dynamic responses. In addition, if soil plug slippage occurs, the displacement peak of soil plug increases with depth rather than one-dimensional wave attenuation. Furthermore, contrary to previous assumptions of continuous slippage, the soil plug experiences a discontinuous jump-sliding mode under long-duration impact loading. These findings provide theoretical basis for OEPP driving simulation and interpretations of high-strain dynamic test.

Large-diameter monopiles of offshore wind turbines are subjected to continuous multistage cyclic loads of different types (one-way or two-way) and loading amplitudes over time. The loading history is likely to affect the lateral response during the subsequent loading stage. This paper conducts a systematic study on the lateral response of monopiles with and without reinforcement in multilayer soil. Two groups of monotonic centrifuge tests of monopiles with and without reinforcement are carried out to compare and study the influence of reinforcement on the displacement, bending moment and earth pressure of monopile foundations. Local reinforcement in the shallow layer effectively improved the bearing capacity of the monopile foundation. The ultimate bearing capacity of monopile foundations in monotonic tests provides a load basis for cyclic tests. Four groups of continuous multistage cyclic centrifuge tests of monopiles with and without reinforcement with different cyclic modes and loading amplitudesare carried out to investigate the influence of loading history on the lateral cumulative displacement, unloading secant stiffness and bending moment. Empirical design recommendations for monopiles under continuous multistage cyclic loads with different cyclic modes and loading amplitudes are provided based on the results of the tests.

Energy piles, which serve the dual functions of load-bearing and geothermal energy exchange, are often modeled with surrounding soil assumed to be either fully saturated or completely dry in existing design and computational methods. These simplifications neglect soil saturation variability, leading to reduced predictive accuracy of the thermomechanical response of energy piles. This study proposes a novel theoretical framework for predicting the thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) behavior of energy piles in partially saturated soils. The framework incorporates the effects of temperature and hydraulic conditions on the mechanical properties of partially saturated soils and pile-soil interface. A modified cyclic generalized nonlinear softening model and a cyclic hyperbolic model were developed to describe the interface shear stress-displacement relationship at the pile shaft and base, respectively. Governing equations for the load-settlement behavior of energy piles in partially saturated soils were derived using the load transfer method (LTM) and solved numerically using the matrix displacement method. The proposed approach was validated against experimental data from both field and centrifuge tests, demonstrating strong predictive performance. Specifically, the average relative error (ARE) was less than 15% for saturated soils and below 23% for unsaturated soils when evaporation effects were considered. Finally, parametric analyses were conducted to assess the effects of flow rate, groundwater table position, and softening parameters on the THM behavior of energy piles. This framework can offer a valuable tool for predicting THM behavior of energy piles in partially saturated soils, supporting their broader application as a sustainable foundation solution in geotechnical engineering.

The incorporation of PCMs in energy piles holds significant potential for revolutionising thermal management in construction, making them a crucial component in the development of next-generation systems. The existing literature on PCM-integrated energy piles largely consists of isolated case studies and experimental investigations, often focusing on specific aspects without providing a comprehensive synthesis to guide future research or practical applications. To date, no review has been conducted to consolidate and evaluate the existing knowledge on PCMs in energy piles, making this review the first of its kind in this field. Up until now, this gap in research has limited our understanding of how PCM configurations, thermal properties, and integration methods impact the thermal and mechanical performance of these systems. Through thoroughly analysing the current research landscape, this review discovers key trends, methodologies, and insights. The methodology used here involved a systematic search of the existing SCI/SCIE-indexed literature to ensure a structured review. Based on the SLR findings, it is evident that current research on PCMs in energy piles is focused on improving thermal efficiency, heat transfer, and compressive strength. Furthermore, precise adjustments in melting temperature significantly impact efficiency, with PCM integration boosting thermal energy extraction by up to 70 % in some cases, such as heating cycles, and saving up to 30 % in operational costs. PCMs also reduce soil temperature fluctuations, improving structural integrity through minimising axial load forces. However, challenges remain, including reduced mechanical strength due to voids and weak bonding, high costs, and complexities such as micro-encapsulation. We acknowledge that there are gaps in addressing certain key factors, including thermal diffusivity; volume change during phase transitions; thermal response time; compatibility with construction materials; interaction with soil, creep, and fatigue; material compatibility and durability; and the long-term energy savings associated with PCM-GEP systems.

In view of the challenges posed by construction on deep soft coastal ground, this study introduces the precast drainage pile (PDP) technology. This innovative approach combines precast pipe piles with prefabricated vertical drains, installed through static pile pressing and subsequently subjected to vacuum negative pressure for the consolidation of surrounding soil. To evaluate the efficacy of PDP technology, a comparative analysis was conducted between precast pile and PDP, incorporating field testing and numerical simulation. The investigation focused on the evolution of excess pore water pressure, deformation, and pile bearing capacity. Results indicated that vacuum negative pressure drainage could induce rapid initial dissipation of pore water pressure, followed by a slower rate. Excess pore pressure decreased more rapidly and significantly closer to the drained pile, aligning with drainage consolidation theory. After 5 days of consolidation, the PDP exhibited a 16% increase in ultimate bearing capacity compared with the undrained pile. Numerical simulation outcomes closely matched field measurements. The enhancement in pile bearing capacity was found to correlate hyperbolically with drainage time, culminating in a 26.5% ultimate increase. The research achievements facilitate the development of new pile technologies in coastal soft soil areas.

The lateral cyclic bearing characteristics of pile foundations in coastal soft soil treated by vacuum preloading method (VPM) are not well understood. To investigate, static lateral cyclic loading tests were conducted to assess the impact of treatment durations and sealing conditions on pile performance. Results indicated that vacuum preloading significantly improved soil properties, with undrained shear strength (S-u) increasing by up to 36.5 times, especially in shallow layers. Longer treatment durations boosted the ultimate lateral bearing capacity by up to 125%, although the effect decreased with depth, suggesting an optimal duration. Sealing conditions had minimal impact on capacity but affected S-u distribution and pile behaviour. Analysis of p-y curves revealed that longer durations improved soil resistance in shallow layers, while shorter durations provided consistent resistance across depths. Sealed conditions enhanced displacement capacity. The API specification predicted soil resistance accurately for lateral displacements under 0.1D but showed errors for larger displacements. These findings emphasise the need for optimising VPM parameters to enhance pile-soil interaction and lateral cyclic performance. The study offers guidance for applying VPM in soft soil foundation engineering and balancing performance with cost efficiency.

Composed of a raft and pipe piles with embedded heat exchange devices, a pipe-type energy piled raft foundation can enhance both foundation performance and energy utilization efficiency. An urgently needed thermomechanical analysis method would facilitate the optimization design and the broader adoption of this fundamental form. Therefore, this paper proposes an efficient method for the thermo-mechanical analysis of pipe-type energy piles with a raft in layered transversely isotropic media. The pile-soil and raft-soil interaction equations are derived by coupled finite and boundary element method. A simplified approach is then proposed and applied to tackle the pile-raft-soil coupling interaction. The correctness and efficiency of the method are verified through comparisons with a field test and two finite element numerical cases. Finally, parametric analyses are conducted to investigate the influences of temperature increment, pile thickness, raft thickness, and soil anisotropy on the performance of the pipe-type energy piled raft foundation.

The stiffened deep cement mixing (SDCM) pile is a composite pile composed of the deep cement mixing (DCM) pile and an inner precast core pile. The excellent bearing performance of the SDCM pile that has been successfully witnessed in engineering practice is attributed to the double-layer load transfer mechanism, which effectively transfer the load from the stiffened core to the cemented soil and further to the adjacent soil. The mechanical properties of SDCM piles with stiffened cores that using large-size prestressed high-strength concrete (PHC) piles are rarely studied. This study aims to explore the bearing performance and failure behavior of the SDCM pile with a large-size PHC pile as stiffened core. The relationship between load and settlement as well as the distribution and development of axial force and lateral resistance was studied through field full-scale tests. The effects of the volume ratio, size, and concrete stiffness of the core pile, and the strength of cemented soil on the axial bearing capacity of SDCM piles were explored through the verified three-dimensional numerical model. The load transfer and failure modes at the internal and external interfaces of SDCM piles with different pile lengths were analyzed. Results show that the length of the core pile (Lcore) is a key factor for the bearing capacity of the SDCM pile. The bearing capacity of SDCM pile increases by 57.90% and 46.67% with Lcore increasing by 45% when cemented soil strength (qu, DCM) is 150 MPa and 300 MPa, respectively. The influence of qu, DCM and concrete stiffness on the bearing capacity of the SDCM pile is gradually significant with the increase of Lcore. The ultimate bearing capacity increases by 4.3% for every 100% increase in cemented soil strength at the optimal pile length. With the increase of Lcore, the investigated pile exhibits three failure modes, including the failure of pile end soil and cemented soil, the failure of pile top soil and core pile end soil, and the failure of pile top soil. The results of this study provide reference for the application of SDCM piles with large-size PHC piles as stiffened cores in the engineering field.

The dynamic response of piles is a fundamental issue that significantly affects the performance of pile foundations under vertical cyclic loading, yet it has been insufficiently explored due to the limitations of experimental methods. To address this gap, a hydraulic loading device was developed for centrifuge tests, capable of applying loads up to 2.5 kN and 360 Hz. This device could simulate the primary loading conditions encountered in engineering applications, such as those in transportation and power machinery, even after the amplification of the dynamic frequency for centrifuge tests. Furthermore, a design approach for model piles that considers stress wave propagation in pile body and pile-soil dynamic interaction was proposed. Based on the device and approach, centrifuge comparison tests were conducted at 20 g and 30 g, which correspond to the same prototype. The preliminary results confirmed static similarity with only a 1.25% deviation in ultimate bearing capacities at the prototype scale. Cyclic loading tests, conducted under various loading conditions that were identical at the prototype scale, indicated that dynamic displacement, cumulative settlement, and axial forces at different burial depths adhered the dynamic similarity of centrifuge tests. These visible phenomena effectively indicate the rationality of centrifuge tests in studying pile-soil interaction and provide a benchmark for using centrifuge tests to investigate soil-structure dynamic interactions.

Using steel slag concrete (SSC) as a pile material not only promotes industrial waste recycling but also improves ground conditions through its distinct hydrological and chemical properties. This study investigated the hydrological processes of SSC piles under no-load conditions, offering new insights into pile-soil interactions. A novel visualization test device was developed to continuously monitor water migration, pore water pressure fluctuations, and soil disturbance over six months. Macro-scale observations and micro-scale analyses were conducted to elucidate physical and chemical reactions at the pile-soil interface. Compared to ordinary concrete piles, SSC piles demonstrated superior expansion and drainage capabilities, characterized by enhanced radial and vertical water flow, increased surface porosity, and the formation of a distinct interface layer enriched with calcium carbonate and cementitious hydration products. These improvements facilitate effective water distribution and drainage while reinforcing the pile-soil bond, thereby contributing to a more robust composite system for ground improvement. This integrated approach and its findings offer valuable contributions to the broader field of soil-pile interactions by detailing the multi-scale mechanisms governing the hydrological behavior and interface evolution of composite foundation systems.