Desenvolvimento de programa computacional para estimativa de recalque elástico de estacas

Abstract

This work aims at developing a computer program in Visual Basic for estimating the immediate settlement of vertical piles with circular cross-section, under vertical compression loads. The bearing capacity of the soil-pile system is calculated with the method put forward by Décourt and Quaresma (1978), which is based on penetration resistance values from SPT tests. Settlement calculations follow the method proposed by Aoki and Lopes (1975), which uses the equations of the Theory of Elasticity proposed by Mindlin (1936) for calculating stresses within the soil mass. Settlement calculations also include the method of Steinbrenner (1934). The computer code developed under this framework allows analysis of settlements of a single pile or settlements for a group of piles. Settlements can be calculated in any position within the soil mass. In addition, the code can yield the predicted load-settlement curve of an isolated pile. Validation of the software was achieved through comparison of the numerical results with experimental results from compression load tests performed in drilled shafts in dry conditions and on continuous flight auger (CFA) piles embedded in different soils. The computer program provided very close predictions to experimental results, even considering the soil as a linear elastic mean.