Pile group analysis

[Michael-P-Crisp]

Hi,

Are there plans to add the ability to model pile groups, where the pile cap is assumed to be rigid?

I gather the main additions to the code would be:

• Adding a rigid link between the tops of the piles
• Adding some reduction factors to account for group shadowing effects, as described in the following website.

https://www.rocscience.com/help/rspile/documentation/model-definition/group-pile-analysis/group-effect

[TchilDill]

Hi @Michael-P-Crisp ,

Thanks for raising this issue. Right now you can add reduction factors to a SoilModel when "loading" it into a Layer. See example of the doc below, where you'll need to add an argument p_multiplier to API_clay in that instance.

from openpile.construct import Layer
from openpile.soilmodels import API_clay

# Create a layer
layer1 = Layer(name='Soft Clay',
            top=0,
            bottom=-10,
            weight=18,
            lateral_model=API_clay(Su=[30,35], eps50=[0.01, 0.02], kind="static"), )

print(layer1) 

https://openpile.readthedocs.io/en/latest/API.html#openpile.soilmodels.API_clay

Regarding your other suggestion, I am right now working on a rather large update of the code (v1.0.0) coming out this summer that will not change the user experience too much but internally things have been restructured to ease up future updates of the code. In particular regarding the creation of custom structure, which could very well be few piles connected by a pile cap. I would definitely be interested in brining this in the library and would accept a PR once a v1.0.0 is out.

I suggest to park this until v1.0.0 is out and then light this up again.

[Michael-P-Crisp]

Hi @TchilDill ,

Congratulations on the v1.0 release! Following up on the topic of pile groups, is the code in a state that allows for custom structures, such as multiple piles with a linked DOF at the top (or a rigid link) and actions applied relative to the group centroid?

Is it also possible to implement a fixity against rotation without constraining lateral displacement?

I had a quick look at the documentation, and these details weren't jumping out at me, however I appreciate that documentation can sometimes lag behind features.

Regards,
Michael