Abstract:Two high-piled wharves with same structure but different design parameters were examined to determine the design influence on damage and failure characteristics. The first wharf comprised eight piles, each with a pile diameter of 1.2 m and a wall thickness of 22 mm. The second wharf comprised six piles, each with a pile diameter of 1.6 m and a wall thickness of 16 mm. The differences in dynamic characteristics and seismic performance of the two wharves were studied using the finite element software ANSYS. Both types of piles were simulated by BEAM188 element and the nonlinear spring was simulated by COMBINE39 element. The results show that under the same condition of load, site, and material usage, the stiffness of the six-pile wharf is greater than that of the eight-pile wharf. When the wharves were examined under the influence of a Tianjin wave, the pile acceleration of the six-pile wharf is larger than that of the eight-pile wharf, with the difference increasing with the strength of the seismic degree imposed. Under a rare earthquake, the displacement at the top of the six-pile wharf is less than that of the eight-pile wharf, but the residual displacement of the six-pile wharf is greater than that of the eight-pile wharf. Under the same condition of load, the ductile capacity of the eight-pile wharf is obvious greater than the six-pile wharf, and the limit plastic rate of the eight-pile wharf is 2.28 times that of the of six-pile wharf. With peak acceleration of 800 gal, the eight-pile wharf approaches the ultimate curvature, whereas the six-pile wharf approaches the ultimate curvature when the peak acceleration is 1 150 gal. Thus, it is important to comprehensively consider the stability and ductility capacity of the structure.
