Simulação numérica de provas de cargas executadas em estacas escavadas de pequeno diâmetro utilizando-se um software de elementos finitos

Abstract

Currently, it is increasingly sought to use computational tools to validate and simulate empirical processes performed in engineering. The Finite Element Method (FEM) is one of the most widely used means to compute results and to make computational conferences. Thus, it can also be used by geotechnics, such as simulating a static load proof test on a pile. This work compares static load tests performed in small diameter excavated piles performed at the Experimental Field of Geotechnical Engineering of the Federal University of Santa Maria (CEEG-UFSM) and numerical simulations of static load tests performed on a Finite Element Software. For this purpose, local soil data that have already been investigated by Emmer (2004) and the load tests performed on piles by Nienov (2006) are used. For the numerical modeling of the foundations executed in CEEG-UFSM we use a specific software for simulation of this test. Numerical simulation makes it possible to validate the load tests performed and, thus, encourage the use of this tool for projects and reports that need to estimate the breaking loads in foundations. The comparison between the real and numerical results was made through the analysis of the load x displacement curve for both situations, observing the similarities and differences between the results presented and justifying possible errors and divergence in the methods.