Dynamic and Seismic Response of Anchored Pile Walls Under Earthquake Loading

The purpose of this study is to present a numerical analysis of the behavior of an anchored concrete pile wall subjected to combined hydrostatic, dynamic, and seismic loads. It is based on a specific construction site at Gazino Station on the Ulus-Keçiören route. There are multiple layers of soil, a four-story building adjacent, and a variable groundwater table in the geotechnical context. PLAXIS 2D Version 8 was used to develop a 2D finite element model. The pile wall was modeled as a beam element with a soil-structure interface, while the ground anchors were modeled as a simplified combination of node-to-node anchors (for the tendon) and geotextile elements (for the grout body). A three-phase analysis methodology is used: (1) a hydrostatic analysis involving a three-stage rise in groundwater level; (2) a dynamic analysis with a concentrated load applied at the wall crest; and (3) a seismic analysis using a basement-recorded earthquake accelerogram from 1989. Increasing lateral pressures resulted in a reduction in wall displacement, which was attributed to rising groundwater levels. In contrast, both dynamic load and seismic excitation caused significant displacements, with pronounced effects around anchor heads and between the existing building and the wall. There was a significant disparity between the displacements at the top and bottom of the wall during seismic loading at approximately 4.08 seconds. As a result of the study, hydraulic loading conditions may not be as critical as dynamic and seismic loads. Material properties as well as structural details should be optimized for pile wall stability and adjacent structure integrity.