Analysis of force deformation in wharf pile foundation-slope system under siltation conditions

Coastal port wharfs often suffer from siltation, leading to displacement of the slope soil and thereby threatening the structural safety of the wharf. A finite element model of the interaction between wharf pile foundation and silted slope was established, combining specific engineering scenarios. The plastic deformation state of pile foundations is determined by the internal force combination values, which roughly correspond to the actual position of the wharf pile foundation cracking axis, verifying the rationality of the modeling. On this basis, a simplified pile-soil interaction model was established to study the changes in internal forces in pile foundations during the siltation process and the evolution trend of displacement in the pile-soil system. Furthermore, the study analyzed the influence law of engineering geological and wharf structural factors on the force deformation characteristics of the pile-soil system. The results show that under slope siltation conditions, the horizontal displacement of the slope body under the wharf and the vertical settlement of the rear slope body are relatively obvious. As the thickness of the siltation soil layer continues to increase, the stability coefficient of the slope gradually decreases, while horizontal displacement and vertical settlement gradually increase, and the deformation is linearly related to the siltation thickness. During the siltation process, the horizontal displacement of various axial pile foundations shows the same trend longitudinally, while the bending moment distribution state of the pile body is presented in three different patterns; the soil compression modulus has the most significant impact on pile body displacement and slope deformation, with different leading factors affecting the bending moment change at the pile top (either the compression modulus or the pile diameter), while the siltation speed has the least impact on the force deformation state of the pile-soil system. This study contributes to the perfection of the theoretical system of pile-soil interaction under slope siltation conditions and provides theoretical support for the structural design and routine maintenance of silted wharfs in engineering practice.