Time-dependent reliability analysis of pile foundations considering dredging strategies

To develop a structural reliability analysis method for the interaction system between silted slopes and high-piled wharves, a two-dimensional diffusion model considering chloride ion erosion effects was derived based on Fick’s second law. A time-discrete method was then employed to propose a numerical calculation method for the time-dependent reliability of pile foundations in high-piled wharves, comprehensively considering the degradation of structural resistance, quantification and prediction of siltation, and pile stress-deformation analysis. Additionally, a time-dependent reliability external solving program, DPRP, was developed for the silted slope-high-piled wharf system, incorporating dredging strategies guided by target reliability. Parametric analyses under multiple working conditions were conducted, exploring the evolution patterns of time-dependent reliability of pile foundations in high-piled wharves. The results show that the reliability of offshore pile foundations is more likely to fall below the target level, requiring focused maintenance and repair in practical engineering. While siltation generally reduces the time-dependent reliability of most pile foundations, it can increase the reliability of inclined piles on the offshore and nearshore sides that tilt toward the shore. This time-dependent reliability numerical calculation framework and the corresponding external program DPRP can provide a reference for engineering design and reliability assessment of high-piled wharf-slope interaction systems.