Cyclic Degradation Parameters of Flow-Controlled Geomaterial for Pile Group Subjected to Torsional Loads
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
In this paper, the authors studied performance of pile groups subject to axial and lateral cyclic loads based on both theoretical and experimental work. The nonlinear response of the pile group in the geomaterial is captured. This work is interesting and meaningful. My comments are as follows:
1. The interaction between geomaterial and structures is essential part of this work. But I am confused how you considered this in your theoretical and numerical scheme. Do you have any special model or strategy to make it? Several works (10.1007/s11069-014-1464-1 and 10.1061/%28ASCE%29GM.1943-5622.0002041) may help you to organize this part.
2. when we talk about cyclic load in geotechnic engineering. One interesting problem is liquefaction. For your current work, it may be not covered which is reasonable due to limitation of time and resources. But I think it would be better to review it and also point out this problems at outlook part, which will help young researchers to further your research. The two papers (10.1061/(ASCE)CF.1943-5509.0000968 and 10.1061/(ASCE)CF.1943-5509.0000965) may be useful.
3. A lot of typos are presented in current version. Please double check it. For example:
Page 4, caption of Fig.1;
Page 14, caption of Fig.4;
Page 15, caption of Fig.5;
No
Author Response
The authors are thankful to the reviewer for appreciating and highlighting the significance of the present study as interesting and meaningful.
The point-by-point response to the reviewer's comments is uploaded as a pdf file.
Please see the attachment.
Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
This paper mainly proposes a numerical scheme to capture the behavior of the symmetrical pile group in the flow-controlled geomaterial under cyclic torsional loading, and compares the results of numerical analysis with the results of experimental observations. The paper has high reference value for the response of cyclic torsional load to pile foundation group, and some comments are as follows:
1. The name 5 of the figure is incorrectly expressed.
2. Some formulas are malformed.
3. There are many paragraphs in the conclusion of the article, please express it systematically.
4. Reference 34 is misformatted.
5. There is an issue with the parameter unit format in the symbol list.
It can be improved.
Author Response
The authors are thankful to the reviewer for appreciating the quality of the research having high reference value for the response of cyclic torsional load to the pile foundation group.
The point-by-point response to the reviewer's comments is uploaded as a pdf file.
Please see the attachment.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 3 Report
1. Taking the 2×2 pile groups in this paper as an example, the torque and torsion angle of the four piles should be the same due to the constraint effect of pile cap, but the geotechnical properties around the four piles may be different, which may result in certain overturning moment under certain conditions. Can this special case be taken into account in numerical simulation? Suggest a discussion.
2. For the examples in this paper, the suggested list gives the characteristic parameters such as torque, torsion angle and pile-soil shear stress at different cycles.
3. Some characters are missing, please check carefully.
4. There are mistakes on spelling and punctuation, please check carefully.
5. Please standardize writing variables and their superscript and subscript formats.
Please check the grammar and expression carefully.
Author Response
The point-by-point response to the reviewer's comments is uploaded as a pdf file.
Please see the attachment.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 1 Report
Please revised the manscripture according to reviewers' comments.
No.
Author Response
The authors are thankful to the reviewer for appreciating and highlighting the significance of the present study as interesting and meaningful.
The point-by-point response to the reviewer's comments is uploaded as a pdf file.
Please see the attachment.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
