Numerical Investigation of the Pile–Soil Interaction Problem under Dynamic Loads
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
In this paper, the effects of several different parameters on the displacement and bending moment of the pile cap are presented and analyzed by numerical simulation, and the results are consistent with the analysis of the test results. The study is of practical significance for the design of pile foundation in actual projects. However, there are still some questions in the paper that need to be answered and answered by the authors.
1 Please check the paper further for grammar and word spelling.
2 Please check the units in Table 3, what do kN/m2/m and kN/m/m express?
3 Figure 3 is clearly blurrier than Figures 4 and 5, please replace Figure 3 with a clear one.
4 In line 256, please clarify who is affected by changing the thickness of the geotechnical layer.
Author Response
"Please see the attachment."
Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
1. The introduction is only a list of existing studies, lacking logical connections between them. There have been few citations in research published in the past five years, and it is recommended that the author supplement them.
2. The innovation of this article should be further clarified in the introduction.
3. Some Figures have poor resolution.
4. In section 3.1, the boundary conditions of the model should be clearly stated.
5. Where the parameters of piles and soil are taken should be clearly stated in the paper. In Table 4, the default parameters in Plaxis do not need to be listed. The value of Kaolin clay is somewhat strange, and the source of the value should be clearly stated.
6. Lack of reference for seismic waves used in section 3.3。
7. Some relevant engineering design references should be provided based on the research in this article.
8. The conclusion section should be further refined.
Author Response
"Please see the attachment."
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 3 Report
The article is well written. The current article deals with the response of piles under dynamic loads. A parametric study was undertaken numerically to analyze the soil-pile interaction. The following comments/suggestions can be considered while submitting the revised manuscript.
· Page 4, Table 1: Relative density of 85%. Justify the relevance of this magnitude of Rd.
· Page 4, Line 140: The authors can justify the usage of Plaxis 2D for the current study.
· Page 5, Table 3 and 4: Mention the source of these parameters used for the study.
· Page 6, Line 180: Explain the rationale for usage of Kobe earthquake for the study.
· Page 8, Table 5: What can the authors conclude from the analysis of type of mesh. Explain it in detail.
· Page 9, Section 3.5: Authors need to explain more on the reason why the numerical results are either deviation or in coherence with experimental results.
· Page 17, Section 5: The conclusions can be modified highlighting the quantitative analysis of the results.
· Bring out the practical importance of the study and how does it benefit the practicing engineers to adopt new techniques for better performance.
Author Response
"Please see the attachment."
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 4 Report
A numerical model is developed in this study, using commercial finite element software, to verify a centrifuge experiment obtained from literature with a finite element program, aiming to evaluate the pile-soil interaction response under dynamic loads.
- The simulation which is proposed in this article seems relatively simple. Also, existing studies seem to cover the topic of pile-soil interaction under dynamic actions. For instance:
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soildyn.2022.107547
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soildyn.2021.107110
Therefore, the innovation of the article should further be highlighted.
- Some details are missing, related to the proposed numerical model:
Please provide the framework of the adopted simulation: is this non-linear dynamic analysis? Also, provide the details of the chosen simulation, e.g. governing equations and relevant aspect that is needed to describe the concept.
Details for the mesh, boundary conditions and a plot of the mesh must be given.
Minor revisions may be needed.
Author Response
"Please see the attachment."
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 5 Report
The paper is aimed at the numerical investigation of pile-soil interaction problem under dynamic loads based on the experimental outputs in literature.
Presented problem is relevant and is often a topic of research.
Presented results can be helpful but they are only based on numerical model which was calibrated based on the experimental study but most of the results are not verified by experiment. Moreover, influence of similar boundary conditions is investigated in already published papers, although not always as a parametric study.
For numerical simulation, a 2D model was adopted. Generally, pile behaviour is a discrete problem and application of “per meter” plate elements should be evaluated carefully. Numerical model was initially calibrated but influence of only 2D approximation of the problem can affect the reliability of results with change of various boundary conditions.
Some explanation how advanced material parameters for soils (such as small strain stiffness, Rayleigh coefficients etc.) were derived for numerical model.
Overall, conclusions are supported by the data and address the questions posed.
References should be expanded by appropriate research papers, case studies etc.
Tables and figures are of good quality. Some size adjustment of figures should be fine; the fonts are too big in my opinion.
Some sentences can be reformulated to be more readable.
Author Response
"Please see the attachment."
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 1 Report
The author has made revisions according to the review comments. I recommend accepting this paper.
Reviewer 3 Report
The authors have addressed my comments raised during the first review. The reviewer is satisfied with their response and recommends acceptance of the revised version of the manuscript.
Reviewer 4 Report
The article can now be accepted for publication.
n/a
Reviewer 5 Report
Comments have been taken into account to the required extent.
I have no additional comments.
