Problem description

When having an embedded pile connected to e.g. a plate, and an interface is placed along this plate element, the connection between the embedded pile row and plate element is not correct in PLAXIS 2D2012.01: the top of the embedded pile row is connected to the soil node of the interface instead of the plate element, i.e. the interface also exists between the embedded pile row and the plate. This means:

• there is no transfer of bending moment between the embedded pile row and the plate, even if the rigid connection is chosen
• the top of the embedded pile row is connected to the soil side node of the interface, so displacements of the plate and the embedded pile row are now indirectly coupled via the interface, which leads to a reduced load transfer.

Solution

This issue has been resolved in PLAXIS 2DAE.00 and PLAXIS 2D Classic.

Workarounds when using PLAXIS 2D2012.01 are:

• do not use interface elements around the plate where the embedded pile is connected. But this might not always be desirable.
• for axially loaded piles: replace upper part of the embedded pile (part connected) with a node-to-node anchor