D-Pile Group
Flexibility
One of the great benefits of D-Pile Group is that switching between different computational models is very easy since all relevant input data of the previous model is kept. This flexibility gives the user the opportunity to choose between a fast and simple calculation and a more complex but more accurate calculation, in a way that best suits particular needs. The choice of models that can be used depends primarily on the distance between piles.
Some specific features of D-Pile Group are:
Piles
- Analysis of all pile types, both pre-defined standard or userdefined special piles.
- Pile sections with different properties.
- Options for inclined piles (Cap, Cap Soil Interaction module and Dynamic module).
- Pile head fixed or hinged clamp in the pile cap ( freely rotating).
Soil resistance
- Automated spring generation according to the API for sand and clay layers, for static or cyclic loading, with common input properties.
- Influence of the pile tip resistance (elastic or elasto-plastic).
Loading
- Load on the cap by moments, horizontal and vertical forces, rotations and displacements.
- Load by horizontal and vertical soil displacements (Cap module).
- Effect of surcharge (Cap Interaction module).
- Monotonous increasing loads, load reversal and repeated (cyclic) loads.
- Dynamic load by ship collision (Dynamic modulel), a model for undrained behaviour of sand.
- Multiple models for the interaction between piles via the soil.
Output facilities
- Graphical output of displacements, shear forces and moments in top view.
- Graphs of cap displacements and rotations versus loading.
- Graphs of internal forces and soil reactions along the piles.
- Automatic generation of a calculation report with tables and graphs in rich text format. Exporting plotted data (e.g. to Excel).
D-Pile Group comes as a standard module, which can be extended further with other modules to fit more advanced applications
Combining methods and models in 1 programme
Many different methods exist to perform calculations on single horizontally loaded piles and pile groups. Each method has its own advantages and its limitations. Therefore, Deltares build a computer program (1988) for practical use that would hold several of these calculation models. The great advantage would be that the user could switch from one model to another, using the same input when applicable. Previous releases of D-Pile Group were called MPile.
For the 3D modelling of pile groups two issues are important. First of all the behaviour of individual pile(s) in their own ground profile is taken into account. Secondly one has to account for the behaviour (interaction) that each pile imposes on all other piles through the soil and through a superstructure. These issues are addressed in D-Pile Group using different models that range from a standard model to more complex models.
How to obtain D-Pile Group?
Service Packages
The latest fully validated release is D-Pile Group 18.1. This version is available if you have purchased a Service package. You can order a Service package via our Software sales Service team (software@deltares.nl). The software can be downloaded via our Download portal. You don’t need a license file to do this. You can use the software in Demo mode without a license file.
By purchasing a Service package you will receive a license file to unlock full functionality (according to purchased package). Our Software sales Service team will provide you with instructions on how to get the software working with a license file.
Online Software
You can also use our Geotechnical software products via the internet (Software as a Service – SaaS), on subscription basis. For more information, please see Online Geotechnical Software
Modules
D-Pile Group – Poulos model
The standard module is intended for the analyses of single piles and/or pile groups, using the Poulos model or the Cap module. The Graphic User Interface allows for the input of projects, running the analyses and provides tabular and graphical...
D-Pile Group – Cap model
The Cap module includes multilayered soils using linear or non linear (elasto-plastic) springs. Cap interaction is taken into account, but interactions between piles through soil are not taken into account. The Cap module is therefore especially useful for single pile...
D-Pile Group – Plasti-Poulos
As an extension of the Poulos model the Plasti-Poulos model includes non linear single pile behaviour based on the analysis of a pile in multilayered non linear soil. The behaviour of the half space is similar to the Poulos model...
D-Pile Group – Cap Soil Interaction
The Cap Soil Interaction module includes single pile behaviour based on the behaviour of multilayered non linear soils by means of lateral and axial (elastic/elasto-plastic) springs. It allows for input of non uniform piles while elastic soil-pile-soil group interaction is...
D-Pile Group – Cap Layered Soil Interaction
The Cap Layered Soil Interaction module is our most sophisticated model and includes single pile behaviour based on the behaviour of multilayered non linear soil modelled in continuum finite elements. It allows for input of non uniform piles while layered...
D-Pile Group – Dynamic
The Dynamic module is a dedicated calculation model for dynamic analysis of a collision of a ship against a pile cap. It can be used for both single-pile and multi-pile dolphins. It accounts for the inertia effects due to the...
Demo / images
Service packages
D-Pile Group is available in the following packages:
Full package
- Poulos
- Cap
- Plasti Poulos
- CapSoil Interaction
- Dynamic
- CapLayered Soil Interaction
Educational package
The Educational package is the same as the Full package, but available at a reduced price.
License packages
Support
We are here to help you with all your Deltares software products and solutions.
Over the last decades, Deltares has been developing and improving D-Pile Group, which comes with everything a modelling professional needs in a flexible, stable, robust, easy-to-use modelling suite. Deltares offers high quality software services to consultancy firms, governmental organizations, universities and research institutes worldwide, using these software products.
To obtain the support of your convenience, please contact software@deltares.nl. If you already have a Service Contract with Maintenance & Support, please contact software.support@deltares.nl (+ 31 (0)88 335 8100) for all your technical questions.
Frequently asked questions
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MPile calculation results in message "error: System matrix is not positive definite"
MPile did not finalize its calculation, this does not necessarily indicate erroneous input, but may well be caused by the failure of the pile. A useable strategy to investigate this, is to bring down all loads to zero, and then step by step, increase them. It is possible to do this within one project. Often this also gives insight in erroneous input as well, for example if one used the wrong sign for a load.
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Why are the pile charts in models Poulos and Plasti-Poulos only approximations?
The method Poulos (which is used by the models Poulos and Plasti-Poulos) is a method based on the interaction of the piles. It only calculates the resulting forces and displacements in the piletops. There is no information available about the forces and displacements along the pile. To accommodate the user, MPile displays an approximation of the pile forces and displacements. The approximation is based onthe analysis of a single pile by itself. The following procedure is performed for each direction (x, y and z); the description of the procedure is based on the x-direction.
1. The Poulos method calculates the resulting force (Fx), moment (Mzz) and displacement (ux) for each pile.
2. A single pile analysis is performed where Fx and Mzz are applied as loads. By varying the parameters for the soil-pile interaction the piletop displacement is fitted into the calculated ux value in step 1.
3. The resulting forces and displacements of the analysis in step 2 are the approximations that are displayed by MPile.
MPile has two methods for fitting the calculated ux. Each of these methods has its advantages and disadvantages, which also will be described.
1. Method Heteney.
The pile is considered to be a beam embedded in an elastic semi-infinite medium. The formula of Heteney descripes the behaviour of such a beam. In the formula the stiffnes of the soil and the stiffness of the beam are parameters. To fit the ux MPile varies the stiffness of the soil.
Advantages: fast, robust.
Disadvantages: less accurate.
2. Method Focht and Koch. (only available with Plasti-Poulos).
The pile is calculated with the Cap-model. In this calculation the soil-pile interaction is described by the P-Y curve. The fit of ux is achieved by applying a Y-multiplier to the P-Y curve. The determination of the Y-multiplier is an iterative process.
Advantages: more accurate because it uses a more accurate description of the pile-soil interaction.
Disadvantages: slow, and not always succesful in achieving a good fit.
There are conditions where both methods will fail to achieve a good fit. This is the case when the Fx and Mzz which are applied to the single pile will result in a displacement which is opposite to the direction of the ux, or when the ux is very small. With the method Heteny the resulting charts will be unrealistic, with the method Focht and Koch the calculation of the charts will fail.
Because the method Heteney is faster, it will be used as the default method. In the Plasti-Poulos model the method Focht and Koch is offered as an alternative option.
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Is it possible include the forces and displacements of the pile tips and the cap in the report?
It is possible from version 3.9 onward. In older versions, the only available output is displayed in the graphs in the ‘Results’ submenu. These graphs can also be printed individually by using the option File/Print active window.
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Why are the forces/displacements not shown in Topview results?
From version 3.9 onward, the forces are displayed automatically. For previous versions you should use the buttons in the toolbar on the left to indicate whether you want to display displacements, forces or moments.
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Why are the forces/displacements small compared to the expected resultsfrom the imposed loads?
In versions before 3.9 the ‘Results’ window open automatically during the first load step. Usually, the largest load is present during the last load step (except, of course, if you also perform an unload step). From version 3.9 onward, the ‘Results’ window opens during the last load step.
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Why, using the ‘Topview Results’ in x-direction, are the force Fx and the displacement ux displayed, but the moment Mzz ?
The forces and displacements in the x-direction are directly linked to Mzz.
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Why do I have problems reading DXF exported files in Autocad
The option to export pictures in DXF format was developed for, and tested with, AutoCad 14. In more recent releases of AutoCad something has changed in relation to the import of DXF files. This means that these versions do not read our DXF files properly (detected by us in versions 2005 and 2006). The majority of viewers, for instance “Bentley view”, do not experience problems with our exported DXF files.
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Where can I find the Release Notes?
The Release Notes can be found here.
They also are part of the zip-file that contains the software and manual. This file can be downloaded at the Download portal.
Technical specifications
- Operating systems:
- Windows 10 (version 1903)
- Hardware specifications:
- 1 GHz Intel Pentium processor or equivalent
- 512 MB of RAM
- 400 MB free hard disk space
- SVGA video card, 1024 x 768 pixels, High colors (16 bits)
Release Notes
| Version 19.3.1 (2019-12-05) |
Download release notes D-Pile Group 19.3.1
| Version 18.1.1.1 (2018-01-19) |
Download release notes D-Pile Group 18.1.1.1