Behavior of pile groups with different geometric dimensions at the moment of an earthquake

One of the most critical destructive forces to consider in the design of engineering structures is earthquake forces. Earthquakes are natural disasters resulting from sudden energy releases in the Earth's crust, and this energy release can lead to severe destructive effects on the surface. The impact of seismic waves on structures is of great importance in terms of the safety and durability of buildings. In this context, it is crucial to construct buildings on solid foundations, especially in high-risk areas. The use of pile foundations becomes inevitable to enhance the resistance of structures against these natural disasters and to ensure the long-term stability of buildings. In particular, in weak soil conditions, pile foundations are critical for increasing the stability of structures. Pile foundations improve the stability and durability of structures by transferring loads to deeper soil layers. The design and installation of piles vary depending on soil properties, load conditions, and environmental factors. In earthquake-prone areas, pile foundations play an effective role in mitigating the destructive effects of seismic waves on structures. During an earthquake, while the surface soil layers move, the deeper soil layers remain more stable. Since piles are anchored in these deeper layers, they help maintain the stability of the structure and minimize the adverse effects of ground movements on the structure. In this research, the behavior of pile groups with different geometric properties under load was analyzed under earthquake effects. The finite element method was applied using the Plaxis 2D software program to evaluate the performance of pile groups under seismic conditions. The study compared the deformations exhibited by pile groups under earthquake effects in layered soils.