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Analysis of institutional authors

Gutierrez-Ch, J GCorresponding AuthorSenent, SAuthorJimenez, RAuthor

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March 13, 2025
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DEM modelling of shaft load transfer behavior of rock-socketed piles

Publicated to: COMPUTERS AND GEOTECHNICS. 181 107149- - 2025-05-01 181(), DOI: 10.1016/j.compgeo.2025.107149

Authors:

Gutierrez-Ch, J G; Melentijevic, S; Senent, S; Jimenez, R
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Affiliations

Univ Complutense Madrid, Fac Ciencias Geol, C-Jose Antonio Novais 12, Madrid 28040, Spain - Author
Univ Politecn Madrid, Escuela Tecn Super Ingn Caminos Canales & Puertos, C-Prof Aranguren, Madrid 28040, Spain - Author

Abstract

The behavior of rock-socketed piles (RSPs) has been the aim of extensive research through field load tests, centrifuge tests, numerical simulations, etc. In this work, the Distinct Element Method (DEM) is employed to study the load transfer behavior at the shaft of rough rock-socketed piles (RSPs) and the effect of socket roughness on their load capacity and on their complex load transfer mechanisms (LTMs). DEM numerical results indicate that socket roughness crucially affects the load transfer behavior of RSPs, as illustrated by the investigation of the following aspects: (i) load-settlement response, (ii) inter-particle force distributions obtained by the DEM model of RSP tests, (iii) the evolution of stresses at the pile-rock interface (PRI) as a function of socket head settlement, (iv) the distribution of axial load and shaft resistance mobilized with depth, and (v) the failure mechanism. Numerical results highlight that an "arching effect" controls the shaft LTM of rough RSPs. This behavior occurs because the pile load is not uniformly distributed along its length, but transferred through the front of asperities at the PRI. Additionally, this work identifies that "measurement slices" rather than "measurement spheres", provide a more accurate force distributions along the pile in DEM simulations. Furthermore, DEM results are compared with experimental and numerical published in the literature and good agreement is found. Finally, based on DEM results, an idealized shaft LTM for axially loaded RSPs is proposed. This mechanism enhances the understanding of the fundamental physical processes governing the shaft LTM of RSPs.
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Keywords

Axial loadsComputer simulationDesigDigital elevation modelDiscrete element methodDistinct element methodDistinct element method (demDistinct element method (dem)Distinct element methodsDrilled piersExperimental studyInterfacesLoad transfer mechanismLoad transfer mechanism (ltm)Numerical modelPile responsePile-rock interfacePile-rock interface (pri)PilesRock interfacesRock mechanicsRock-socketed pileRock-socketed pilesRock-socketed piles (rsps)Shaft resistanceShear behaviorSide resistanceSocket roughnessSoil-structure interaction

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal COMPUTERS AND GEOTECHNICS due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency WoS (JCR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2025, it was in position 20/258, thus managing to position itself as a Q1 (Primer Cuartil), in the category Geosciences, Multidisciplinary.

Independientemente del impacto esperado determinado por el canal de difusión, es importante destacar el impacto real observado de la propia aportación.

Según las diferentes agencias de indexación, el número de citas acumuladas por esta publicación hasta la fecha 2026-04-24:

  • WoS: 5
  • Scopus: 5
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Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2026-04-24:

  • The use, from an academic perspective evidenced by the Altmetric agency indicator referring to aggregations made by the personal bibliographic manager Mendeley, gives us a total of: 6.
  • The use of this contribution in bookmarks, code forks, additions to favorite lists for recurrent reading, as well as general views, indicates that someone is using the publication as a basis for their current work. This may be a notable indicator of future more formal and academic citations. This claim is supported by the result of the "Capture" indicator, which yields a total of: 5 (PlumX).

With a more dissemination-oriented intent and targeting more general audiences, we can observe other more global scores such as:

  • The Total Score from Altmetric: 2.
  • The number of mentions on the social network X (formerly Twitter): 2 (Altmetric).

It is essential to present evidence supporting full alignment with institutional principles and guidelines on Open Science and the Conservation and Dissemination of Intellectual Heritage. A clear example of this is:

  • Assignment of a Handle/URN as an identifier within the deposit in the Institutional Repository: https://oa.upm.es/88335/

As a result of the publication of the work in the institutional repository, statistical usage data has been obtained that reflects its impact. In terms of dissemination, we can state that, as of

  • Views: 157
  • Downloads: 49
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Leadership analysis of institutional authors

There is a significant leadership presence as some of the institution’s authors appear as the first or last signer, detailed as follows: First Author (GUTIERREZ CHACON, JOSE GREGORIO) and Last Author (JIMENEZ RODRIGUEZ, RAFAEL).

the author responsible for correspondence tasks has been GUTIERREZ CHACON, JOSE GREGORIO.

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Awards linked to the item

This research was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation under Grant No. PID2019-108060RB-I00. The support of this institution is gratefully acknowledged.
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