Nonlinear analysis of laterality loaded piles in cohesionless soils

Abstract

The results of a numerical analysis of single laterally loaded piles embedded in cohesionless soils, taking soil yielding into account, are presented. The analysis is intended to serve as an independent alternative to the well-known p–y method. The input parameters for the soil are the angle of internal friction and a parameter characterizing the increase in soil stiffness with depth, here assumed to be linear. A parametric study shows that soil yielding significantly increases the maximum pile bending moments and lateral displacements. Equations suitable for routine design applications are presented and the ease with which these can be applied in practice is demonstrated by an illustrative example. Good agreement between the theoretical results and data from published case histories attests to the validity of the method. Key words: analysis, angle of friction, cohesionless, deformation, design, failure, foundations, piles, lateral, loads.