Dynamic Stiffness and Damping of Piles

Abstract

Dynamic response of footings and structures supported by piles can be predicted if dynamic stiffness and damping generated by soil–pile interaction can be defined. An approximate analytical approach based on linear elasticity is presented, which makes it possible to establish the dimensionless parameters of the problem and to obtain closed-form formulas for pile stiffness and damping. All components of the motion in a vertical plane are considered; that is, horizontal as well as vertical translations and rotation of the pile head. The stiffness and damping of piles are defined in such a way that the design analysis of footings and structures resting on piles can be conducted in the same way as is applied in the case of shallow foundations.