Analytical solution for axially loaded floating pipe piles in homogeneous elastic soil layer

Abstract

An analytical solution for the analysis of open-ended floating pipe piles in a homogeneous elastic soil layer is developed in this paper, based on the Tajimi-type elastic continuum model. Solving the governing equations of the outer and inner soil results in closed-form expressions for the external and internal frictional resistances developing at the soil-pile interfaces. The one-dimensional rod theory is adopted to model the pipe pile and its underlying soil hollow column. The external and internal frictional resistances are substituted into the governing equations of the pile and soil column to derive closed-form solutions for the vertical displacement and head stiffness of the pipe pile. The accuracy of the proposed model is verified by comparisons against existing numerical studies. Finally, parametric analyses are presented to discuss the sensitivity of the behavior of axially loaded floating pipe piles to the main problem parameters.