Assessment of p-y response of a laterally loaded single pile embedded in two-layered cohesionless substrata with inclined interface

Abstract

ABSTRACT Laterally loaded piles embedded in multi-layered soil strata comprising inclined substratum presents a complex soil-structure interaction problem. Based on three-dimensional finite element analysis, this paper reports the response of a laterally loaded single pile embedded in two-layered cohesionless medium comprising inclined substrata. The overlying soil wedge is considered relatively weaker than the underlying stratum, and that the inclination of the wedge is considered varying along the direction of the applied lateral load. The pile-soil interaction is portrayed through p-y response at specified depths, load-deformation behaviour of the pile head and the lateral deflection profile of the pile. The outcomes manifest that the behaviour of laterally loaded pile, especially the p-y responses, is significantly influenced by the interface inclination angle, direction of loading and length-to-diameter ratio of pile. Further, the marked influence of strength and stiffness of the multi-layered strata on the p-y response of the laterally loaded pile are elucidated.