Axially loaded vertical piles and pile groups in layered soil

Abstract

AbstractA numerical method is described for the analysis of axially loaded vertical piles and pile groups embedded in layered soil. The ‘hybrid’ approach is utilized whereby the single‐pile response is represented by load‐transfer (t–z) curves while the pile–soil–pile interaction is obtained accurately using the analytical solutions of Chan et al. for a two‐layered system and in an approximate manner for a Gibson soil. For the single‐pile response a simple rational procedure is suggested for the determination of the averaged rm value (radial distance at which the shear stress becomes negligible). Solutions are presented and compared with the elastic continuum solutions for such soil profiles. Finally, comparisons with actual field measurements of vertical piles and pile groups embedded in such a soil profile show favourable agreement.