Behavior of Laterally Loaded Piles Using Finite Difference Method

Abstract

AbstractStructures resting on piles, i.e., high-rise buildings, bridge abutments, piers, earth-retaining structures, and offshore structures, are frequently subjected to horizontal forces owing to wind, wave, traffic, and seismic events. The response of the pile to lateral load can be analyzed by measuring the deformation along the length of the pile. However, the deformation of the pile along the length is difficult to be measured in a field test. Finite difference method (FDM) offers a solution to analyze the behavior based on modulus of subgrade reaction. Modulus of subgrade reaction is calculated by using elastic properties of soil and pile. The validity of the presented FDM solution was verified against the field data obtained from lateral load tests. In this study, a parametric analysis is conducted on piles of different length/diameter (L/D) ratio embedded in sand and soil. Further, the deformation of the pile, bending moment, shear force, and soil reaction were calculated using FDM and compared for different criteria. It is observed that the response of pile to lateral load is mainly affected by properties of the pile and soil (up to a depth of 2–4 times the pile diameter).KeywordsLaterally loaded pilesModulus of subgrade reactionFinite difference method