Dynamic analysis of a laterally loaded rectangular pile in multilayered viscoelastic soil

Abstract

Rectangular piles are usually used as the foundation for many infrastructures, but there are fewer theoretical solutions for the lateral vibration. This study presents a semi-analytical methodology for the dynamic analysis of laterally loaded rectangular pile in multi-layered viscoelastic soils. The pile-soil system is modeled as a continuum, the horizontal continuous displacement model is proposed as products of the separating variables function. The coupled governing equations for rectangular pile-soil system in the frame of Euler-Bernoulli beam and modified Vlasov model are derived with the aid of Hamilton's Variation principle and calculus of variations. The physical mechanisms of soil reaction and dynamic equilibrium equation are interpreted by employing thin-layer element of soil. The dynamic responses are solved analytically and numerically by an iterative procedure. The verification and accuracy of the research are obtained thorough comparison with the relevant examples from the literatures and finite element analysis. The effects of cross-section shapes and soil stratification on the complex dynamic response are investigated and discussed in detail.