Dynamic analysis of piles and pile groups embedded in non‐homogeneous soils

Abstract

AbstractA hybrid boundary element formulation for the steady state analysis of piles and pile groups embedded in a soil stratum in which the modulus increases linearly with depth is presented. The piles are represented by compressible columns or flexible beams and the soil as a hysteretic, layered medium. The explicit Green's function corresponding to dynamic loads in the interior of a layered stratum, developed earlier by Kausel is used in the study.The governing differential equations for the pile domain are solved for a distributed periodic loading intensity and those for the soil domain by a system of boundary elements at the pile‐soil interface. These are then assembled into a system of algebraic equations by satisfying interface equilibrium and compatibility.The results of the analysis have been compared against those from alternative formulations, e.g. finite elements, and confirm the accuracy of the proposed formulation. Representative results for single piles and pile groups are presented.