Effect of variable location of soil layers on the behaviour of laterally loaded piles — sensitivity analysis

Abstract

This paper presents the investigations of sensitivity of laterally loaded piles due to variable location of a soil layer. The pile structure is simulated as one dimensional beam element. The response of the soil is modelled as the Winkler type foundation. The design variables are taken as the distances describing the changes of the top and bottom boundaries of the specified soil layer. The investigations are performed in the scope of variational calculus. The changes of the bending energy due to the changes of the location of a soil layer are defined by means of a functional with moving ends combined with adjoint structure concept. The evaluation of the variations of kinematic and static field components employs Taylor's mean value theorem. The sensitivities of maximum values of kinematic field components of short and long piles subject to lateral force and bending moment are investigated. The accuracy of the obtained results is discussed in the framework of error analysis.