Elastic analysis of laterally loaded pile in multi-layered soil

Abstract

An analysis is developed to determine the response of laterally loaded piles in layered elastic media. The differential equations governing pile deflections in different layers due to a concentrated static force and/or moment acting at the pile head are obtained using the principle of minimum potential energy and calculus of variations. The differential equations are solved analytically using the method of initial parameters. Pile deflection, slope of the deformed axis of the pile, bending moment and shear force can be reliably obtained by this method for the entire pile length. The input parameters needed for the analysis are the pile geometry and the elastic constants of the soil and pile. It is observed that soil layering has a definite impact on pile response and must be taken into account for proper analysis and design. The analysis forms the basis for future formulations that can consider stress–strain nonlinearity.