Non - prismatic model for laterally loaded pile in granular soil resisted by ultimate lateral reaction

Abstract

ABSTRACT This paper introduces a non-prismatic model for laterally loaded piles in cohesionless soil. The response of the laterally loaded pile may not be accurate by modelling the pile as a prismatic member, especially when the soil lateral resistance is considered linear at the heavy lateral loads. The governing differential equation for the new non-prismatic model is derived considering the ultimate lateral soil reaction and it is solved using the differential quadrature method. Formulas, which determine the geometry of the non-prismatic model, are introduced for both driven and bored piles considering both free head and fixed head conditions. The proposed model is verified by field experimental results and theoretical results for both bored and driven piles which show a good agreement. The new model becomes more effective than the traditional prismatic model after lateral load reaches 41.6667% of the lateral load capacity of both bored and driven piles.