Parametric studies on buckling of piles in cohesionless soils by numerical methods

Abstract

The buckling of slender piles fully or partially embedded in cohesionless soils is studied with reference to the governing differential equation being solved by the finite difference method. The first part of the study is a review of the general phenomenon of ‘buckling’ of a strut under axial load with the conclusion that checking in accordance with ‘initial imperfections’ of the strut is a more realistic approach. However, the Euler load, the equivalent buckling length and the buckling mode shapes are still useful parameters, as apart from giving the theoretical absolute maximum axial load that will create infinite lateral displacements of a pile with initial imperfections, they also act as parameters for determination of the magnitude of the initial imperfections and the most critical initial deformed shapes for design. A parametric study is then followed by which tables are prepared for the determination of the equivalent buckling length of an end-bearing pile (from which the theoretical buckling load ...