Prediction of single pile response to lateral soil movement in model test

Abstract

An analytical approach is presented for predicting the response of the pile by lateral soil movement in a model test in terms of the two-stage procedure. The prescribed lateral soil movements with inverse triangular, uniform, and arched profiles are examined in the analysis. The free-field displacement is obtained explicitly by the elasticity and Fourier expansion technique. The soil–pile interaction is considered for the response of the pile under soil movement in light of the theory of a beam on the Winkler foundation. Parametric studies are performed to investigate the effects of the soil–pile system and the loading conditions on the response of the pile. The free-field displacement attenuates quickly with its distance to the loading block. The pile response under lateral soil movement in the model test is greatly dependent on the pile location and the loading conditions. For the pile with a free tip, the deflection and bending moment of the shaft are relative to the restraint condition at the top. The effect of the pile-soil stiffness ratio is not great on the deflection of the pile but significant on the bending moment of the shaft.