Scattered wave effects on the vertical dynamic response of pile groups embedded in layered soil

Abstract

This paper presents an analytical solution that provides the response to vertical dynamic loads of pile groups with arbitrary numbers of end-bearing piles. The solution allows accounting for pile–pile interaction effects on pile group response in a robust manner, as both wave diffraction and scattering are explicitly considered. The effects of soil layering are introduced by using the plane strain model to mathematically describe wave propagation in the subsoil. In addition to accounting for realistic soil conditions, the adopted plane strain formulation eliminates the need to calibrate the Winkler spring and dashpot parameters to obtain the impedance of pile groups. The presentation of the solution is accompanied by an arithmetic study focused on exploring the effects of scattered waves on the response of pile groups in layered soil.