Time Domain Axial Response of Dynamically Loaded Single Piles

Abstract

Adopting a Winkler assumption, a simple mechanical soil model is developed for the flexural response analysis of dynamically loaded piles. The model is defined by examining a frequency-domain analytical expression of the dynamic response of a massless cylinder in an infinite previously developed medium. The expression is based on the plane strain assumption. Using this soil model, the time-domain transfer matrix is developed for the flexural response of a single pile. The steady-state harmonic response of a single pile is computed by both the present approach and a previously developed frequency-domain solution. Good agreement between the two computed results validates the present approach. The dynamic response of single piles subjected to the lateral impulse load is computed for piles in both homogeneous and inhomogeneous soil, in order to demonstrate the capability of the present approach. It is confirmed that the developed soil model and pile response formulation are very efficient in numerical computation.