Vibration Characteristics of Single Pile Embedded in Nearly Saturated Soils Half Space Subjected to Harmonic Vertical Loads

Abstract

A two-phase wave equation of nearly saturated soils is proposed based on Biot's wave equations and Bardet's assumption regarding nearly saturated soils. Applying Helmholtz vector decomposition and the transmission reflection matrices method, the general solutions to the governing equations for the nearly saturated soils are obtained. Based on the general solutions and the fictitious pile methodology, the Fredholm integral equation for the second kind describing interaction between the pile and nearly saturated soils is established. Solution of the integral equation yields the dynamic response of a pile embedded in nearly saturated soils subjected to a top harmonic vertical loads. Results of this paper are compared with existing results, which shows that our solutions are in a good agreement with existing results. The numerical results of this study demonstrate that the saturation has a significant influence on the dynamic response of a pile in nearly saturated soils.