Analysis and design of piles under lateral loads

Abstract

A finite element method, based on *p-y” curves, is suggested for the design of laterally loaded piles. The pile is treated as an Euler-Bernoulli beam embedded in the soil, while the soil medium is replaced by a system of continuous springs placed along the length. The potential of this simple empirical approach for the accurate analysis of laterally loaded single piles, regardless of whether the soil 1s homogeneous, nonhomogeneous, linear, nonlinear or layered and whether the pile has an uniform or nonuniform cross-section is exemplified from a prediction of observed lateral behaviour of the foundation piles of a portuguese bridge recently constructed.