An Observation of Methods of Pile Analysis Subjected to Different Load and Soil Condition

Abstract

Design of structures, subjected to lateral loads, is very much dependent upon lateral response of pile foundations. The lateral load acting on foundations may be sustained as earth pressure in a retaining wall, or alternated, as reciprocating machinery, as pulsated, from the traffic loading on a bridge pier. The response of pile which is laterally loaded is considered complex soil-structure interaction problem; because deflection of pile is dependent on soil reaction and soil reaction influences the pile deflection. A good number of methods have been developed for the analysis of laterally loaded piles like chin method, p-y relationships, p-y multiplier, modified p-y curves, strain wedge method, etc. An observation of a few methods is presented here with their limitations and capabilities of analysis of piles in different conditions of load application and soil type.