AXIAL AND LATERAL RESPONSE OF PILE GROUPS EMBEDDED IN NONHOMOGENEOUS SOILS.

Abstract

A numerical method of analysis based on elasticity theory is presented for the analysis of axially and laterally loaded pile groups embedded in nonhomogeneous soils. The problem is decomposed into two systems, namely the group piles acted upon by external applied loads and pile-soil interaction forces, and a layered soil continuum acted upon by a system of pile-soil interaction forces at the imaginary positions of the piles. The group piles are discretized into discrete elements while the nonhomogeneous soil behavior is determined from an economically viable finite element procedure. The load-deformation relationship of the pile group system is then determined by considering the equilibrium of the pile-soil interaction forces, and the compatibility of the pile and soil displacements. The influence of soil nonlinearity can be studied by limiting the soil forces at the pile-soil interface, and redistributing the 'excess forces' by an 'initial stress' process popular in elasto-plastic finite element analysis. Additional study results are discussed.