Abstract:
The non-linear soil model presented in this thesis, appears
to closely represent the in-situ behaviour of soil around a
laterally loaded pile. The same soil model is able to
represent the behaviour of both sand and clay.
The load displacement curve proposed by this model is less
intricate in shape than the p-y curves, which are currently
considered to be the most accurate method of predicting
lateral pile response. Only two parameters are required to
model sand behaviour; an estimate of the initial small strain
soil stiffness, and an estimate of the ultimate soil
resistance. When modelling the behaviour of clay, a third
parameter is required.
For the tests modelled by the author, the pile responses
predicted by this model are of a similar standard of accuracy
to the responses predicted using the p-y curves.
A summary of the methods currently in use for predicting
lateral pile response is also provided, along with a
discussion on their relative merits and deficiencies.
