Seismic response of pile foundation in saturated sand using Beam on Nonlinear Winkler Foundation approach

Talukder, Mohammad Kamruzzaman (2009) Seismic response of pile foundation in saturated sand using Beam on Nonlinear Winkler Foundation approach. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

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Abstract

Evaluating the interaction of soil-pile systems to earthquake ground motions is an important step in the seismic design of piles. Three Dimensional Finite Element Models have been developed by a number of researchers. But these models are computationally expensive, complicated and not readily used in design offices. In this study, a Beam on Nonlinear Winkler Foundation (BNWF) approach consisting of simple nonlinear springs, dashpots and pile elements is used to account for nonlinearity of soil-pile relative movement, energy dissipation through radiation damping of soil and material damping of pile. The p-y curves within the framework of two dimensional Winkler foundation approach are widely used in design offices to calibrate soil springs where p is the unit soil reaction and y is the pile lateral deflection. The p-y curves proposed by American Petroleum Institute (2000) are used to estimate the lateral response of single flexible pile that is embedded in saturated sand. An effective stress based ground response analysis is performed to predict input motions to soil springs at various depths of soil. Performance of the BNWF model when compared with centrifuge test results is shown to be an inexpensive procedure and compatible with readily available structural analysis software, ABAQUS, for prediction of dynamic response of pile foundations in design offices. Pile peak response curves are given by comparing maximum computed and experimental pile peak responses (pile peak head accelerations, pile peak superstructure acceleration and pile peak bending moments) for a range of peak ground input accelerations, and pile material damping parameter, so the designer can choose peak pile response quantities within the resulting range based on conservativeness of the design.

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