Lateral Response of Fixed‐Head Pile

Abstract

Results, of elastic analysis of laterally loaded fixed-head piles embedded in a two-layer soil system, are presented for a wide range of cases of practical interest for piles having length to diameter ratio (L/d) of 25 and 50 in non-dimensional form. It is concluded that stiff surface layer of thickness varying from 0.1L to 0.3L broadly controls the lateral response of piles. Surface layer having Young's modulus equal to or greater than six times that of a under layer, and depths varying from 0.1L to 0.2L, has considerable beneficial effects in reducing the ground deflection and fixed head moment of a pile. Lower depths are associated with very flexible piles. An illustrative example shows the utility and applicability of the results.