Time Domain Flexural Response of Dynamically Loaded Single Piles

Abstract

Adopting a Winkler assumption, a simple mechanical soil model is developed for the flexural response analysis of dynamically loaded piles. The model is defined by examining a frequency‐domain analytical expression obtained for the dynamic response of a plane strain massless cylinder and an infinite medium system. Using this soil model, the time‐domain transfer matrix is developed for the flexural response of a single pile. The steady‐state harmonic response of a single pile is computed by both the present approach and a previously developed frequency‐domain solution. Good agreement between the two computed results validates the present approach. The dynamic responses of single piles subjected to the lateral impulse load are computed for piles in both homogeneous and inhomogeneous soil, in order to demonstrate the capability of the present approach. It is confirmed that the developed soil model and pile response formulation are very efficient in numerical computation.