Analysis of Deep Foundations Subject to Lateral Loads in Stratified Soils Using the Finite Difference Method

The use of piles for the construction of structures is a common practice to provide greater support. The issues that typically arise when employing this type of deep foundations stem from the soil-structure interaction. In this paper, the soil-structure interaction of piles installed in stratified soils is analyzed using the finite difference method and existing p-y curve methods available in the literature. To perform this analysis, electronic spreadsheets were developed to simulate the behavior of piles under lateral loads. Specifically, the p-y curve methods for piles installed in sand [1], clay [2], and stratified soils [3] were utilized. The results obtained from the developed spreadsheets were validated by comparing them with field tests found in the literature and the LPile software. Finally, a key conclusion is that the developed spreadsheets are useful in the pre-design phase of piles under lateral loads because the results obtained from the spreadsheets are shown to be conservative compared to the results obtained from engineering software and tests found in the literature.