SOIL-PILE INTERACTION IN HORIZONTAL PLANE
ABSTRACT
Two dimensional model tests are performed on a horizontal cross section of a soil-
pile system in a pile foundation. The objective of the model tests is to evaluate local
soil displacement field in the vicinity of the piles associated with a global
displacement of soil around the pile foundation. Two dimensional effective stress
analyses in horizontal plane are also performed to generalize the findings from the
model tests. An effective stress model based on multiple shear mechanism is used
through a computer code FLIP. Primary findings from this study are as follows:
(1) In dry condition, displacement vectors are directed away from pile front, and
displacement at pile side rapidly decreases with an increasing distance from soil-
pile interface. In undrained condition, displacement field shows vortexes at pile
side associated with push-out/pull-in pattern of displacements in front of and
behind the pile.
(2) Distribution of local soil displacement between piles deployed perpendicular to
direction of global displacement of soil shows high strain concentration (i.e.
discontinuity in displacement) at soil-pile interface.
