Effects of Cyclic Lateral Loads On Piles in Sand
Effects of Cyclic Lateral Loads On Piles in Sand
Effects of Cyclic Lateral Loads On Piles in Sand
ON PILES IN S A N D
ABSTRACT: The effect of repetitive lateral loads on deflections of two drilled piers
in Tampa Bay were significantly greater than predicted by a p-y procedure com-
monly used in practice. Reasons for the discrepancy between predicted and mea-
sured deflections are discussed. Two methods for predicting the effect of repetitive
lateral loads are developed using results of 34 cyclic lateral load tests to quantify
model parameters important to the behavior of piles subjected to repetitive lateral
loading. The two methods model cycliclateral load behavior of a pile by degrading
soil resistance as a function of number of cycles of load, method of pile installation,
soil density, and character of cyclic load. The two methods differ in the compu-
tational effort required to make the prediction. The first method is most suitable
for hand calculation and rule-of-thumb estimation and is based upon a beam-on-
an-elastic foundation model with a soil reaction modulus, Kh, increasing propor-
tionally with depth. The second method modifies nonlinear static p-y curves to
derive a cyclicp-y curve. The two methods provide a simple means for estimating
effects of cyclic lateral load.
INTRODUCTION
The effects of cyclic lateral loads on piles in sand are important to quantify
due to the occurrence of cyclic lateral loads in nature. W i n d , waves, earth
pressures, and water pressures, m a y subject cyclic lateral loads to pile sup-
ported structures. Methods c o m m o n l y used for predicting the response of
piles to cyclic lateral loads were evaluated for two piers in T a m p a Bay,
Florida, and found to predict poorly the behavior due to cyclic loading.
Using information from these tests and additional case histories, p a r a m e t e r s
that influence the behavior of piles subjected to cyclic lateral loads are
identified, and two methods for predicting load deflection behavior are
proposed.
On September 12, 1982, static and repetitive lateral load tests were con-
ducted on two offshore piers in T a m p a Bay adjacent to the Sunshine Skyway
Bridge. Predictions of the behavior of the piers were m a d e using a m e t h o d
proposed by Reese and his coworkers (Reese et al. 1974). This m e t h o d was
selected because it is based u p o n results of full-scale lateral load tests on
piles in sand and the m e t h o d provides reasonable agreement with results
from other uninstrumented load tests ( M e y e r and R e e s e 1979).
The two piers at T a m p a Bay experienced deflections due to cyclic loading
greater than predicted using a p-y m e t h o d outlined by Reese, et al. (1974).
Illustrated in Figs. 1 (a) and l ( b ) are m e a s u r e d and predicted load-deflection
(H-g) relationships for the first cycle of loading and for 50 cycles of loading.
Several possible explanations for differences between predicted and mea-
sured deflection were investigated. H o w e v e r , differences in construction,
soil properties, and loading characteristics for the tests conducted at T a m p a
225
300
Z 200
Note: Delta ploffed for
100 1, 2. 5. 10, 2 0 ,
to a•d 40 cyclH
o n I J J I a n n n I I I I , I
..J 0-
to
k- 500
iD
.4.- West S h a f t /,, ~ 9
0 -- ~,,.d) I //
._1 400
300
200
Bay and Mustang Island (Reese et aL 1974) are too numerous to be quan-
tified with results from only these two sites; therefore, results of 34 repetitive
lateral load tests in sand were investigated. Two simple methods are pro-
posed herein to allow prediction of effects of cyclic lateral load on piles.
The two methods include effects due to the characteristics of cyclic load,
the number of cycles, the installation method, and soil density. The two
methods provide a means to estimate effects of cyclic lateral loads on piles
in sand.
B E H A V I O R O F PILES L O A D E D R E P E T I T I V E L Y
and any excess porewater pressures generated in the soil are dissipated
quickly. Furthermore, the cohesionless soil is assumed to exhibit no signif-
icant cohesion or creep. The behavior of the pile is described for four phases
during one cycle of load. The effect of each quarter-cycle of load is described
and the influence of further cycles is mentioned.
During the first quarter-cycle, the magnitude of lateral load varies from
a value of zero to a maximum horizontal load Hmax in a direction to the
right. The head of the pile rotates and translates to the right in response to
the applied load. Resistance to pile deflection is provided by the soil along
the right side of the pile while the soil along the left side of the pile maintains
contact by flowing with the pile. The soil surrounding the pile may change
in volume depending on its initial density and state of stress (Chang and
Whitman 1988).
During the second quarter-cycle, the lateral load decreases from a value
of Hmaxto zero, and the head of the pile deflects toward its original position.
As the pile translates to the left, the soil resistance along the left side of
the pile increases while the soil resistance on the right side decreases. If the
soil pressure along the right side decreases to an active state, the cohesionless
soil will flow and prevent a gap, thus ensuring contact with the pile surface.
As with the first quarter-cycle of load, the cohesionless soil may change
volume depending on its density and change in state of stress.
The direction of the lateral load, Hmax, and the corresponding deflection
of the pile head are reversed for the third quarter-cycle. The magnitude of
horizontal load changes from zero to -H~ax causing the pile to deflect to
the left. The pile may resist significant lateral loads before reaching the
original location of the pile head because of the presence of cohesionless
sand that flowed with the back of the pile during the first quarter-cycle of
load. As the load approaches - H m a • the pile deflects to the left while the
soil maintains contact along the right side of the pile preventing any gap
between the pile and soil.
The response of pile and soil during the fourth quarter-cycle is similar,
but opposite in direction, to the response described during the second quarter-
cycle. Depending on the density of the soil and the stress state in the soil,
volume changes in the soil may occur.
Effect of further cycles on the maximum horizontal deflection of the pile
and on bending moments within the pile depend upon changes in mechanical
properties (strength, modulus) and the accumulation of permanent strains
in the soil.
Characteristics of the load can influence significantly the behavior of piles
subjected to cyclic lateral loads. If cyclic pile displacement is primarily in
one direction, then effects of cumulative deformations are more pro-
nounced. For example, one-way cyclic loading (load varies from 0 to Hma x
to 0 with no reversal of load direction) will induce more permanent strains
and greater cumulative deformations than piles subjected to two-way cyclic
loads (load varies from/-/max to - H m a x to Hma x to - H m a x ) .
Structural details of the pile may also play a role in the behavior of a pile
when subjected to cyclic lateral loads. As the pile is loaded, moments gen-
erated within the pile cause the pile to bend and mobilize tension and
227
reinforced concrete sections decrease with increasing moment and load cycles
due to progressive cracking of the cross section (Little and Briaud 1988).
Changes in flexural stiffness are most pronounced for reinforced pile cross
sections that are neither post- nor pretensioned because tensile stresses are
greatest and crack formation is more prevalent. Since the deflection of a
pile is influenced by changes in flexural stiffness, the influence of these
changes on pile performance should be a design consideration. Often, effects
of degradation in flexural stiffness are insignificant because only a small
portion of the pile experiences large bending moments. Therefore, only a
small portion of the pile experiences significant degradation in flexural stiff-
ness (Long and Reese 1982; Kramer and Heavey 1988), and the deflection
of the pile at working loads is affected minimally.
21 Drilled shaft 1,065 39.0 Drilled Loose 21 0, 0.5 Little and Briaud (1988) 6
22 Drilled shaft with 1,220 15.5 Vibrated Dense 40, 125 0 Long and Reese (1984) East
casing
23 Drilled shaft with 1,220 15.5 Vibrated Dense 40, 125 0 Long and Reese (1984) West
casing
24 H-pile 355 17.1 Driven Dense 25 0 Meyer and Reese (1979)
Bailley 1
25 /-/-pile 355 17.1 Driven Dense 25 0 Meyer and Reese (1979)
Bailley 2
26 Pipe pile 275 13.4 Backfilled and com- Mediu 100 -1.0 Morrison (1986)
pacted
27 /-/-pile 355 15.9 Driven Dense 23 - 1.0 O'Neill and Murchison (1983),
T3
28 Pipe pile 610 21.0 Driven Dense tOO - 0.25 Reese et at. (1974)
29 Timber pile 290 11.3 Driven Loose 5 0 Robinson (1979) 6
30 Timber pile 305 15.2 Driven Dense 5 0 Robinson (1979) 8
31 Timber pile 305 5.2 Driven Loose 5 0 Robinson (1979) 9
32 Timber pile 330 10.7 Driven Dense 23 0.1 Stevens et al. (1979)
33 /-/-pile 355 20.4 Driven MediuJ 25 0 Tucker and Briaud (1988) 1
H-pile 355 20.4 Driven Mediu__..~ 25 0 Tucker and Briaud (1988) 2
the change in stiffness of the pile and soil with number of cycles. The soil
is assumed to be insensitive to creep, and the pile material is assumed to
remain elastic.
L
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c
1 r ~ A t = 0.02 -
RH = - 1
d
0 RH = -0.25
e~
0.5
"-I RH = 0.5
m
-I0
0
Legend
9 D a ~ * y t = 0.33 1 RH = 0 . 0
0
0.2 V Long and Reese (1984)
(3
(.3
9 Little and griaud (1988) 1
r] Reese, et, al. (1974)
9 klorrison (1986)
A O'Neill and Mui'chlson (1983)
0.1 i ~ i i i i iJ j ..... I
2 5 10 20 50 100 200
Number of C y c l e s , N
,% -
•/min . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (5)
//max
where Hmin = the magnitude of minimum lateral load, and Hm,x = the
magnitude of maximum lateral load. A pile cycled from 0 (Hmi,) to Hma,
(one-way loading) is calculated to have a cyclic load ratio, Rn = 0. A pile
cycled with equal load magnitude in both directions (two-way loading) has
a ratio, Ru = - 1 , and a pile loaded statically would have a value of
R , = 1. Most cyclic lateral load tests reported in the literature and con-
ducted in practice use RH = 0 (one-way cyclic loading); however, some
notable lateral load tests have also been conducted using R/~ -- - 1 [two-
way cyclic loading (Morrison 1986)], R, = - 0 . 2 5 (Reese et al. 1974) and
Ru = 0.5 (Little and BriaNd 1988). The soil modulus ratio, R,,, versus
number of cycles is shown in Fig. 2 for different magnitudes of the cyclic
load ratio, RH. The corresponding degradation parameter, t, represents the
slope of a straight line fit and can be calculated as:
log(R,u)
t = log(N) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (6)
where Rnu = the value of R, at N cycles of load. Larger values of t cor-
respond to a greater effect of cyclic loading. Values of t shown in Fig. 2 are
0.03, 0.08, 0.27, and 0.13 for RH of - 1 , -0.25, 0, and 0.5, respectively.
Results of these full-scale tests show that one-way cyclic loading results in
greater degradation than two-way loading, and that intermediate cyclic load
ratios result in degradations between one- and two-way loading. Although
no comprehensive full-scale field tests have been conducted to confirm or
quantify the effect of RH specifically, results of model-scale pile tests suggest
233
0.600
:, I
C
a) 0.400
E
P
o
O.
C
.o 0.200 ',, j : p ..........
"o
E .... ....... i , ,...i,i,,',, ",~' ........ ; . ....... ......~ ' o ; " " .i.................
ol
r-I
0.000
0.0002 0.001 0.01 0.1 0,2
Normalized Deflection, 8/D
l Nizodeh and Dc~luon (:1970) 46 Zl Meyer ond Roen (1979) #I
Nizod.ahand .Dgvfaeon(1970) 811A 9 Meyerand Rees.e(1979) #2
~izaoeh (1958) 1A 9 Nob'leon(1988)
Allzodeh (1968) 1B . 0 O'Nenland Murchiegn
Bhuehon,at el. (1981) #4 Rpaee. at 91. (1974).
Bhu=hon,et ale (1981) J5 =,1[evens,~ ~I. (1979)
Bhushon, et al. (1981) J6 .~- luckar one urlaud (1988) #I
Bhuehan,at ol. (1981} J7 Tucker and Brlo~d (1988) #2
DovLelonand Solley(1"96B)#IN <> Robinson(1979) #6
uavisson and Salley(1968) #2N 9 Robinson(1979) #8
uavlssonand Salley(1968) #1S ~> Robinson(1979) 49
uavia=onand Salley(1968) #25
i Heller (1964-) #I
#2
Hailer {1964-~43
Little and Bnoud (19B8) #1
Little and Bdoud (1988) #2
Uttle end Bdoud (1988) #3
Uttle end Brloud (1988) #4.
Little end Brloud (1988) r
Little and Bdoud.(1988) #6
Long and Reeee(1984.~-Eost
Long and Reese(1984) -West
234
I
L ..................................... PRE-CYCLED I
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E
P 0.400 ........ ............ i--~.i-.i..i 9 ................. ......... ~...... 9 ........... ....... ..---...-.i.! ...........
0
Q.
r ! i!!i 9 ioi ~ ........
0
~4-,-
0
"10
P 0.200
......... ........ j . . : ! ! :.............
01
rt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
O.O00
0.0002 0.001 0.01 0.1 0.2
Normalized Deflection, 4/D
ranges between 0.52 and 0.00 with an average near 0.22. The values of t
for precycled piles are smaller with a range between 0.0 and 0.35 and an
average of 0.18.
A .H B.M
ON -- it?10.4.~0.6 "~- l t 2 / 0 . 6 . . 0 . 4 .................................. (7)
JL~t S ~ hN ~t~Jt r ~ hN
where gN = the lateral deflection at the Nth cycle of load, E1 = the flexural
rigidity (product of pile modulus and the moment of inertia), nhN the =
I I
) CtfcIlc Load l 9
fects ~"25 0025
f--.
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g~ f
.~ 0.2
,~ 0.1
~00 *t ~ 1 7 6
-1.0
I
-0.5
0.0 0.5
If'
I I
1.0
Cyclic Load Ratio, R H
0.6 , , , ,
~E I Ib) Installation
0.sj " 0"2, E,,.ots
e 0, i--.--
9~ o.o-- , , , , ; ;
9"=- -- .- o
g o ~
L.
i
9 0.6--
T T------~c ) So|I De nsity'l
E 0.5 ~ - - o ~ s -" [ Effects I
no 0.4
0.3 - ~ ~
.T. 0.2
0.1
0.0
FIG. 5. Value of Degradation Parameter, t, for Virgin Cycling as Affected by: (a)
Cyclic Load Ratio; (b) Installation; and (c) Soil Density
0.6
iE 0.5
a) Cyclic L o a d ]
Effects J-
'
o~0 o~o
'
o~o
o
0.4
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o.
0.3
o
0.2
o
"o
o 0.1
o~
J
o 0.0 i
0
-1.0 -0.5 0.0 0.5 1.0
Cyclic Load Ratio, R H
0.6,
@ ' ' ' ]b) Installation J
E 0.5 Effects 1
0.4 0 ",0 o ", ,0
c 0.3
o
=o
"o
0.2
P 0.1
o~
@ 0.0
o
o "~o J~
=o
C
o
0.6 1 1 1-[c) Soll Denslt
0.5 ...... ~ ......................... - t ~ Effects
o
o 3o o 3o
0.4 .......... .:~ .............. -~- ................
o.
0.5
i
..........................................
c
o
"o
P 0.1~ _T2-
0.0
._~
FIG. 6. Value of Degradation Parameter, t, for Precycled Piles as Affected by: (a)
Cyclic Load Ratio; (b) Installation; and (c) Soil Density
- 0.25 0.4
0.0 (one-way loading) 1.0
0.5 1.0
1.0 (static loading) 0.0
0.31, while Broms recommends 0.38 and 0.19 for loose and dense soils,
respectively.
The uncertainty for estimating t was determined by comparing the values
of t measured from the 34 lateral load tests with values of t predicted using
(9). Fifty percent of the measured values of t exceeded values of t predicted
using (9). If the predicted value of t is multiplied by 1.4, only 16% of the
measured values exceed those predicted. Similarly, if the predicted value
of t is multiplied by 2, a mere 3% of the measured t values exceed the
predicted value.
The LISM method provides a simple procedure for predicting the effect
of cyclic lateral loading; however, the method is restricted to analyses that
employ a linearly increasing soil reaction modulus. Additionally, the LISM
method cannot explicitly account for effects of nonlinear soil response,
layered soil, and many fundamental parameters (soil unit weight, soil strength,
and so forth) that affect lateral load response. Because p-y methods can
include effects of nonlinearity, soil layering, and other soil properties, rec-
ommendations for using results from the 34 load tests with nonlinear p-y
curve analyses are provided next.
The DSPY approach is similar to the LISM approach; namely, the static
soil reaction modulus is reduced to account for effects of cyclic loading
according to (10)
KhN = K h , ' N - ' . ........................................... (10)
t~hN
continuing
~N = 81"
( o6
g/hi = ~ l ' ( N t ) 0"6 = ~I'N ~ . .................... (13b)
\nhu/
LIMITATIONS
The method proposed is an empirical approach intended to provide the
designer with a simple and expedient means to estimate effects of cyclic
lateral load on piles in sand. Because the methods are empirical, efforts
should continue to include more results to verify or modify the recommen-
dations herein. Approaches based on more fundamental soil properties are
needed.
The proposed method may overpredict the effect of cyclic load for piles
subjected to cyclic load when the load ratio is less than 0. While the deg-
radation using (9) is predicted to be minimal, the stiffness at the pile head
may actually increase due to soil densification in the proximity of the pile.
Results of this study are believed to be valid for long piles in sand sub-
jected to 50-100 cycles of nondynamic lateral loads. Although one test
showed continued effects of cyclic load at 500 cycles, the majority of load
tests were for 50 cycles or less. Caution should be exercised when predicting
effects of cyclic loading beyond 50 cycles of load. Finally, the flexural rigidity
of the pile is assumed to remain constant.
CONCLUSIONS
Two simple methods for determining the effect of cyclic lateral loads on
piles in sand are presented. The two methods use parameters derived from
241
vided by a given static p-y curve to account for the effects of cyclic lateral
load. The DSPY procedure can be applied to nonlinear static p-y curves;
therefore, current procedures for predicting the static p-y curves can still
be employed, while the DSPY method can be applied to estimate the effect
of cyclic loads.
The most important p a r a m e t e r found to govern the behavior of piles
during cyclic loading are the characteristics of the cyclic load. Other factors
include the method of installation and the soil density.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This study was supported by a research initiation grant from the University
of Illinois and by a fellowship from Shell Oil C o m p a n y Foundation. Their
financial support is gratefully acknowledged.
APPENDIX I. REFERENCES
Alizadeh, M. (1969). "Lateral load tests on instrumented timber piles." Performance
of deep foundations, ASTM STP 444, American Society for Testing and Materials,
379-394.
Alizadeh, M., and Davisson, M. T. (1970). "Lateral load test on piles--Arkansas
River project." J. Soil Mech. and Found. Engrg. Div., 96(5), 1583-1604.
Barton, Y. O. (1982). "Laterally loaded model piles in sand, centrifuge tests and
finite element analyses," PhD thesis, University of Cambridge.
Bhushan, K., Lee, L. J., and Grime, D. B. (1981). "Lateral load tests on drilled
piers in sands." Drilled piers and caissons, Proc. Geotech. Engrg. Div. at ASCE
Nat. Convention, St. Louis, Mo., Oct. 28.
Broms, B. (1964). "Lateral resistance of piles in cohesionless soils." J. Soil Mech.
and Found. Engrg., ASCE, 90(3), 123-156.
Chang, C. S., and Whitman, R. V. (1988). "Drained permanent deformation of
sand due to cyclic loading." J. Geotech. Engrg. Div., ASCE, 114(10), 1164-1180.
Davisson, M. T. (1970). "Lateral load capacity of piles." Highway Res. Record, 333,
104-112.
Davisson, M. T., and Salley, J. R. (1968). "Lateral load tests on drilled piers."
ASTM Symp. on Deep Foundations, San Francisco, June 24.
Davisson, M. T., and Salley, J. R. (1970). "Model study of laterally loaded piles."
J. Soil Mech. and Found. Engrg., ASCE, 96(5), 1605-1627.
HeUer, L. W. (1965). "Lateral thrust on piles." Technical Report R283, U.S. Civ.
Engrg. Lab., Port Hueneme, Calif., June 15.
Hetenyi, M. (1946). Beams on elastic foundations. University of Michigan Press,
Ann Arbor, Mich.
Kramer, S. L., and Heavey, E. J. (1988). "Lateral load analysis of nonlinear piles."
J. Geotech. Engrg., ASCE, 114(9), 1045-1049.
Little, R. L., and Briaud, J-L. (1988). "Full scale cyclic lateral load tests on six single
piles in sand." Miscellaneous Paper GL-88-27, Geoteehnical Div., Texas A&M
Univ., College Station, Tex.
Lock and dam No. 4, Arkansas River and tributaries, Arkansas and Oklahoma.
(1964). U.S. Army Engineer District, Little Rock, Corps of Engineers.
Long, J. H., and Reese, L. C. (1982). "Prediction of lateral load behavior for
reinforced concrete pile." letter report to L. Johnson, WES, Mar.
Long, J. H., and Reese, L. C. (1984). "Testing and analysis of two offshore piles
subjected to lateral loads." Laterally loaded deep foundations: analysis and per-
formance, ASTM STP 835, J. A. Langer, E. Mosely, and C. Thompson, eds.,
American Society for Testing Materials, Philadelphia, Pa., 214-228.
242
244