Computers and Geotechnics 36 (2009) 427–434

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Computers and Geotechnics

journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/compgeo

Boundary element analysis of axially loaded piles embedded in a multi-layered soil

Z.Y. Ai a,*, J. Han b
a
Department of Geotechnical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Geotechnical and Underground Engineering of Ministry of Education, Tongji University,
1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, China
b
Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering (CEAE) Department, The University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA

a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t

Article history: In a field, piles are likely installed in a multi-layered soil. Analysis of axially loaded piles in a multi-lay-
Received 5 January 2008 ered soil is complicated and deserves more attention. A boundary element method is used in this study to
Received in revised form 1 June 2008 analyze an axially loaded single pile in a multi-layered soil using the solution for vertical and horizontal
Accepted 2 June 2008
axisymmetric ring loads in a multi-layered elastic medium. Good and reasonable agreement is obtained
Available online 21 July 2008
between the proposed and published solutions for a single pile in a homogenous soil, a finite soil, and a
Gibson soil. The proposed solution is also used to evaluate an axially loaded single pile in a multi-layered
Keywords:
(8 layers) soil.
Analytical solutions
Axially loaded piles
Ó 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Boundary element method
Integral transforms
Multi-layered soil

1. Introduction method, in which a modified soil modulus is employed in the

Piles have been commonly used in practice to support super-
structures. A number of methods have been developed in the past
to analyze axially loaded piles, including simplified analytical
methods [1,2], load-transfer methods [3–5], boundary element
methods [6,7], finite element methods [8–13], infinite layer meth-
ods [14,15], finite layer methods [16–18], and ‘‘hybrid” type meth-
ods [19–21]. Among them, the boundary element method is one of
the commonly used methods to analyze a single pile and pile
groups.
Poulos and Davis [6] and Butterfield and Banerjee [7] employed
the Mindlin solutions [22] and boundary integral equations to ana-
lyze axially loaded piles embedded in a linearly elastic homoge-
neous half space. Their results have been widely used for
practical applications. Combined with the Mindlin solutions, Pou-
los and Davis [6] proposed an approximate method for piles
embedded in a finite depth soil by utilizing the Steinbrenner [23]
approximation, while Poulos and Mattes [24] employed a mirror-
image technique for piles seated on a firm base.
In reality, natural ground is often non-homogeneous and mul-
ti-layered so that the Mindlin solutions based on a linearly elastic
homogeneous half space are not suitable for the analysis of piles
in non-homogeneous and multi-layered soils. To account for
non-homogeneity of soils, Poulos [25] proposed an empirical
* Corresponding author. Tel.: +86 21 65982201; fax: +86 21 65985210.
E-mail address: zhiyongai@mail.tongji.edu.cn (Z.Y. Ai).
Mindlin solutions. Chan et al. [26] and Davies and Banerjee [27]
proposed analytical solutions for an interior point load, which is
applied at the interior and interface of a two-layered soil, respec-
tively. Utilizing the solution of Chan et al. [26], Lee et al. [28] and
Chin et al. [29] studied the behavior of axially loaded piles and
pile groups in layered soils with a simplified elastic continuum
boundary element method, respectively. Based on the solutions
of Davies and Banerjee [27], Banerjee and Davies [30,31] analyzed
the behavior of pile groups embedded in a Gibson soil and an axi-
ally and laterally loaded single pile embedded in non-homoge-
neous soils. However, these solutions are only appropriate for
axially loaded piles in a two-layered soil and they can not be used
for a more general situation, such as piles in a multi-layered soil.
Therefore, an analytical solution for axially loaded piles in a multi-
layered soil is needed.
The first author with others [32,33] obtained a more general solu-
tion for a multi-layered elastic medium subjected to both axisym-
metric and asymmetric loads applied either on an external surface
or in the interior of the medium. This solution is an extension to
the Sneddon and Muki solutions [34–36]. The extended Sneddon
and Muki solution [33] is more appropriate for a multi-layered or
non-homogeneous soil than the approximation method based on
the Mindlin solutions and the solutions [26,27] for a two-layered
soil. The objective of this paper is to apply the extended Sneddon
and Muki solution with a boundary integral equation method to
study the behavior of axially loaded piles embedded in a multi-lay-
ered soil.

0266-352X/$ - see front matter Ó 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.compgeo.2008.06.001
428 Z.Y. Ai, J. Han / Computers and Geotechnics 36 (2009) 427–434

2. Solution for axisymmetric ring loads in the multi-layered soil If a point at a given depth z in the i-th layer is above the loading
surface at which the vertical or radial ring load is applied, the stres-
Prior to the development of a solution for piles embedded in a ses and displacements in the transform domain can be derived
multi-layered soil, the solution for axisymmetric ring loads in the from the equations [32,33]
multi-layered soil should be obtained.
Gðn; zÞ ¼ ½aij 44 Gðn; 0Þ; ð5Þ
Take an n-layered elastic medium with a vertical unit ring load
or a radial unit ring load applied in the interior of the m-th layer where
as shown in Fig. 1. On the z plane, which is paralleled to the ground
 zÞ; s
 ðn; zÞ; wðn;
Gðn; zÞ ¼ ½u  z ðn; zÞT ;
zr ðn; zÞ; r ð6aÞ
surface, the unknown displacements and stresses are u(r, z), w(r, z),
T
srz(r, z), and rz(r, z).  0Þ; s
ðn; 0Þ; wðn;
Gðn; 0Þ ¼ ½u zr ðn; 0Þ; r
 z ðn; 0Þ ; ð6bÞ
Let u ðn; zÞ, wðn;
 zÞ, s
rz ðn; zÞ, and r
 z ðn; zÞ be the Hankel transform ½aij 44 ¼ Uðn; z  Hi1 ÞUðn; DHi1 Þ . . . Uðn; DH1 Þ; ð6cÞ
of u(r, z), w(r, z), srz(r, z), and rz(r, z), the Hankel transform and its
inversion have the following relations [37]: in which U(n, z) is the transfer matrix and its elements can be found
Z 1 in the published paper by Ai et al. [33], DHi = Hi  Hi1 (i = 1, 2, . . . n),
 ðn; zÞ ¼
u uðr; zÞrJ 1 ðnrÞdr; ð1aÞ and Hi is the distance from the bottom of the i-th layer to the sur-
Z0 1
face of the first layer.
 zÞ ¼
wðn; wðr; zÞrJ0 ðnrÞdr; ð1bÞ If a point at a given depth z in the j th layer is below the loading
Z0 surface, we have
1
srz ðn; zÞ ¼ srz ðr; zÞrJ1 ðnrÞdr; ð1cÞ Gðn; zÞ ¼ ½bij 44 Gðn; Hn Þ; ð7Þ
Z 01
where
r z ðn; zÞ ¼ rz ðr; zÞrJ0 ðnrÞdr ð1dÞ
0  Hn Þ; s
ðn; Hn Þ; wðn;
Gðn; Hn Þ ¼ ½u  z ðn; Hn ÞT ;
zr ðn; Hn Þ; r ð8aÞ
and
Z 1 ½bij 44 ¼ Uðn; z  Hj ÞUðn; DHjþ1 Þ . . . Uðn; DHn1 ÞUðn; DHn Þ:
uðr; zÞ ¼  ðn; zÞnJ 1 ðnrÞdn;
u ð2aÞ ð8bÞ
Z0 1
wðr; zÞ ¼  zÞnJ0 ðnrÞdn;
wðn; ð2bÞ Gðn; 0Þ and Gðn; Hn Þ can be determined from Eqs. (3) and (4)
Z0 [32,33] and the following equation:
1
srz ðr; zÞ ¼ srz ðn; zÞnJ1 ðnrÞdn; ð2cÞ Gðn; Hn Þ ¼ ½fij 44 Gðn; 0Þ  ½sij 44 fp
g41 ; ð9Þ
Z 01
where
rz ðr; zÞ ¼ r z ðn; zÞnJ0 ðnrÞdn; ð2dÞ
0
½fij 44 ¼ Uðn; DHn ÞUðn; DHn1 Þ . . . Uðn; DH1 Þ; ð10aÞ
in which J0(n, r) and J1(n, r) are zeroth and first order Bessel func-
tions, respectively. ½sij 44 ¼ Uðn; DHn ÞUðn; DHn1 Þ . . . Uðn; DHm2 Þ; ð10bÞ
On the surface of the elastic medium (i.e., z = 0), the boundary
in which DHm2 = Hm  Hm1 and Hm1 is the distance from the plane at
conditions are
which the vertical or radial load is applied, to the surface of the first
rz ðr; 0Þ ¼ srz ðr; 0Þ ¼ 0 or r z ðn; 0Þ ¼ srz ðn; 0Þ ¼ 0: ð3Þ layer.
The vertical unit ring load can be expressed as
The bottom of the multi-layered elastic medium (i.e., z = Hn)
usually can be treated as a fixed boundary (if the n-th layer repre- fpg41 ¼ ½ 0; 0; 0; dðr  r0 Þ=2pr T : ð11aÞ
sents an elastic half-space, Hn can be assigned to a large value, for
example 10,000 m). The fixed boundary has Taking a zeroth order Hankel transform of Eq. (11a) yields
T
 ðn; Hn Þ ¼ wðn;
uðr; Hn Þ ¼ wðr; Hn Þ ¼ 0 or u  Hn Þ ¼ 0: ð4Þ g41 ¼ ½ 0; 0; 0; J 0 ðnr0 Þ=2p  :
fp ð11bÞ

a b
r r
E1 , v1 ΔH 1 E1 , v1 ΔH 1

E2 , v2 Δ H2 E 2 , v2 ΔH 2

Em , vm Δ H m1 E m , vm
ro
Δ H m1
ro
Δ Hm ΔH m
Δ Hm2 ΔH m 2

E m+ 1 , vm+ 1 Δ H m +1 E m +1 , v m +1 Δ H m +1

E n −1 , v n −1 Δ Hn − 1 E n −1 , v n −1 Δ H n −1

E n , vn ΔHn E n , vn ΔH n

z z
Fig. 1. Ring unit loads in a multi-layered soil: (a) vertical ring unit load and (b) radial ring unit load.
 Z.Y. Ai, J. Han / Computers and Geotechnics 36 (2009) 427–434 429

The radial unit ring load is 3. Solution for axially loaded piles in the multi-layered soil
T
fpg41 ¼ ½ 0; 0; dðr  r 0 Þ=2pr; 0  : ð12aÞ
Fig. 2 presents an axially loaded pile embedded in the multi-
Taking the first order Hankel transform of Eq. (12a) yields: layered elastic soil. Using the analytical solutions obtained in the
previous section, the boundary integral equation for the pile-soil
g41 ¼ ½ 0; 0; J 1 ðnr 0 Þ=2p; 0 T :
fp ð12bÞ interface can be written as follows:
The unknown variables of Gðn; 0Þ and Gðn; Hn Þ can be solved as fol- Z L Z L

lows: under the vertical unit ring load, wðr; zÞ ¼ ws w1 ðr a ; h; r; zÞdh þ wr w2 ðr a ; h; r; zÞdh
0 0
Z rb
1 f22 s14  f12 s24
 1 ðn; 0Þ ¼
u J ðnr0 Þ ; ð13aÞ þ wb w1 ðr1 ; L; r; zÞdr1 ; ð17aÞ
2p 0 f12 f21 þ f11 f22 0

1 f21 s14  f11 s24

 1 ðn; 0Þ ¼
w J ðnr 0 Þ ; ð13bÞ
2p 0 f12 f21  f11 f22

1 f22 f31 s14  f21 f32 s14  f12 f31 s24 þ f11 f32 s24 þ f12 f21 s34  f11 f22 s34
srz1 ðn; Hn Þ ¼ J ðnr0 Þ ; ð13cÞ
2p 0 f12 f21 þ f11 f22

1 f22 f41 s14  f21 f42 s14  f12 f41 s24 þ f11 f42 s24 þ f12 f21 s44  f11 f22 s44
r z1 ðn; Hn Þ ¼ J ðnr0 Þ ; ð13dÞ
2p 0 f12 f21 þ f11 f22
under the radial unit ring load,
Z L Z L
1 f22 s13  f12 s23
 2 ðn; 0Þ ¼
u J ðnr0 Þ ; ð14aÞ uðr; zÞ ¼ ws u1 ðra ; h; r; zÞdh þ wr u2 ðr a ; h; r; zÞdh
2p 1 f12 f21 þ f11 f22 0 0
Z rb
1 f21 s13  f11 s23 þ wb u1 ðr 1 ; L; r; zÞdr 1 ; ð17bÞ
 2 ðn; 0Þ ¼
w J ðnr 0 Þ ; ð14bÞ 0
2p 1 f12 f21  f11 f22

1 f22 f31 s13  f21 f32 s13  f12 f31 s23 þ f11 f32 s23 þ f12 f21 s33  f11 f22 s33
srz2 ðn; Hn Þ ¼ J ðnr0 Þ ; ð14cÞ
2p 1 f12 f21 þ f11 f22

1 f22 f41 s13  f21 f42 s13  f12 f41 s23 þ f11 f42 s23 þ f12 f21 s43  f11 f22 s43
r z2 ðn; Hn Þ ¼ J ðnr0 Þ ; ð14dÞ
2p 1 f12 f21 þ f11 f22
Taking an inverse Hankel transform of Gðn; zÞ in Eqs. (5) and (7),
the solution for displacements in the multi-layered elastic medium in which ws is the vertical fictitious stress acting along the pile
subjected to a vertical or radial ring load can be obtained as fol- shaft; wr is the radial fictitious stress acting along the pile shaft;
lows: under the vertical unit ring load, wb is the vertical fictitious stress acting on the pile base. L is the pile
length, ra is the pile radius, and rb is the pile base radius.
w1 ðr0 ; Hm ; r; zÞ Eqs. (17a) and (17b) are a rigorous mathematical treatment of
(R1
 1 ðn; 0Þ þ a22 w
nða21 u  1 ðn; 0ÞÞJ0 ðnrÞdn for z < Hm ; axially loaded piles embedded in a multi-layered soil. Because of
¼ R01 the complexity of the analysis associated with the integral equa-
0
nðb23 srz1 ðn; 0Þ þ b24 r
  z1 ðn; 0ÞÞJ 0 ðnrÞdn for z > Hm ;
tions, analytical solutions for the above equations are not available.
ð15aÞ For practical applications with enough accuracy, the numerical

u1 ðr 0 ; Hm ; r; zÞ
(R1
nða11 u 1 ðn; 0Þ þ a12 w
 1 ðn; 0ÞÞJ1 ðnrÞdn for z < Hm ; P
¼ R01 r
0
nðb s

13 rz1 ðn; 0Þ þ b 14 r
 z1 ðn; 0ÞÞJ 1 ðnrÞdn for z > Hm ;
ra
E1 , v1 Δ H1
ð15bÞ
E 2 , v2 h Δ H2
under the radial unit ring load,
dh L
w2 ðr 0 ; Hm ; r; zÞ
(R1
0
2 ðn; 0Þ þ a22 w
nða21 u  2 ðn; 0ÞÞJ0 ðnrÞdn for z < Hm ;
¼ R1
0
nðb23 srz2 ðn; 0Þ þ b24 r
  z2 ðn; 0ÞÞJ0 ðnrÞdn for z > Hm ;
ð16aÞ E i , vi Δ Hi
rb
u2 ðr 0 ; Hm ; r; zÞ
(R1
0
2 ðn; 0Þ þ a12 w
nða11 u  2 ðn; 0ÞÞJ1 ðnrÞdn for z < Hm ;
¼ R1
0
nðb13 srz2 ðn; 0Þ þ b14 r
  z2 ðn; 0ÞÞJ1 ðnrÞdn for z > Hm ; E n −1 , v n −1 Δ H n −1

ð16bÞ E n , vn ΔH n
The numerical computational methods for the solution of the z
multi-layered elastic medium are presented in the published paper
by Ai et al. [33]. Fig. 2. A pile embedded in the multi-layered soil.
430 Z.Y. Ai, J. Han / Computers and Geotechnics 36 (2009) 427–434

solutions can be obtained by dividing the pile shaft into n equal in which wi1 and wi are the displacements at top and bottom of the
segments and the base into m rings, on which a uniform load is pile segment i, respectively. Pi1 and Pi are the axial forces acting on
distributed. Therefore, the discrete form of the vertical and radial top and bottom of the pile segment i, respectively, and they can be
displacements of any element i on the shaft can be derived as obtained by Eq. (23) and expressed as follows:
follows:
X
m X
ni

X
n X
n X
m Pi ¼ ðwb Þj r b =m þ ðws Þðnþ1jÞ L=n: ð25Þ
ðws Þi ¼ ðws Þj ðK WW Þij þ ðwr Þj ðK UW Þij þ ðwb Þj ðK BW Þij ; ð18aÞ j¼1 j¼1
j¼1 j¼1 j¼1
If wi is obtained using Eq. (24), the displacement of the pile seg-
X
n X
n X
m ment i can then be written as follows (w0 = 1):
ðus Þi ¼ ðws Þj ðK WU Þij þ ðwr Þj ðK UU Þij þ ðwb Þj ðK BU Þij ; ð18bÞ wi1 þ wi
j¼1 j¼1 j¼1 ðws Þi ¼ i ¼ 1; 2; 3 . . . n; ð26aÞ
2
in which i = 1, 2, 3, . . . n. wi  wi1
ðus Þi ¼  lp ra i ¼ 1; 2; 3 . . . n: ð26bÞ
The vertical displacements (wb)i at the pile base can also be L=n
written as The displacement at the base of the pile can be expressed as
X
n X
n X
m
ðwb Þi ¼ ðws Þj ðK WB Þij þ ðwr Þj ðK UB Þij þ ðwb Þj ðK BB Þij ; ð18cÞ ðwb Þi ¼ wn i ¼ 1; 2; 3 . . . m: ð26cÞ
j¼1 j¼1 j¼1
Using an iterative scheme proposed by Butterfield and Banerjee
in which i = 1, 2, 3, . . . m. The elements of the K matrices can be [7], the solution for Eq. (20) can be obtained. Once the fictitious
found in the appendix. stresses are obtained, the actual stresses and displacements
Combining Eqs. (18a), (18b), and (18c) yields the following (including those on the real pile boundaries) can be obtained using
equation: the approach described in Butterfield and Banerjee [7].

½W ¼ ½K½W; ð19Þ

4. Results of analysis
T T
where ½W ¼ ½½ws ½us ½wb  , ½W ¼ ½½ws ½wr ½wb  , ½K ¼
2 3
½K WW  ½K UW  ½K BW  4.1. A pile in a homogeneous elastic half-space
4 ½K WU  ½K UU  ½K BU  5. The unknown fictitious stresses can be ex-
½K WB  ½K UB  ½K BB  To verify the proposed solution, a simple problem with an axi-
pressed as follows: ally loaded pile in a homogeneous elastic half-space is first se-
lected. This homogeneous elastic half-space is considered
½W ¼ ½K1 ½W: ð20Þ comprising of several elastic layers with identical elastic parame-
To solve the above equation, the following differential equations ters (i.e., one homogeneous layer) with a large depth (for example
should be considered: 10,000 m). Fig. 3 presents a comparison of the normalized pile
head stiffness (P/GWD) by Butterfield and Banerjee [7] and the pro-
ow Pz
¼ ; ð21Þ posed solution, in which W is the settlement at the pile head, L is
oz Ap Ep the length of the pile, D is the diameter of the pile, k = Ep/G, Ep is
ow the elastic modulus of the pile, G is the shear modulus of the soil,
u ¼ lp ra ; ð22Þ
oz and P is the applied load on the pile head. Fig. 4 presents a compar-
in which w and u are the vertical and radial displacements of the ison between the proposed method and Butterfield and Banerjee
pile, respectively, Ap ¼ pr 2a , Ep is Young’s modulus of the pile mate- [7] on the distribution of shear stress s along the shaft with depth
rial, lp is Poisson’s ratio of the pile material, and Pz is the axial force z. In this comparison, the pile is in the homogeneous elastic half-
along the piles at the depth z and can be obtained as follows: space and has a slenderness ratio of L/D = 80 and different pile-soil
Z z Z rb
modulus ratios. Both Figs. 3 and 4 show that the results from the
Pz ¼ ws dh þ wb dr: ð23Þ proposed method are in good agreement with those of Butterfield
L 0 and Banerjee [7], which verifies that the proposed solution for a
If a unit displacement at the head of the pile is given, Eq. (21) can be multi-layered soil can be used for a homogeneous soil.
re-written in a finite difference form as follows:
120
2 3 2 w1 3
0 1 0 0  0 0 0 0 Butterfield and Banerjee [7] λ=60000
6 w2 7
6 1 0
6 1 0  0 0 0 0 7 76 7 The authors λ=60000
6 76 7
6 0 1 0 1  0 0 0 0 76 w3 7
6 76 . 7
6 Butterfield and Banerjee [7] λ=6000
6                            76 . 7
6 76 . 7 7 80 The authors λ=6000
6 7 7
6 0 0 0 0    1 0 1 0 76 wn2 7
6 76
P/GDW

4 0 5 6 7
0 0 0    0 1 0 1 4 wn1 5
0 0 0 0  0 0 2 2 wn
2 3 2 3 ð24Þ
P1 1 40
6 P2 7 6 0 7
6 7 6 7
6 7 6 7
6 P3 7 6 0 7
2L 6 7 6 7
6 .. 7 6 .. 7
¼ 6 . 7 þ 6 . 7;
nEp Ap 6 7 6 7
6 7 6 7
6 Pn2 7 6 0 7 0
6 7 6 7 0 20 40 60 80 100
4 Pn1 5 4 0 5 L/D
Pn 0 Fig. 3. Normalized pile head stiffness in an elastic half-space.
 Z.Y. Ai, J. Han / Computers and Geotechnics 36 (2009) 427–434 431

1.6 0.2

Chin et al [29]h/L=1.2
Poulos [38] h/L=1.2
0.16
1.2 The authors h/L=1.2
Chin et al [29] h/L=2
Poulos [38] h/L=2
0.12

WEsD/P
The authors h/L=2
τ/(P/πDL)

0.8

0.08
The authors λ= 60000

0.4 The authors λ= 6000

0.04
Butterfield and Banerjee [7] λ=60000

Butterfield and Banerjee [7] λ=6000

0
0.0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0
z/L L/D

Fig. 4. Distribution of shear stress along the pile in an elastic half-space. Fig. 6. Settlement influence factor of a single pile in a finite soil layer.

4.2. A floating pile in a soil with a finite depth

32

The second problem is selected in this study containing a float- Lee and Small [16] K=1000
ing pile embedded in a homogeneous or Gibson soil with a finite Lee and Small [16] K=10000
depth as shown in Fig. 5. This problem was studied by Poulos 24 The authors K=1000
[6,38] based on the Mindlin solutions and the Steinbrenner
The authors K=10000
approximation technique, and by Chin et al. [29] based on the Chan
P/WEsD

et al. [26] solutions for a two-layered elastic medium. Therefore,

16
both methods are used here for comparisons. In the Chin et al.
[29] method, the rigid base was obtained by specifying an arbitrary
large modulus ratio E2/E1 (say 109), where E2 and E1 are Young’s
moduli of the second layer (i.e., the rigid base) and the first layer 8
(i.e., the finite soil layer). This problem is also analyzed using the
proposed method in this study.
Fig. 6 presents the comparisons of the settlement influence fac-
0
tors I0 (i.e. WEsD/P) for a single pile in a homogenous soil with a fi- 0 10 20 30 40 50 60
nite depth obtained by Poulos [38], Chin et al. [29], and the L/D
authors. In this problem, the pile-soil modulus ratio is K = Ep/
Es = 1000 and Poisson’s ratio of the soil was 0.499. The comparisons Fig. 7. Normalized pile head stiffness of a single pile in a finite soil layer.
show a good agreement among all the results, especially for h/L = 2
(h is the finite depth of the soil layer and L is the pile length). How-
ever, when h/L = 1.2, Poulos [38] calculated lower factors and Chin 1
et al. [29] calculated higher factors than those of the proposed The authors K=10000
method.
In addition, Lee and Small [16] presented a finite layer approach 0.8 Chow [12] K=10000
for the analysis of axially loaded piles. Chow [12] adopted an axi-
symmetric finite element method to analyze the piles in a cross-
0.6
anisotropic elastic soil. Figs. 7 and 8 present the normalized pile
Pz/P

head stiffness (P/WEsD) and the axial load ratios for a single pile
in a homogenous soil with a finite depth obtained by Lee and Small 0.4
[16], Chow [12], and the present method. In these analyses, the ra-

0.2
a b P
P
0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
L D z/L
L Fig. 8. Axial load ratio of a single pile in a finite soil layer.
h h Es (L)

D tio of the depth h to the pile length L was 2, the slender ratio L/D
was 20, and Poisson’s ratio of the soil was 0.499. Pz in Fig. 8 is
the load in the pile at depth z. Figs. 7 and 8 both show that the fi-
Fig. 5. A floating pile in a soil with a finite depth: (a) the homogeneous soil and (b) nite layer approach, the finite element method, and the proposed
the Gibson soil. method produce almost identical results.
432 Z.Y. Ai, J. Han / Computers and Geotechnics 36 (2009) 427–434

When a single pile is embedded in a Gibson soil (i.e., the mod- 4.3. A pile in a multi-layered soil
ulus increasing linearly with depth), the Gibson soil can be consid-
ered having several elastic layers (for example, 20 layers used in As mentioned earlier, in a field, piles are installed in a soil,
this study) with increasing elastic moduli. Fig. 9 presents the com- which is likely multi-layered. For a demonstration purpose, a pile
parisons of the normalized pile head stiffness (P/WEs (L)D) for a driven into an eight-layered soil is selected and shown in Fig. 11.
single pile in a Gibson soil with a finite depth obtained by Lee
and Small [16], Chin et al. [29], Banerjee and Davies [30], and the
proposed method. In the analyses, the ratio of the depth h to the P
pile length L was 2, the pile-soil modulus ratio K = Ep/
Es(L) = 10,000, and Poisson’s ratio of the soil was 0.499. The com- Es1, vs1 h1
parisons show that the results of the proposed method agree well
with those from the finite layer method obtained by Lee and Small Es2, vs2 h2
[16]. However, Chin et al. [29] and Banerjee and Davies [30] under-
estimate the results as compared with those obtained by the pro- Es3, vs3 h3
posed method.
Fig. 10 shows the axial load ratios for a single pile in a Gibson Es4, vs4 D h4
soil with a finite depth obtained by Lee and Small [16] and the pro-
posed method. In these analyses, the slender ratio L/D was 25, Es5, vs5 h5
h/L = 2, K = Ep/Es(L) = 10,000, and Poisson’s ratio of the soil was
0.499. This comparison shows that the results of the proposed Es6, vs6 h6
method agree well with those of the finite layer method obtained
by Lee and Small [16]. Es7, vs7 h7
The above comparisons clearly show that the proposed method
for an axially loaded pile in a multi-layered soil can be used to eval-
Es8, vs8 h8
uate a pile in a homogenous or Gibson soil with a finite depth.

Fig. 11. A pile in a multi-layered soil.

20
Lee and Small [16] K=10000

16
The authors K=10000 a 35
Banerjee and Davies [30] K=10000 homogeneous soil K=1650

Chin et al [29] K=10000 30 Gibson soil K=1650

P/WEs(L)D

12 layered soil K=1650

25
P/WEsavgD

8 20

15
4

10
0
5 15 25 35 45
5
L/D

Fig. 9. Normalized pile head stiffness of a single pile in Gibson soil with a finite 0
depth. 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45
L/D

1
b 35
homogeneous soil K=16500
30 Gibson soil K=16500
0.8 layered soil K=16500
25
P/WEsavgD

0.6 20
P/Pz

15
0.4
10

0.2 The authors K=10000

5
Lee and Small [16] K=10000
0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
z/L L/D

Fig. 10. Axial load ratio of a floating pile in the Gibson soil for L/D = 25 and vs = Fig. 12. Normalized pile head stiffness at different slenderness and pile-soil
0.499. modulus ratios in the eight-layered soil.
 Z.Y. Ai, J. Han / Computers and Geotechnics 36 (2009) 427–434 433

method is used in this study to develop a solution for an axially

a 3 loaded single pile in a multi-layered soil. The proposed method
homogenous soil K=1650 by the authors is used to analyze a single pile in homogenous
Gibson soil K=1650 and finite soils and obtain reasonably close results to the existing
layered soil K=1650 solutions by others.
The parametric study for a single pile in a multi-layered soil
2
(i.e., an eight-layered soil) shows that the normalized pile head
stiffness increases with the slenderness ratio at a larger pile-soil
τ/(P/π DL)

modulus ratio but has little change at a smaller ratio. The results
also show that the pile with a larger pile-soil modulus ratio has
1
higher normalized pile head stiffness, lower shear stresses in its
upper portion, and higher shear stresses in its lower portion. The
distribution of shear stresses depends on the pile-soil modulus ra-
tio and the modulus ratio of the individual soil layers.

0 Acknowledgement
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
z/L
The work reported here is supported by the National Natural
b 3
Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 50578121). The authors
homogenous soil K=16500
wish to express their gratitude for this financial support.
Gibson soil K=16500
layered soil K=16500
Appendix
2
The elements of the K matrices in Eq. (18) are expressed as
τ/(P/π DL)

follow:
Z jd
ðK WW Þij ¼ w1 ðr a ; h; r a ; zÞdh; ða:1Þ
1 ðj1Þd
Z jd
ðK UW Þij ¼ w2 ðra ; h; r a ; zÞdh; ða:2Þ
ðj1Þd
Z jD
0 ðK BW Þij ¼ w1 ðr 1 ; L; ra ; zÞdr 1 ; ða:3Þ
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 ðj1ÞD
z/L
Z jd
Fig. 13. Distribution of shear stress along the shaft at the slenderness ratio L/D = 30 ðK WU Þij ¼ u1 ðr a ; h; ra ; zÞdh; ða:4Þ
and different pile-soil modulus ratios in the eight-layered soil. ðj1Þd
Z jd
ðK UU Þij ¼ u2 ðr a ; h; ra ; zÞdh; ða:5Þ
ðj1Þd
This pile has a shaft diameter D and is loaded by an axial force P at
its top. In this analysis, each soil layer have identical Poisson’s ratio Z jD

of 0.499 and thickness of 0.25L (L is the length of the pile and ðK BU Þij ¼ u1 ðr 1 ; L; r a ; zÞdr1 ; ða:6Þ
ðj1ÞD
equals to h1 + h2 + h3 + h4). Young’s modulus ratio from layers 1
to 8 is Es1:Es2:Es3:Es4:Es5:Es6:Es7:Es8 = 1:4:2:3:6:4:3:10. where d ¼ nL, D ¼ rmb , z = (i  0.5)d. Also
Fig. 12 shows the normalized pile head stiffness P/WEsavgD, for Z jd
piles at different slenderness ratios and different pile-soil modulus ðK WB Þij ¼ w1 ðra ; h; r; LÞdh; ða:7Þ
P
ratios K = Ep/Esavg in the eight-layered soil, here Esavg ¼ 4i¼1 Ei DHi =L. ðj1Þd
Z jd
It is shown that the pile with a larger pile-soil modulus ratio has
ðK UB Þij ¼ w2 ðr a ; h; r; LÞdh; ða:8Þ
higher normalized pile head stiffness, which increases with the ðj1Þd
slenderness ratio. However, the normalized pile head stiffness of Z jD
the pile with a smaller pile-soil modulus ratio changes insignifi- ðK BB Þij ¼ w1 ðr1 ; L; r; LÞdr 1 ; ða:9Þ
ðj1ÞD
cantly with the slenderness ratio. The curves in Fig. 12 indicate that
the pile has the largest normalized pile head stiffness in a Gibson where r = (i  0.5)D.
soil but the smallest in a homogenous soil. Some Explanations are needed regarding the kernel functions in
Fig. 13 shows the distribution of shear stress s along the shaft the above-mentioned K matrices in the computation. When the
with a slenderness ratio of L/D = 30 at different pile-soil modulus load point is not coincident with the calculation point, the integral
ratios of K = Ep/Esavg. It is shown that the pile with a larger pile-soil kernels are limitary and the general Guass–Legendre integral can
modulus ratio has lower shear stresses in its upper portion but be used to obtain the reliable numerical integration results. When
higher shear stresses in its lower portion. Fig. 13 also shows that the load point and the calculation point coincide, the kernel func-
the distribution of shear stresses along the pile in the layered soil tions are of singularity. In order to obtain reliable values, the fol-
is very different from that in the homogeneous and Gibson soil. lowing techniques can be used:

5. Conclusions (1) dividing the kernel functions into two segments by taking
the singular point as the boundary;
Based on the solution for vertical and horizontal axisymmetric (2) taking the general Gauss–Legendre integral to calculate the
ring loads in a multi-layered elastic medium, a boundary element two segments numerically;
434 Z.Y. Ai, J. Han / Computers and Geotechnics 36 (2009) 427–434
(3) subdividing the two segments into four segments and then
take the general Gauss–Legendre integral to integrate them
once more; and
(4) comparing the integral results in step (2) with those in step
(3).
If the difference between the results in step (2) and (3) is smal-
ler than a given value (for example 106), it is reasonable to believe
that the reliable results have been obtained. If not, the segments
are subdivided and integrated over again until the difference be-
tween two seriate results is smaller than the given value.
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