1- Axially Loaded Piles

1.0 Introduction
This tutorial demonstrates the Axial Pile Analysis option in RSPile. Through this exercise, you
will learn how to analyze a single pile in multiple soil layers under axial loading using RSPile. This
tutorial will also help to familiarize you with the product’s basic functions and features.

Topics Covered in this Tutorial:

Multi-layer model
Soil types for axially loaded piles
Pile properties
Axial loading conditions
Export data to Excel
RSPile User Guide Overview Documentation Tutorials Verification & Theory
Finished Product:

The finished product of this tutorial can be found in the Tutorial 1 - Axial Pile Analysis.rspile2
data file. All tutorial files installed with RSPile can be accessed by selecting File > Recent
Folders > Tutorials Folder from the RSPile main menu.

Want to watch a video version of the tutorial? Check out our Youtube channel here.

1.1 GETTING TO KNOW THE MODELLER

The RSPile modeller provides two distinct views:

The Plan View is a top-down view of the ground surface.

The 3D View enables easy visualization of results in three dimensions.
The Sidebar provides a variety of viewing controls and the contour legend. By default, both
views and the sidebar are visible, but their relative sizes can be scaled as desired.

2.0 Model
When the RSPile program is started, a new blank document is already opened, allowing you to
begin creating a model immediately.

Note

Note on sign convention: In RSPile, the default ground surface is at depth = 0, depth is
positive downwards, and compressive stress is positive.

2.1 PROJECT SETTINGS

The Project Settings is where you can change the analysis type, tolerance, number of iterations
allowed, and the number of pile segments to be used in the analysis. To open the Project
Settings:

1. Select Home > Project Settings (CTRL + J).

2. Go the the Pile Analysis Type tab and set the Pile Analysis Type to Individual Pile
Analysis > Axially Loaded.
 3. For this tutorial, keep all other default values as they are.

Note

The default units for RSPile are metric. To change this setting, go to the General tab
and select Units.

Notice that in addition to the Axially Loaded and Laterally Loaded options, under the
Individual Pile Analysis header we also have an Axially / Laterally Loaded option. We
have provided the Axially / Laterally Loaded analysis type specifically for RSPile integration
with Slide2.

Note

With regards to the Advanced Settings, keep in mind that larger values of Pile
Segments and Number of Iterations will increase the computation time, as calculations
are performed at every node down the length of the pile.

4. Click OK to close the dialog.

2.2 SOIL PROPERTIES

1. Select Soils > Define Soil Properties (CTRL + 8).
In this dialog, you can define the properties related to the Q-z, t-z, and p-y curves. There is a
tab for the analysis type that you specified in the Project Settings (in this case, Axial) as well
as for datum dependency. The Datum Dependency tab allows users to control linearly
varying properties.

2. Enter the following soil properties:

Soil Property 1:

Name = Clay
Unit Weight = 17 kN/m3
 Soil Type = API Clay
Undrained Shear Strength = 22 kPa
Remolded Shear Strength = 15 kPa
Maximum Unit Skin Friction = 1,000,000 kPa
Maximum Unit End Bearing Resistance = 1,000,000 kPa
Soil Property 2:

Name = Sand
Unit Weight = 20 kN/m3
Soil Type = API Sand
Friction Angle = 35 degrees
Coefficient of Lateral Earth Pressure = 1
Bearing Capacity Factor = 40
Maximum Unit Skin Friction = 1,000,000 kPa
Maximum Unit End Bearing Resistance = 1,000,000 kPa

3. Click OK to save your input and exit the dialog.

2.3 SOIL LAYERS

RSPile supports multiple boreholes and non-horizontal soil strata. When multiple boreholes are
defined, the program will automatically interpolate between the boreholes. In this tutorial, we will
model horizontal soil strata with a single borehole. To begin:

1. Select Soils > Edit All Boreholes

The default soil column has a single layer and is located at (0, 0). To change the location,
enter coordinates for X and Y. We will keep it (0,0) here.
 2. Click on Insert Layer Below to add another layer below the first. The Name column will
fill in by soil property sequence.
Layers are defined by thickness by default but may be defined by top and bottom elevation.
This may be changed by toggling Define Layers by Thickness.

3. Specify the following layer thicknesses:

# Name Thickness Top Elevation Bottom Elevation

1 Clay 10 0 -10

2 Sand 10 -10 -20

The Soil Layer Column on the right side of the dialog will update automatically as layer
thicknesses are defined.

4. Click OK to save your input and exit the dialog.

2.4 PILE SECTION PROPERTIES

Pile Sections are used to create your Pile Type. Pile types can be made of multiple pile
sections depending on the complexity and composition of your pile. For this tutorial, we will just
define one pile section.

1. Select Piles > Pile Sections to open the Define Pile Section Properties dialog.
2. Select Pile Section 1 and enter the properties displayed in the table below:

Name Cross Type Pile Outside Pipe Wall Young's

Section Diameter (m) Thickness (m) Modulus (kPa)
 Steel Pipe Elastic 0.5 0.02 2e8
Pipe

3. Click OK to save your input and exit the dialog.

2.5 ADDING A PILE

1. Select Piles > Single to open the Add Pile dialog.

We have centralized all aspects of the pile definition in the Add Pile dialog. For the Axially
Loaded, Laterally Loaded and Axially / Laterally Loaded analysis types the Add Single Pile and
Add Pile Pattern options are available. For the Grouped Pile Analysis type, the Cap Designer
must be used. In the Add Pile dialog, users specify:

Geometry – basic pile properties such as length and orientation are specified
Loading – pile head loading definition
Tractions - applied distributed loads
Displacement – displacement profile or axial /lateral resistance analysis
Multipliers – p-y, t-z, Q-z multipliers can be defined
Advanced – advanced analysis options such as Pile Length Analysis (the availability of the
Advanced options varies based on pile analysis type)

Note

See the RSPile Help for more information on specifying p-y multipliers, displacements, and
advanced features.

2.5.1 Geometry
The Geometry tab allows users to specify the pile type and location of a single pile.
The pile type selected determines the pile sections the pile is composed of, the pile length and
the alignment of the single pile. Alignment options include: elevation, ground slope angle,
rotation angle, and orientation. Orientation may be specified in one of two ways: Alpha/Beta
angle, or Vector position.

For this tutorial:

1. Click on the Edit icon for the Pile Type and enter the following properties for Pile Type
1:

Section Pile Head Elevation Length Orientation

Property (m) (m)

Alpha Beta Rotation

Angle Angle Angle

Steel Pipe 0 17 0 90 0
 2. Click OK to close the Edit Pile Type dialog.

Note

By default, the Location fields are grayed out and the mouse selection option is selected.
The location of the pile can be entered in one of several ways. With the mouse selection
option the pile location is entered graphically on the next screen by clicking on a location
on the Plan View. If you deselect this option you can instead place your pile by entering
coordinates into the X and Y fields. For this tutorial, we will leave the default option
selected.

2.5.2 Loading
1. Select the Loading tab.
2. Add a new loading property by clicking the Add icon.

RSPile provides users with the flexibility to analyze multiple piles in a single file, and the Loading
Property manager tracks all the pile head loads for the entire model. A different Load Property
can be defined for each pile, or the same Load Property can be used for all of the piles in the
file.

With regards to load type, two options are available: cyclic or static loading. If cyclic loading is
chosen, the number of load cycles may be specified, depending on the soil types used.

Axial Analysis only supports axial loading. Since we are looking at a single pile in this file we will
add one load property only.

3. Specify the following values:

Loading Property = Load Property 1

Loading = Static
Loading Factor Profile = None
Type = Force Z (kN)
 Value = 100
Depth (m) = 0

The Displacement, Multipliers, and Advanced tabs will be explored in later tutorials.

4. Click OK to save settings and close the dialog.

2.5.3 Placement
After clicking OK, RSPile will prompt the user to enter the (x, y) coordinates of the new single
pile. You may enter the location manually in the prompt line in the bottom right of the screen or
click a point on the Plan View to place it.

1. Enter Location = (0, 0) in the prompt line in the bottom right of the screen.
2. Press Enter.

Your model should look as follows. Notice that the soil column has now been updated to reflect
the strata.
3.0 Results
1. Save and compute the file by selecting Results > Compute

3.1 RESULTS VISUALIZATION

RSPile allows for the 3D visualization of results along the length of the pile. Use the Data Type
drop-down to control what results are shown.

For an axial analysis, the following results are available:

Displacement Z
 Beam Axial Force
Soil Reaction Force Z'
Soil Stiffness Z'
Skin Friction
End Bearing

Pile Results may be toggled on or off using the View Controls in the sidebar.

3.2 CHARTS
1. In the Plan View, right-click on the pile and select Graph Pile or select to Results >
Graph Pile, click on the pile in the Plan View and press Enter.

The RSPile results section presents several default graphs and a table of results. You should see
the following
Axial pile analysis generates two default graphs, including:

Axial Displacement vs. Depth

Axial Force vs. Depth

The sidebar contains the Chart Controls, which allow you to select what information is
displayed, and customize the appearance.

Note

Results may be displayed in scientific notation or decimal form. To format the results, select
Number Format from the toolbar and select the desired form. The number of decimals to
be displayed may also be adjusted.

3.3 EXPORT TO EXCEL

From the Charts tab you can export your data to Excel. To do so:

1. Click on the Export Data to Excel icon.

Each data type is exported to its own sheet in the Excel file.

4.0 Report Generator

The Report Generator presents a formatted summary of input data and analysis results.

1. Go back to the model view and select Results > Report Generator .
A new window will open and you should see a summary of the model input data including:

Project Summary
Soil Layers
Soil Properties
Pile Section Properties
Pile Types
Pile Settings
 The toolbar contains the Report Generator Controls, which allow you to select what
information is displayed, and customize the appearance of the report.

The data can be exported in a variety of ways: it may be manually copied, viewed in a
browser, printed, or the information may be saved as a .pdf file. Prior to printing the file,
results may be formatted to your specifications.

2. Click on the Close Window icon in the Report Generator toolbar to close the viewer
and return to the model view.

5.0 Property Tables

To end this introductory tutorial, we will highlight the Drawing Tools included in RSPile. These
tools include the addition of Soil and Pile Properties tables.

To add these tables to the model view:

1. Select Tools > Soil Properties Table or Pile Section Properties Table.
2. Click anywhere on the Plan View to add a table.
Once added, the tables may be edited, moved, or formatted as desired by using the right-click
menu and selecting Format Tool.

This concludes the Axial Pile Analysis Tutorial. You may now exit the RSPile program.