Deep Foundation Subject to Lateral Spreading

Example prepared by: Christopher McGann and Pedro Arduino, University of Washington

---

Return to OpenSees Examples Page

This article discusses an OpenSees analysis of a single deep foundation subject to a kinematic loading which simulates lateral spreading. The deep foundation is embedded in a layered soil profile in which a liquefiable layer separates an upper crustal layer and a deeper, denser soil layer. The deep foundation is modeled using beam-column elements and the soil is modeled using p-y springs.

Provided with this article are several files. Files which are required for the analysis are indicated. The files include:

• The example input file, lateralSpreadPile.tcl (required for analysis)
• The main Matlab driver file, makeInput.m, which can be used to generate an OpenSees input file for the type of analysis described in this article
• The auxiliary Matlab files, getAPIstiffness.m, getBrinch.m, and mDataSort.m, which are support the main driver file, makeInput.m

All of the files mentioned above can be downloaded here.

To run this example, the user must download the input file, lateralSpreadPile.tcl. The additional files described above are not essential to the analysis. They are provided to demonstrate how to create OpenSees input files using outside software and to allow the user to investigate alternative soil-pile systems.

Model Description

Fig. 1: Idealized schematic of the model.

References

1. McGann, C.R., Arduino, P., and Mackenzie-Helnwein, P. (2011) "Applicability of conventional p-y relations to the analysis of piles in laterally spreading soil." Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, ASCE, 137(6), 557-567.
2. McGann, C.R., Arduino, P., and Mackenzie-Helnwein, P. (2012) "Simplified procedure to account for a weaker soil layer in lateral load analysis of single piles." Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, ASCE, in press.

Return to OpenSees Examples Page