Laterally loaded pile analysis for layered soil based on the strain wedge model

Strain wedge (SW) model formulation is a means for relating envisioned three-dimensional laterally loaded soil-pile response to one-dimensional beam on elastic foundation characterization parameters. Given existing SW model formulation for piles in uniform sand, the work presented here is the development of strain wedge model formulation for (a) piles in uniform clay and (b) piles in layered soils (sand and clay). The layered formulation is also useful for consideration of non-linear and nonuniform variations in a uniform soil. Verification of the resulting formulation is undertaken through a comparison of SW model predicted versus field test measured response. Similarly SW model response is compared with traditional p-y predicted response. Based on the field tests considered, SW model response, provides as good or better comparison with measured response as traditional p-y curve analysis. The possible exception would be for very stiff clays.